Romney Laying Groundwork in Florida

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-- Mitt Romney one on one.

This is special report.

Good evening I'm Bret -- the running interview in just a moment but first the headlines.

President Obama is urging -- Ronnie and authorities to punish protesters who stormed the British embassy and ambassador's residence in Tehran today.

A showdown is brewing in congress over how to pay for an extension and expansion of a payroll tax cut.

And Herman Cain told supporters today that he will assess whether to continue his presidential campaign.

Monday a Georgia woman said she is carried on a long term sexual affair with game.

He denies it.

Now Mitt Romney he has been in the business of running for president for a long time.

The former Massachusetts governor has run a methodical campaign.

And watch challengers surge and fall his focus today.

Was on laying the ground work for January's Florida primary.

Governor Romney came to a Conchita -- warehouse in Miami.

To tablet trio of endorsements from Cuban American lawmakers and leaders in the community congresswoman -- -- and thank you so very much and that yes -- Brothers.

Mario Lincoln thank you so much for your endorsement -- help governor thanks for the time but I began our interview right in the middle of the working warehouse in between -- bottles got asking about another endorsement.

-- at New Hampshire union leader endorsed speaker Gingrich over the weekend saying he was.

He has courage conviction.

And isn't just telling them what they want to -- now the editor there -- Quaid confirmed that that last line was really about you.

What's your reaction to that endorsement and specifically that charge about that you lack conviction.

You know the union leaders have not always been happy with me so -- -- terribly surprised.

But.

You know the speaker Gingrich is a good man he and I are very different backgrounds.

He spent his last thirty or forty years in Washington.

I spent my career in the private sector I think that's with him and with the country needs right now.

And with regards to my own views I'm happy to have people take a look at my book I wrote that a couple years ago.

Laid out my views for the country.

And I believe that my views are aware are essentially get this country going again so -- no no problem with that would Newt Gingrich good man.

But a very different person than I am based on our life experiences if speaker Gingrich became the Republican nominee do you think he could -- President Obama.

In November 22 I think I stand by far the best shot replacing President Obama -- on the Republicans in the field.

That doesn't mean that others wouldn't have a good shot of -- as well but I wouldn't be in this race if I didn't think I had unique background and vision for America.

And the capacity to actually replace President Obama I think to get.

President -- out of office you're gonna have to bring something to the race that's different than what he brings she's a lifelong politician.

I think you have to have the credibility of understanding how the economy works and I do and that's one reason I'm in this race.

Like the union leader your critics.

Charge that you make decisions based on political expediency.

And not core conviction.

You have.

-- on the both sides of of some issues.

And there's videotape review going back years speaking about different issues climate change.

Abortion immigration.

Gay rights.

How can voters trust.

What they hear from you today.

Is what you -- believe.

If you win the White House.

We'll bring -- -- it's just that accurate so one we're gonna have to be better informed about my views on issues my view is you can look at what I've written in my book.

You can look at a person who has devoted his life to his family his faith -- country and I'm running for president because of the things I believe I think I can do to help this country.

Then and I know in politics they're gonna be those who try in every way they can to tear down one another.

But the real question is does Barack Obama have the capacity to lead this country out of a very difficult economic -- and the answer is now he's proven he doesn't.

And I do.

That's my experience that's what I know how to do and the American people want someone who knows how to lead.

Who believes in the free economy and understands the principles it takes to get America strong economically.

Militarily and culturally.

I'm sure you've seen these -- Using videotape of you in previous years speaking on various issues from and it seems like it's in direct contrast to positions you take.

Well I'm glad that to the democratic answer breaking through when I got on fox are saying that -- -- -- has a couple labs that do the -- -- and and that there's no question but the people are gonna take snippets and take things out of context and try and set to show that there are differences.

We're in some cases there -- not.

But one place I change my mind.

Which was -- with regards to the government's role relating to abortion I am pro life I did not take that position years ago.

And that's the same change that occurred with Ronald Reagan with George W.

Bush with some of the leaders in the pro life movement let's talk about.

Immigration.

In recent days you've -- the speaker Gingrich -- proposing.

Amnesty essentially with what he said in that last debate.

You're attacking him on immigration but you took what seemed like a very similar position back in 20062007.

Telling Bloomberg that some illegal immigrants need to be allowed to stay and come out of the shadows and quote we need to Begin a process of registering those people.

Some being returned some beginning the process of applying for citizenship and establishing legal status we're not going to go through a process of tracking them all down.

And moving them out.

Is that -- different than where you -- now.

The -- now my view is that that those people that are here illegally today.

Should have the opportunity to register and to have their status identified and those individuals should get in line.

With everyone else that's in line legally they should not be placed ahead of the line.

They should instead go at the back of the line.

And they should not be allowed to stay in this country and be given permanent residency or citizenship.

Merely because they've come here illegally what is that would Gingrich is saying is the you know short of I can citizens I can't tell you what speaker Gingrich assessed -- yet -- call -- aggressive right now but what it if he's Condit.

To do it.

I believe he said he was going to do -- for those people who would be allowed to stay permanently become citizens.

That would be providing for them a form of amnesty.

But my view is and I can tell you what I'll I'll let him describe his view my view is pretty straightforward for those people who've come here illegally.

They should have the opportunity to get in line with everybody else who wants to come into this country but.

They go to the back of the line and they should be given no special pathway to citizenship or permanent residency and merely because -- come here -- and they do it outside of this country.

What a day where they apply here over the applied by going home I think that's in the past I think it makes more sense for them to go home.

If we if we set up -- system for that than to apply here the question is what you do with the eleven million plus people who are already here.

And how you.

That -- back in 20062007.

You made appointments saying we're not going around the mall lot and send them out that's right -- what do you do to.

You know there's great interest on the part of some to talk about what we do with eleven night.

My interest as saying let's make sure that we secure the border.

And we don't do anything that talks about bringing in a new wave of those are attracting a new way for people into the country illegally.

The right course for us is to secure the border and say nothing about amnesty.

Or tuition breaks to illegal aliens.

Or anything else that draws people into the country illegally the right course secure the border.

And then we can determine what's the right way to deal with eleven million and to make it as clear as I possibly can.

Let those people apply.

Just like everybody else that wants to come to this country.

But they have to apply at the back of the line as opposed to jumping in the front because they've come here illegally.

About your book you talk about Massachusetts Health Care and we've heard -- many times in the debates and interviews talk about how it is different in your mind.

Then the president's health -- obamacare.

The question is do you still support the idea of a mandate.

Do you believe that that was the right thing for Massachusetts.

Do you think a mandate mandating people to buy insurance is.

The right to.

I Bret I don't know how many hundred times I've said this to this than usual interview.

All right let's do it again.

Absolutely what we did a Massachusetts was right for Massachusetts I've said that time and time again the people of the state -- to do is supported by about three to one.

But it's also designed for Massachusetts now for the nation.

And at the time our bill was passed and that was brought forward.

As an issue there were people who said is this something you'd like to have the entire nation do I should know.

This is not a federal plan its state plan.

And under the constitution states should be able to craft their own plans -- government cannot -- on camera and other places that.

And at times you -- would be a model.

For the nation.

You're wrong Brett I don't know -- -- that they know that the tape out there keep -- continue to read the tape and the tape goes on to say.

For each state to be able to look at -- I was asked time and again in the last debates.

Look back at the 2008 campaign on the stage I was asked the debate is your Massachusetts -- something you would have a nation -- was a federal plan.

Each time said -- the answers no when you write a book.

You have the ability to put down your entire view and I put in that book.

As clearly as I possibly could that the plan we did in Massachusetts had many features that I thought should be adopted.

By the states.

I that there are very good ideas in there that can be a model for for the entire many states you think that you are well positioned.

To go up against President Obama on the issue of health care of course the best the best equipped.

The best equipped to understand health -- spent a good portion of my career working in health care I came -- with a plan unlike kids.

The doesn't cost a trillion dollars I'm like yes we can raise taxes.

-- like kids I didn't cut Medicare by half a trillion dollars unlike kids my plans constitutional.

So what I did work for our state in the way the constitution intense which is states crafting plans that work for their states not a federal one size fits all plan.

In the next series of questions are brought our center seat segment to the governor with questions from the panelists that Steve -- from the weekly standard.

Asked this can you name two issues.

On which your views are not in line with the views of the conservative base.

Of your.

Party.

You know I don't typically think about you're not in one how one lot of my with the conservative base of the Republican Party I think in terms of what I believe.

And that's what I've spoken about as I've run for office more than once have -- record as a governor.

That laid out my views.

-- partners if it if you will.

Expose my views by virtue of what we do that in the state of Massachusetts you -- there want -- a number of issues where.

Where I part company with other members of my party.

-- -- But I've got a carbon copy of all the people in my part of this -- A stream of thoughts to Begin with which is -- what you say anything to get elected if that -- the case when asked to be defending Massachusetts Health Care.

It's it's by far the biggest challenge I have in the primary race and if I were willing to say anything to get elected would not just say -- it was a mistake.

Because I've watched other people on the stage when they talk about the cap and trade policies they say -- that was a mistake.

When someone says why did this -- on global warming that was a mistake late so they just just this aside.

-- dynamics a more attractive in a primary I'm standing by when -- in Massachusetts -- -- of dusted aside of the biggest issue.

That that that docks mission the primary campaign I'm absolute firm that it was the right thing for our state.

I'll defend that and I understand it has political implications and if it keeps me from winning a primary so -- it.

But that happens to be the truth.

AB Stoddard from the hill last if you were president this week what would you do immediately in response of the pakistanis decision to shut off.

NATO supply lines to Afghanistan and for CIA.

-- -- key base used for drama.

Operations well this -- involved that the personal attention of the president of that -- either in person or on on the phone.

There ought to be -- a building relationship.

With leadership in Pakistan understand our mutual interests and I'm afraid that we're growing further and further apart and in part because of -- president.

Who simply doesn't know how to -- And -- we need to have a president who can be on the phone who can have a personal relationship Natalie -- -- is our dart -- generals and in Pakistan with members of the ISI.

-- to assure that that that they understand.

Exactly where we can we're coming from and we understand their interest we recognize that the Pakistan people on the and the leaders of Pakistan of course is a very multi.

Traction.

Group there.

That they will act out of their self interest they don't sit up nights wondering what's best for the United States they think what's best for them for their lives in their careers we need to understand that.

And then we need to make sure that -- that we have places of common ground where we can work together I think you're seeing a -- pulling apart.

Of our nation's and that would be that would have grave consequences long term and short term.

Charles Krauthammer ask you pledged that as president he would stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon the last resort of course the military attack.

What you're saying is that you prepared to carry it out if necessary he asks would -- be a single strike.

-- sustained bombing campaign like in Serbia would be ended only the weapons with a pillars of the regime.

If you've got to that.

Well but before I could make a decision of that nature have to have a very thorough top secret briefing by our military.

To understand exactly what our options are.

What the responses would be from the Iranian military.

The intelligence community would have to -- and there's a lot more information I need to have to know what type of military strike.

Would be appropriate and -- you -- prepared to do it unilaterally if if need -- of course.

Lightning round here.

Those last book you read or read.

Memories -- of a fun one right now so I'll skip that but -- just read that decision points by President Bush.

Do you think your faith will hurt you in this primary election and what do you think the biggest misconception about your fitness.

I think it may have some impact in NN among the Merrill very narrow group of individuals but by and large I don't think it'll make the decision.

Biggest misconception is it's -- name of our church.

It's the church of Jesus Christ of lavish sets a lot of people are talking about vision what is 26.

Team.

Look like.

After first term president.

It's good to be in middle class in America again.

Where people have a conviction that the future's bright in the past America has to be strong.

-- strong culture with a strong economy at a military that's a second to none.

And and we're losing faith in those things I want to make America stronger again America will be a stronger nation.

With that with freedom and opportunity as we've enjoyed our past -- unemployment rate.

A certain number I believe that shall see unemployment down pretty significantly I look at adding about eleven and a half million jobs in four years.

That that -- -- or that's associated with about 4% GDP growth.

And that gets -- unemployment rate down to just look a little over 6% -- -- call.

We have to be a job creating machine again as a nation.

I also see us having our our spending as a percentage of the GDP down from 25% of GDP down to 20%.

But -- those are.

For those are numbers that the the division is is different than just numbers division has people working again rising incomes and America.

Confidence in the future.

And a conviction that America is strong and that is going to be an American century.

As opposed to a global international century or an Asian century it's going to be animation and Americans -- Do you think you have work to do.

To convince Republican voters.

To trust you Brett.

-- the American people had a good chance to get to know me over the last four years some of read my book.

Some of -- -- in the debates some -- for years ago when I ran.

I've got a lot more work to do that to be able to win this it's a far cry from us for being in my pocket at this point and I'll keep campaigning the last possible moment.

Governor thank you very much of the time thanks Brett.

-- thank you.

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Romney Laying Groundwork in Florida

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