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Bill Clinton introduces Mitt Romney at the Clinton Global Initiative convention in New York. |
Associated Press
NEW YORK
--Republican Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama were on their best campaign behavior in public Tuesday, all the while slashing away at each other in paid television ads.In separate appearances in New York, they swapped criticism on foreign policy. But they did it politely, without mentioning each other by name.
Romney found fault with Obama's approach to education, but did so after paying a public compliment to Arne Duncan, who has the administration's Cabinet portfolio for the subject.
There was an outbreak of self-deprecating humor from Romney, as well, as he received a glowing introduction from former President Bill Clinton before speaking to the annual Clinton Global Initiative.
"If there's one thing we've learned this election season, it's that a few words from Bill Clinton can do any man a lot of good," joked the Republican candidate for the White House.
Cut to the television ads, and the political reality both campaigns are trying to create for voters in battleground states.
Of the five commercials the Obama campaign says it is airing most frequently, one accuses Romney and running mate Paul Ryan of backing a plan for Medicare that would raise out-of-pocket costs for seniors. Another says Romney favors tax cuts for millionaires that could be paid for by reducing existing tax breaks for education expenses.
A third says Obama has pushed back against China's unfair trade policies. A fourth asserts that part of Romney's personal fortune is invested in China and says he's never stood up to the country.
The Romney campaign listed six ads currently airing, four of which criticize Obama.
"Dear Daughter. Welcome to America," says the announcer in a commercial that shows a young baby. "Your share of Obama's debt is over $50,000."
Two spots feature coal miners accusing the administration of pursuing policies that go after their industry.
A fourth accuses Obama of failing to "stand up to China." "His policies cost us 2 million jobs," it says.
