Romney campaign blasts ‘eccentric, odd’ Mayor Boris Johnson of London

A Romney campaign official has blasted Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, as an ‘eccentric, odd fellow’ whose public attack on the Republican candidate was ‘unbecoming’ and an indication of his bias towards President Barack Obama.



The official said that Prime Minister David Cameron’s ‘wisecrack’ about it being harder to stage an Olympic Games in London than ‘in the middle of nowhere’ – an apparent reference to Salt Lake City, where Romney oversaw the 2002 Winter Olympics – was ‘probably appropriate, albeit awkward’ and unfortunate for Romney

‘Johnson on the other hand lived up to his reputation as an eccentric, odd fellow. It was unbecoming to attack Governor Romney in that way. There really was no need. But Johnson made it clear in 2008 that his vote would have gone to Obama.’

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Back tracking: Mitt Romney has appeared in interviews to praise the UK and the Olympics after a string of gaffes during his visit to London on Thursday

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Addressing 60,000 Londoners on Thursday night, Johnson said: ‘I hear there's a guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know whether we're ready Are we ready? Yes we are!

He then led the crowd in a chant of 'Yes We Can', Obama's famous campaign slogan from 2008. 'Can we put on the greatest Olympics games that have ever been held?' he asked. 'Can we beat France? Yes we can! Can we beat Australia? Yes we can!'

In a magazine interview in August 2008, Johnson said: ‘John McCain has many, many wonderful qualities, but I think a Barack Obama victory would do fantastic things for the confidence and the feelings of black people around the world.

Asked whether his words constituted an endorsement of Obama over Senator McCain, the Republican nominee, he responded: ‘Yes.’

Sweet talking: He appeared with his wife Ann in an interview with Piers Morgan on CNN Fiery remarks: Olympic torch bearer Tyler Rix stands with London Mayor Boris Johnson after lighting an Olympic cauldron on stage for the Olympic Torch Relay Finale Concert in Hyde Park 'Are we ready? Yes we are!': Boris Johnson issues his Olympics rallying cry as he speaks in front of 60,000 gathered in Hyde Park, central London, on the eve of the beginning of the 2012 Games

The campaign official, who was not directly involved organising the London trip, that that the Romney campaign had not prepared sufficiently for ‘a visit of this magnitude’ and that the candidate had not been briefed properly on how to answer questions about the staging of the Olympics.

‘What he gave was the honest assessment of the situation based on his previous experience. Unfortunately in a diplomatic context that's not the sort of thing that should have been coming out of the candidate's mouth. It was bad messaging and media prep.’

The trip should have been a straightforward one, he said. ‘You show up, you smile, you do photo ops, you talk about the special relationship, the deep bonds that connect us and then you go home, or in this case on to Israel and Poland.

Having a sit-down: Romney talks with Prime Minister David Cameron, just one day after the presidential hopeful expressed doubts about London's ability to host the Olympics

Special relationship revisited? Romney met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair today during his visit and tour of London

‘Unfortunately, it shows that the campaign by solely focussing on jobs has really neglected foreign policy and international affairs.’

He said that the campaign had not had a dedicated protocol adviser ‘to ensure there were no snafus’, such as when Romney addressed Ed Miliband, the Opposition leader, as ‘Mr Leader’ and when he stated he had been briefed by the head of MI6.

‘The first rule of diplomacy is that when you're in a foreign country you get titles and forms of address correct.

‘It played into some stereotypical impressions of Americans, that they’re ignorant of local concerns, that they don’t get names or titles right.’

He concluded: ‘Governor Romney didn’t do himself any favours. Did he do himself long-term damage? I doubt it. There's a good chance that Cameron may not win re-election, which means for at least half of Romney's term he would have another Prime Minister in there.’

The official noted said that while relations between Cameron and Romney were ‘not warm’, they were not as icy as many believed. He added that the rapport between Miliband and Romney had been strikingly good. ‘Sometimes politics makes strange bedfellows.’









Discussion on Downing: Romney walks out of 10 Downing Street to speak to reporters after his meeting with Prime Minister Cameron

'ROMNEY IS A WAZZOCK': BRITISH PRESS TURN ON REPUBLICAN The British media were quick to launch into Mitt Romney in the wake of his less-than-complimentary views on London's Olympics. The Daily Telegraph's Lucy Jones branded him a 'wazzock' (which the Urban Dictionary defines as an idiot or daft person') after the U.S. presidential hopeful questioned Britain's desire to host the Games. She said: 'Who does Mitt Romney think he is? I feel a glimmer of protectiveness and pride... there's one thing Romney could learn while he's in Britain this week: some manners.' Nicholas Watt, from The Guardian, tweeted of his U-turn: 'Mitt Romney rowing back like mad on Olympics: Now says outside No 10 games to be a great success.' Meanwhile, Paul Harris said: 'Good old Mitt. His charm offensive in the UK failed to be charming, but he really pulled off the offensive bit #gop #romney.' James Kirkup, also from The Daily Telegraph, drew attention to Prime Minister David Cameron's response to Romney's comments. 'Mr Romney made his name salvaging the Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2002, an achievement he may think qualifies him to comment on preparations for London 2012,' he said. 'In the context of Mr Romney's glittering resumé, one of Mr Cameron's (faintly defensive) comments bears particular attention: "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. "

'Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic games in the middle of nowhere.' 'Some cynics thought that the "middle of nowhere" comment could just be a swipe at Salt Lake City, which is quite near the middle of, er, Utah. Terrible people, cynics.'

Talking shop: GOP presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney meets with British Labour Leader Ed Miliband during Romney's first foreign visit of his campaign

Making friends: Romney shakes hands with British Prime Minister David Cameron during their meeting at 10 Downing Street

Video: Mitt Romney backtracks of his criticism of the Olympics







