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President Obama returns to Florida, attacks Romney for 'extreme makeover'

 
President Obama arrives Thursday to speak at a campaign event at the University of Miami.
President Obama arrives Thursday to speak at a campaign event at the University of Miami.
Published Oct. 12, 2012

MIAMI — A confident and mocking President Barack Obama gave one of his most sharply worded speeches this campaign season here Thursday when he accused rival Mitt Romney of engaging in a dishonest "extreme makeover."

"After running for more than a year in which he called himself 'severely conservative,' Mitt Romney's trying to convince you that he was severely kidding," Obama told a packed arena at the University of Miami.

Obama's energy level, his zippy quotes and his pithy way of distilling his arguments stood in stark contrast with the president's lethargic demeanor last week at a televised debate.

Obama noted that Romney offered few specifics about what he would cut from the federal budget and said that the Republican wanted to reduce public-television subsidies that could target Big Bird.

The Romney campaign shot back with a written statement pointing out that Obama was ignoring the situation in Libya, where four foreign-service workers were killed after a Sept. 11 terrorist attack.

"Today, after his campaign said that the terrorist attack in Libya is only an issue because of Mitt Romney, the president hit the campaign trail and talked more about Big Bird than his failure to lead at home or abroad," said Romney spokesman Ryan Williams, continuing with, "President Obama can continue to launch false attacks and focus on the small issues, but Mitt Romney will continue to address the serious issues confronting our nation and present his bold vision to grow our economy and keep Americans safe."

But Obama said Romney isn't talking boldly as much as he is dishonestly.

"He's trying to go through an extreme makeover," Obama said.

"And when he's asked about the cost of his tax plan, he just pretends it doesn't exist," Obama said.

Sarcastically imitating Romney, he said: "What $5 trillion tax cut? I don't know anything about a $5 trillion tax cut. Pay no attention to the $5 trillion tax cut — on my website."

The crowd's laughter interrupted him.

Obama's remarks at UM's BankUnited Center — his fifth campaign stop in a row at a college — covered all of his administration's high points: the death of Osama bin Laden, the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell, a drawdown of troops in Afghanistan and the end of the war in Iraq. Obama never mentioned Election Day, Nov. 6.

Instead, the president repeatedly mentioned Oct. 27 as the day to vote. That's the first day of Florida's early in-person voting, when Democrats typically dominate.

When Obama first mentioned Romney's name, the crowd of about 9,200 booed.

"Don't boo, vote!" Obama said quickly.

The crowd exploded with applause.

By the end of the speech, Obama turned the phrase into a call and response.

Obama: "Don't boo … " Crowd: "… Vote!"

After the speech, Obama headed to the JW Marriott Marquis for a fundraiser with his campaign's national co-chairwoman, actor Eva Longoria.

Obama avoided Libya, the day after House Republicans held a hearing into the terrorist attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Amid four hours of testimony, Obama administration officials admitted they refused to beef up security before the attacks and made misleading statements about what probably caused them.

Democrats have tried to portray the hearings as a political show, nothing that a lead lawmaker involved is a Romney campaign surrogate.

Before the Benghazi attacks gave Republicans an opening, foreign policy had been an Obama strong point, and he highlighted his successes in Thursday's speech.

"Four years ago, I told you I'd end the war in Iraq," he said, to loud applause. "I said we'd end the war in Afghanistan, and we are. I said we'd refocus on the people who actually attacked us on 9/11, and today al-Qaida is on the run, and Osama bin Laden is dead."

To try to get out the youth vote that helped him win office in 2008, Obama mentioned key issues for students: federal funding for college loans, a plan to invest more in renewable energy and the health care law, which allows young people under 26 to stay on their parents' insurance. He also pointed to the 7.8 percent national unemployment rate as a sign that the economy is improving.

"We know we're not where we need to be. Not yet," he acknowledged.

When he took the stage, jacketless and with a tie, Obama gave shout outs to Sen. Bill Nelson, and U.S Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Frederica Wilson.

"Everything that we fought for in 2008 is on the line in 2012," Obama said. "I need your help to finish what we started."