"The 2012 election is going to be a referendum on the president's failure to turn around the economy," Romney said in a Wednesday interview, adding that Pennsylvania had lost 169,000 jobs since Obama took office. "He's grown detached and isolated from what people are feeling and experiencing."
Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts and business executive, ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination four years ago, and some conservative activists are leery of his past moderate positions on social issues, as well as the health-care law he signed in Massachusetts that is similar in some respects to Obama's. But with the economy the top campaign issue, Romney's private-sector experience has helped him take the lead in polls of the Republican contest.
Pennsylvania Democratic spokesman Mark Nicastre criticized Massachusetts' economic performance when Romney was governor, saying the state ranked 47th in job growth. "Mitt Romney is simply doubling down on the failed economic policies that nearly brought down our economy," Nicastre said.
Obama is scheduled to appear at a 3:30 p.m. fundraising reception at the Hyatt at the Bellevue on South Broad Street, then attend a more posh dinner at the Chestnut Hill home of Comcast executive David L. Cohen. Proceeds of both events are to be split between Obama's re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee, through the vehicle of the Obama Victory Fund.
Romney will attend a fundraising breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at the Cira Centre, hosted by Ira M. Lubert, a private-equity investor in real estate ventures and major Republican fundraiser.
At noon, Pasquale "Pat" Deon, a Bucks County businessman, will host a luncheon for Romney at the Union League. Deon is chairman of the SEPTA board and a member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
Thursday will be the first time the president and his potential opponent have been in the same city on the road since Romney announced his candidacy earlier this month.
