“What I said was that my focus, my primary focus is helping people get into the middle class and grow the middle class,” he said. “We have a safety net that cares for the poor. I want to keep that safety net strong and able. The wealthy are doing just fine. But we really need to focus on the middle-income people in this country. And you know what, if people are going to go after me when I make a mistake, when I slip up on a word I say even though I say, ‘I got it wrong. Sorry, that’s not what I meant,’ that’s going to be part of the political process.”
{mosads}Ralston also asked Romney directly about what he could do to better relate to middle-class Americans.
“I don’t think America has come to a point where people will be penalized because they were successful,” he said. “I think people who’ve been successful in their walk of life and are willing to use their experience to try and help America are going to be respected and admired by the American people. I hope so. But I am who I am. I care very deeply about this country, I’m very concerned about its direction. I’m going to do everything in my power to help the people in this country.”
Romney then reiterated his call to help the middle class. “I’m not running for president for the wealthy. Who in the world would care about running for president for the wealthy? I’m worried about the great majority of Americans, the middle class of America and the poor that used to be middle class, I want them back into the middle class. I want to help America at a critical time.”
The former Massachusetts governor also stood by remarks he made in the fall that the government should not be involved in helping people avoid foreclosures.
“When I say, ‘Don’t stop the foreclosure process’ what I mean by that is the best way to stop it is to get the economy going so home values rise and people can meet their obligations,” he said. “That’s the best way to stop foreclosures. The idea of the government stepping in and trying to delay the process, that only continues to have the overhang of foreclosures and declining home values.”
Watch the full interview here.