Entire premise of Romney’s foreign trip collapses

TPM

Two of Mitt Romney’s top surrogates told reporters Thursday the Romney campaign’s not worried about the torrent of negative press surrounding Romney’s visit to London. Americans don’t care about foreign press, they said.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell — both rumored to be potential vice presidential choices for Romney — defended Romney from the embarrassing headlines in London on a press call set up by the Romney campaign.

Jindal and McDonnell were trying to highlight continuing efforts to turn President Obama’s out-of-context “you didn’t build that” quote into a Republican rallying cry.

They insisted the multiple Romney blunders in England won’t ultimately do any damage to his campaign.

“No, the reality is, we’re not worried about overseas headlines. We’re worried about voters back here in America,” Jindal said. “I think the focus needs to continue to be on what’s happening here at home. That’s what’s important to voters.”

But Jindal also tried to cast Romney’s wariness over Olympic preparedness, which angered many Britons, in the best possible light: “Gov. Romney has said he expects the London Olympics to be a phenomenal success,” and, “The reality is we’re all rooting for our American athletes, we hope they come back with a bunch of medals and I’m sure they’re going to be very successful.”

McDonnell weighed in: “I agree.”