Romney Downplays $10K Bet

Republican presidential candidates, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left and, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, talk prior to the Republican debate, Saturday. (AP)

Mitt Romney is trying to change the subject from the $10,000 bet he challenged Rick Perry to in Saturday night’s GOP presidential candidates debate. The bet came after the Texas governor accused Romney of deleting parts of his book that supported a national health care mandate.

Romney says he was using a figure of speech and laughed off suggestions that his pricey bet sent the wrong message to less well-off voters. But the other candidates are jumping on the statement: Perry’s campaign has put out a minute-long video featuring the clip from the debate that includes the bet and Jon Huntsman bought the web address “www.tenkbet.com.”

Republican strategist Mary Matalin told PostPolitics.com that Romney’s bet is not an “implosion” but it’s “one more heavy brick” in his political backpack, adding to the perception that he’s not a man of the people.

New Attack On Obama

A new ad this week from the Karl Rove-backed political action committee Crossroads GPS targets President Obama’s record, taking aim at the administration’s troubled loan guarantee to solar power company Solyndra.

• Washington Post: Romney’s $10,000 Mistake
• Fox News: Will Romney’s Bet Cost Him?

Guest:

• Chris Cillizza, managing editor of PostPolitics.com