Yet-to-declare 2012 Republican candidates Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty wasted no time in issuing some form of response to President Obama’s 2012 re-election announcement out this morning.
For former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, it was a short response delivered via twitter:
@barackobama I look forward to hearing details on your jobs plan, as are 14m unemployed Americans
Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty released a video:
Report from ABC News:
The Republican National Committee also chimed by unveiling a new website and ad using the theme, “Hope Isn’t Hiring,” pinning the nation’s nearly 9 percent unemployment rate, a growing national debt and rising gas prices on Obama.
The RNC also took issue with the president over the timing of his announcement.
“President Obama’s reelection campaign is off and running, meaning once again the president is putting politics ahead of the work of the people,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “Despite a looming government shutdown, a new military operation in Libya and Tax Day around the corner, President Obama made the decision to focus on kicking off his billion dollar campaign.”
Clearly this is signaling that Pawlenty and Romney are not afraid to enter the fray from day one with President Obama. I’d say we can continue to expect a tit-for-tat back and forth as campaigns jockey for media coverage.