Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “outperformed” President Barack Obama, criticizing the country as it prepares to host the upcoming Sochi Olympics.
“I think Putin has outperformed our president time and time again on the world stage,” Romney said in an interview with NBC News released Friday.
The former presidential candidate famously called Russia one of America’s biggest foes during the 2012 campaign, and he kept up the criticism in the interview.
“We are, and I’ve said this before, geopolitical adversaries — not enemies, but adversaries geopolitically,” Romney said. “And Putin lines up with [Syrian President Bashar] Assad and gave Assad the cover that he needed and won a diplomatic battle with regards to Syria. He likewise keeps Edward Snowden as a bit of a stick in the eye at America. And I think most observers of the international political scene suggest that Russia has elevated itself in stature and America has been diminished.”
Asked about Romney’s assessment of Obama during his daily briefing, White House press secretary Jay Carney pushed back.
“I obviously disagree with that,” Carney said.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/sochi-winter-olympics-mitt-romney-102561.html#ixzz2rOYPltLC
