THE RACE:
Both campaigns claim words being twisted

[July 31, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Both presidential campaigns are complaining that their candidate's words are being twisted against them.

Little has changed in the political landscape since Mitt Romney clinched the Republican nomination two months ago. With fewer than 100 days to go, polls still show an extremely tight race with the limp economy still the overriding issue.

Romney was in Poland on the third leg of his overseas trip. But before leaving Israel, he told Jewish donors at a Monday breakfast in Jerusalem that their culture is partly why they have been more economically successful than the Palestinians.

That outraged Palestinian leaders, who called the comments racist and out of touch.

The Romney campaign was quick to fire off an email suggesting his remarks had been mischaracterized and urging "anyone covering the speech to use his actual words"

Romney said in Jerusalem that "I recognize the hand of providence in selecting this place" and noted "culture makes all the difference" in "disparities in the economic success of various countries." He also cited "Mexico and the United States" without elaborating.

President Barack Obama greeted new foreign ambassadors at the White House before a fundraising trip to New York City.

Meanwhile, his campaign was running an ad in several battleground states criticizing Romney's attacks on Obama's comments on small-business entrepreneurs.

Romney ads show Obama saying "If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."

"Those ads taking my words about small business out of context? They're flat-out wrong," Obama says, looking into the camera and addressing voters in his 30-second spot. "Of course Americans build their own businesses."

Obama had been talking about the government's supporting role in providing a stable environment in which businesses can thrive.

[Associated Press; By TOM RAUM]

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