Romney claims outsider role in tea party speech

[September 06, 2011]  CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Mitt Romney is trying to appeal to tea party activists by presenting himself as an outsider with less political experience than the rest of the Republican presidential field.

Speaking Sunday evening in New Hampshire, the former Massachusetts governor said career politicians cannot fix the nation's problems.

The appearance was Romney's most anticipated speech before a tea party crowd. Roughly 200 people crowded into a local park for a rally hosted by the Tea Party Express.

But Romney did not change his stump speech for the new crowd. He didn't even utter the words "tea party."

Tea Party Express Chairman Amy Kremer said she wasn't offended and gave Romney credit for showing up.

Some tea party activists held an anti-Romney rally in the same park shortly before he spoke.

[Associated Press; By STEVE PEOPLES]

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