Romney receives 1st intelligence briefing

[September 18, 2012]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has received his first regular intelligence briefing from the Obama administration, during a stop in Los Angeles.

Romney spokesman Rick Gorka says the former Massachusetts governor met Monday with members of the intelligence community at a federal building. Romney's briefing lasted two hours.

The meetings are customary for major-party candidates after their nominating conventions and require a security clearance.

The lack of intelligence briefings drew attention last week when Romney struggled to respond to a violent clash in Libya that left four Americans dead, including an ambassador. Before the deaths were confirmed, Romney mischaracterized the incident in his initial statement and accused President Barack Obama of a "disgraceful" handling of violence.

[Associated Press; By KEN THOMAS]

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