Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Thursday night he is not sure where fellow presidential candidate Rick Perry stands on Social Security, adding that the Texas governor faces “some challenges” if he hopes to garner the GOP nomination.
“Well, you know, I'm not sure where Governor Perry is going to land because what he said in his book — and what he said in the interviews as he was promoting his book — was that Social Security is unconstitutional, and it should be returned to the states,” Romney told Fox News’ Sean Hannity following the GOP debate.
“What he said on the stage tonight was different than that, so we’ll see whether he wants to abandon or retreat from the position he had before — and so time will tell exactly where he is,” Romney said. “But my view is pretty straightforward, which is: Social Security does not work financially for coming generations — it’s [been] great in the last 75 years — it’s helped our seniors, it will continue to do so, but people who are young today, we got [to] change the program, make it sustainability.
“I think I can fix Social Security — I know how to fix things — that is what I’ve done throughout my private sector career,” he said. “And Governor Perry, if he continues to say it should go back to the state, I think that’s a very problematic course.”
Romney said candidates must choose their words carefully, especially during presidential debates.
“That's why when you write a book you're pretty careful — it’s like being very careful because if you're running for president those things will come back and haunt you,” Romney said.
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