Romney: Obama Home State 'In Play'

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney thinks he can beat President Barack Obama, not only on the national level but in his home state. Romney said Thursday that Illinois is “in play” for next year’s presidential race, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.

“I know we’re only a couple of blocks away from President Obama’s re-election headquarters, but there’s no state that is safe for President Obama given the performance of our economy,” Romney said. “I like the president. He’s a nice guy. But he doesn’t have leadership experience.”

Considered the Republican front-runner, Romney made his remarks at a campaign stop at Gino’s East, where he ate Chicago-style pizza.

One the guest eating lunch with Romney asked him about health care reform.
“He came to Washington with an agenda which said, ‘I’m going to push through my health care proposal,’” Romney said, referring to Obama.

Romney has defended a similar program that he championed while he served as governor. The difference, Romney said, was that Obama is telling the states what health plan to adopt while Massachusetts chose its own, Romney said.