WOLFEBORO, N.H. – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gave President Barack Obama an “F” grade for his handling of the economy Tuesday, saying he is “one of the most ineffective presidents at the job at hand that I’ve ever seen.”
Romney made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Jamie Gangel for NBC’s “Today” show at his vacation home in Wolfeboro, N.H.
“He didn’t cause that, but he made things worse,” Romney said of Obama’s handling of the economy. “I believe I can get our economy going again,” he added.
Romney also zinged Obama on foreign policy, saying the president had “embarrassed himself.”
“He doesn’t have a foreign policy. The president has embarrassed himself there and around the world,” he said. “Is Iran closer to a bomb? Yes. Is North Korea more turbulent and assertive? Yes. Does Israel feel greater peace? No.”
The 64-year-old also offered some insights into his music collection and reading and television preferences. He owns an iPhone and iPad but no iPod, he said, and prefers listening to music on his tablet device.
“A lot of 60’s music and some 70’s music, mostly rock,” he said when asked what music he listens to. “I like country music. The Beatles, I mean the Beatles were phenomenal.”
He also revealed that he regularly watches “American Idol.”
“I watched and this year with Scotty winning, that was terrific. That guy’s got talent!” Romney said of this year’s winner of the hit FOX show, Scott McCreery.
As for the books he has been reading, Romney said he likes to mix serious reading with fun reading. The fun: Steve Martini’s adventure thriller, “The Rule of Nine.” On the more serious side, Romney said he had just finished reading George W. Bush’s memoir “Decision Points,” saying he “enjoyed that very much.”
Romney revealed that he thinks “South Park” is “funny” and said he was also familiar with the latest vampire craze because of one of his granddaughters. “I like the Twilight series, I thought that was fun,” he said.
Romney, who will formally announce his second campaign for the presidency Thursday in Stratham, N.H., said he thinks his chances for winning the presidency are “very good.”
“Yeah I probably do give myself better than 50-50 odds,” Romney said when asked about whether he can unseat Obama. “But it’s up to the American people. I’ll tell them what I believe and if that works, great.”