CONCORD, N.H.—Mitt Romney accused President Barack Obama of trying to institute a "promises reset" instead of explaining to the country why he had not delivered on the goals he vowed to accomplish in his first term.
Making a surprise appearance at the launch of a veterans group in support of his campaign, Romney lashed out at Obama ahead of his speech at the Democratic National Convention, predicting the president will offer the country nothing but empty rhetoric.
"What I'd like him to do is report on his promises, but there are forgotten promises and forgotten people," Romney said.
He accused Obama of not delivering on plans to create jobs, reduce the deficit and jumpstart the economy. "I think this is a time for him not to start restating new promises but to report on the promises he made," Romney said. "I think he wants a promises reset."
Asked if he'd watched any of the Democratic convention, including former President Bill Clinton's speech Wednesday night, Romney he hadn't "so far." Asked if he would watch Obama's speech, Romney curtly replied, "Uh, don't plan on it."
But the candidate, who was walking away, abruptly stopped and expanded on his answer. "I'd love to watch it," Romney said, adding he would if Obama were to "report on the promises he made and how he has performed on those promises."
"But if it's another series of new promises that he's not going to keep, I have no interest in seeing him because I saw the promises last time," he said. "Those are promises he did not keep, and the American people deserve to know why he did not keep his promises."
Romney also defended his decision not to mention Afghanistan in his Republican National Convention speech—a decision that has been the subject of major criticism from Democrats during their convention this week.
The GOP candidate pointed to a speech he had delivered before the American Legion the day before his RNC speech—which he described as a "complete address about my commitment to the military."
He ignored a reporter who pointed out that his RNC address was before a much larger audience and trashed Obama for being "too busy" to address the American Legion even though he had been invited.
"I went to the American Legion, described my views with regards to our military, my commitment to our military, my commitment to our men and women in uniform," Romney said. "Actually in my speech I also talked about keeping our military commitment high, unlike our president who was planning on cutting it."