Republican nominee Mitt Romney criticized sharply the words of Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter, who said Thursday the "entire reason" the terrorist attack in Benghazi has become a major political issue is Romney and Paul Ryan.
MITT ROMNEY: I think today we got another indication of how President Obama and his campaign fail to grasp the seriousness of the challenge that we face here in America. His campaign said this today about the Benghazi terrorist attack—they said this, and I quote, "The entire reason this has become the political topic it is, is because of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan." No, President Obama, it’s an issue because this is the first time in 33 years that an United States ambassador has been assassinated. Mr. President, this is an issue because we were attacked successfully by terrorists on the anniversary of 9/11. President Obama, this is an issue because Americans wonder why it was it took so long for you and your administration to admit that this was a terrorist attack. This is a very serious issue. These are very serious questions and the American people deserve serious answers and I hope they come soon.
Romney was speaking Thursday at a campaign event in Asheville, N.C.