Mitt Romney Tries to Relate to NASCAR Fans: My Friends Own Teams

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has once again tried to relate to average Americans on Sunday, but ended up propelling the image that he is out of touch.

When asked by an Associated Press reporter if he keeps up with NASCAR, the former Massachusetts governor said: Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans. But I have some great friends who are NASCAR team owners.

Romney had swung by Florida two days ahead of the Michigan and Arizona primaries to visit the Daytona International Speedway ahead of the big NASCAR race (which was pushed back to 7 p.m. on Monday due to weather conditions).

The comment inspired a lot of jokes on Twitter about Romney, who earned his millions in consulting, as CEO of Bain & Co. and founding private equity firm Bain Capital.

I don't know people who fish but I know people who own yachts, tweeted Brad Woodhouse, communications director of the Democratic National Committee, noted CBS News.

Ari Melber, a writer for the liberal Nation magazine, wrote: Do I like movies? Well I have some friends who own movie companies.

Romney's ad-libbing got him into trouble again at a speech at Ford Stadium in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, in which he was trying to compliment the city.

I like the fact that most of the cars I see are Detroit-made automobiles, he said. I drive a Mustang and a Chevy pickup truck. Ann drives a couple of Cadillacs, actually. And I used to have a Dodge truck, so I used to have all three covered.

From the $10,000 bet to claiming he is also unemployed, Romney has put his foot in his mouth a number of times on the campaign trail and at the debates. He has defended his wealth in the past and did so again when he responded to questions about his four cars on Fox News Sunday.

If people think there's something wrong with being successful in America, then they better vote for the other guy, Romney said. Because I've been extraordinarily successful, and I want to use that success and that know-how to help the American people.

Democrats, however, are pouncing on the opportunity to paint Romney as a candidate who doesn't understand the middle class.

This is just the latest example of how out of touch Mitt Romney is from the average American experience, DNC press secretary Melanie Roussell told CBS News. From an economic plan that provides tax cuts to line the pockets of his friends--like those who own NASCAR teams--to wanting Wall Street to write its own rules, Mitt Romney just doesn't get it and won't work to restore economic security for the middle class.