Mitt Romney gaffes: 11 times the button-down candidate should have buttoned up

In politics, a gaffe is often described as a "truth told by accident." Mitt Romney has had relatively few of them during his time in politics, but when the former governor of Massachusetts commits one, it can be a doozy – and a distraction. Here’s a list of the most memorable.

9. ‘Hanging’ Obama with a misery index

Wilfredo Lee/AP
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign stop in November in Medley, Fla.

Back in April, Romney sought to tie the nation’s economic troubles to Obama, but chose words that he immediately knew were problematic – given Obama’s race. 

“We're going to have to talk about that, and housing foreclosures and bankruptcies and higher taxation,” Romney said.  “We're going to hang him, uh, so to speak, metaphorically, with, uh, with, uh – you have to be careful these days, I've learned that – with an Obama Misery Index."

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