Romney Campaign: We Never Asked For Ted Nugent’s Endorsement

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Contrary to reports from the time, the Romney campaign says it never sought the endorsement of conservative shock rocker Ted Nugent. On Tuesday, the Romney campagin distanced itself from Nugent’s incendiary speech at the NRA convention over the weekend. And on Wednesday, it went further, telling NBC News Romney “never solicited” the backing of Nugent, who has a long history of violent rhetoric toward Democrats. 

Here’s the NBC News clip:

Romney’s recounting of the events leading to the endorsement run counter to those of Nugent’s reported back in March when Nugent joined Team Romney. The Texas Tribune reported Nugent’s side of the story in March:

It was on a phone call with the candidate earlier today that Nugent gave his blessing. He talked to Romney by phone while he was at a sporting goods store in Michigan “celebrating the orgy of guns and ammos and bows and arrows and camouflage clothing and hunting and fishing and outdoor family supplies.”

Before endorsing him, Nugent demanded that Romney pledge there would be no new gun laws or restrictions on Second Amendment rights in his administration. Romney obliged.

As noted in the NBC News report, once Nugent endorsed him, Romney and his son heralded Nugent’s decision publicly. 

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