On Tuesday's NBC Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams smugly dismissed Mitt Romney's overseas trip as having, "ended today almost the way it started here in London, with controversy, some hurt feelings, and some raw tempers. Campaigning back home in the states is hard enough. The stakes weren't supposed to be this high for the campaign overseas." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
Correspondent Peter Alexander followed: "...this trip has been supposed to be, according to his advisors, a low-risk one....But it was at times marred by missteps. Romney offending his Olympic hosts and Palestinian leaders."
Alexander touted reporters inappropriately shouting questions during Romney's visit to Poland's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as more evidence of "missteps": "Tensions grew today between the press and the campaign over restricted access. And this morning it boiled over when Romney ignored shouted questions and a press aide angrily intervened." Alexander also highlighted the incident on Tuesday's Today show.
Wrapping up his Nightly News report, Alexander proclaimed: "Be very clear tonight, Brian, this did not go the way the campaign had planned. And tonight, as they land back in Boston, they are all happy to be focusing on what they think is the top issue in this election, the economy."
Here is a full transcript of the July 31 report:
7:06PM ET
PETER ALEXANDER: Brian, good evening to you. Here in Poland, Mitt Romney wrapped up his week-long foreign tour visiting several war memorials and also praising the Polish people and their thriving small government, free enterprise economy. He made it clear that this trip has been supposed to be, according to his advisors, a low-risk one, with Romney projecting the image of a leader ready for the world stage. But it was at times marred by missteps. Romney offending his Olympic hosts and Palestinian leaders. Tensions grew today between the press and the campaign over restricted access. And this morning it boiled over when Romney ignored shouted questions and a press aide angrily intervened.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN [REPORTER]: Governor Romney, just a few questions sir! You haven't taken but three questions on this trip from the press!
UNIDENTIFIED MAN B [ROMNEY PRESS AIDE]: Show some respect, Jim. Kiss my ass. This is a holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect.
ALEXANDER: That press aide later apologized to reporters. But be very clear tonight, Brian, this did not go the way the campaign had planned. And tonight, as they land back in Boston, they are all happy to be focusing on what they think is the top issue in this election, the economy.
WILLIAMS: Peter Alexander in Warsaw. Peter, thanks.
