7 Republicans running from Mitt Romney's 47 percent remark

Plenty of GOPers second Romney's comments about government-dependent moochers. Republicans who have to face voters are a little more leery

Mitt Romney addresses an audience in Virginia Beach, Va., on Sept. 8. Although Romney vowed Wednesday that he's for "100 percent of America," several prominent Republicans are still distancin
(Image credit: AP Photo/Rich-Joseph Facun)

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney isn't exactly walking away from his damaging comments, captured by a hidden camera at a Florida fundraiser in May, that he won't even try to win over the "entitled" 47 percent of voters who pay no income tax and who refuse to "take personal responsibility and care for their lives." And plenty of conservative commentators have his back. It's a different story with GOP lawmakers and candidates, though. Many Republican officeholders are following the tack of Romney's running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who said the comments were sound but Romney was "obviously inarticulate in making his point." But others are going the "Romney who?" route, especially those facing close elections or voters in blue and purple states. "Depending on how this plays out, I'd expect to see some other Republicans follow suit with this distancing," says Doug Mataconis at Outside the Beltway. Here are seven Republicans who have already decidedly disowned Romney's "47 percent" argument:

1. Linda McMahon (GOP Senate candidate, Conn.)

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