Rivals Seize Upon Romney Aide’s “Etch A Sketch” Remark

Democrats and Republicans alike are criticizing Mitt Romney after a top adviser likened him to an Etch A Sketch.

Eric Fehrnstrom was asked during a TV interview Wednesday if the GOP primary was pushing the former Massachusetts governor too far to the right. Fehrnstrom replied: "It's almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again" when the general election begins.

Romney rival Rick Santorum said Republicans need to pick a candidate "firmly on the rocks of freedom, not on the sands of an Etch A Sketch toy."

Newt Gingrich added that like the toy's images, Romney's positions "aren't permanent, their pictures aren't locked down. You can redo it any time you want."

Democrats, meanwhile, mocked Romney in a new web video.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)