'Devoid of charm, offensive and a wazzock'
Romney's disastrous day in London after saying he didn't know if Olympics would be a success
Mitt Romney may not be looking for votes on his trip to London for the start of the Olympics this week, but he is certainly hoping to be taken seriously.
Having attacked Barack Obama's foreign policy record, the GOP presidential hopeful will have been keen to establish his credentials as a foreign policy leader.
However, after a series of gaffes, Mr Romney has been on the sharp end of a series of tongue-lashings from the press, government officials and even leading politicians.
The Republican's most damaging blunder came when he questioned whether his hosts would be able to make a success of the Games, saying: 'It's hard to know just how well it will turn out.'
This remark later rebounded on him, when Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world.
'Of course it's easier if you hold an Olympic games in the middle of nowhere.'
Some interpreted that as a dig against Mr Romney, who was reponsible for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Speaking in front of a huge crowd in Hyde Park, Mayor of London Boris Johnson took the criticism further, shouting: 'There's a guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know if we are ready. 'Are we ready? Yes we are!' Speaking anonymously behind the scenes, officials were even more scathing in their verdicts, describing Mr Romney's second day in London as a 'total car crash' and saying he was 'worse than Sarah Palin'. Another official who met with the former Governor of Massachusetts said he was 'apparently devoid of charm, warmth, humour or sincerity'. As well as his Olympic gaffes, Mr Romney caused controversy by apparently forgetting the name of Labour leader Ed Miliband while the pair were meeting.
In front of reporters at the Houses of Parliament, he said to Mr Miliband: 'Like you, Mr Leader, I look forward to our conversation this morning.'
Another blunder came when he referred to a briefing he had with John Sawers, head of the Secret Intelligence Service, as such meetings are supposed to be confidential. The British media was quick to launch into Mr Romney in the wake of his disastrous day.
The Daily Telegraph's Lucy Jones branded him a 'wazzock' (which the Urban Dictionary defines as 'an idiot or daft person') after the candidate questioned Britain's desire to host the Games.
She said: 'Who does Mitt Romney think he is? I feel a glimmer of protectiveness and pride... there's one thing Romney could learn while he's in Britain this week: some manners.'
Nicholas Watt, from the Guardian, tweeted of his U-turn: 'Mitt Romney rowing back like mad on Olympics: Now says outside No 10 games to be a great success.'
Meanwhile, Paul Harris said: 'Good old Mitt. His charm offensive in the UK failed to be charming, but he really pulled off the offensive bit #gop #romney.'
James Kirkup, also from the Telegraph, drew attention to Mr Cameron's response to Romney's comments.
'Mr Romney made his name salvaging the Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2002, an achievement he may think qualifies him to comment on preparations for London 2012,' he said.
'In the context of Mr Romney's glittering resumé, one of Mr Cameron's (faintly defensive) comments bears particular attention: "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it's easier if you hold an Olympic games in the middle of nowhere."
'Some cynics thought that the "middle of nowhere" comment could just be a swipe at Salt Lake City, which is quite near the middle of, er, Utah. Terrible people, cynics.'