Obama campaign stretches to hang 'empty stadium' label on Mitt Romney

Brett T. | 9:04 PM on September 07, 2012

So, when talking “optics,” what’s worse — a partially filled stadium, or an empty stadium that you just know would have been full if only the weather had cooperated?

Lis Smith, Obama for America’s director of rapid response, called out Mitt Romney for speaking Friday to a “partially filled stadium” while President Obama drew a huge crowd in New Hampshire.

While @MittRomney again speaks to a partially-filled stadium, this is what greeted @BarackObama in NH today: pic.twitter.com/JLXaoPSY

— Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) September 7, 2012

After Obama’s DNC acceptance speech was moved indoors from Bank of America stadium, a photo of an empty stadium would certainly be a prize to hang on Romney. The source for the “partially filled” and “empty” claims? A photo tweeted by Romney press secretary Rick Gorka and retweeted by an Obama press secretary — taken from behind the stage at Holman Stadium in Nashua, N.H.

wow – place is empty RT @Rick_GorkaThe view from shallow left center of the event in Nashua. #RomneyRyan2012 http://t.co/RzjqGmCh

— Michael Czin (@MikeCzin) September 7, 2012

So, what was going on in front of the stage at this empty stadium?

OK, so it’s not empty. Local reporters described the stadium as “just about full.” Those lying liars at the Romney campaign had another trick up their sleeves, though. Justin Hart, director of special projects for the Romney campaign, tried to pass off a spelling of “MITT” in the stands as a spontaneous event.

Folks at the #MittNashua rally organized themselves in the stands. How cool is this? http://t.co/EXvE7PVr

— Justin Hart (@justin_hart) September 7, 2012

Fact check! A quick investigation by the Obama campaign team unveiled the shocking truth: organizers of the event had planned the cards in advance.

Um pic.twitter.com/38aSWXLS RT @justin_hart Folks at #MittNashua rally organized themselves in stands. How cool is this? http://t.co/0exVbCoJ

— Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) September 7, 2012

Where will the lies end?

Reserved seating sign requiring audience participation at Romney rally "reserved for willing participants only" pic.twitter.com/B0hwrKO8

— Scott Foster (@scottwfoster) September 7, 2012

@Lis_Smith @justin_hart Nothing wrong with organizing rally attendees to spell out a sign-message — just with lying about it.

— Eric Kleefeld (@EricKleefeld) September 7, 2012

Exactly –> RT @EricKleefeld Nothing wrong with organizing rally attendees to spell out a sign-message — just with lying about it.

— Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) September 8, 2012

What a strange thing to lie about RT @nycsouthpaw: Romney campaign tweet: https://t.co/PX3bNb3z FACT CHECK: https://t.co/bibPDyAt

— Teddy Goff (@teddygoff) September 8, 2012

Indeed, an “empty” stadium full of people is a strange thing to lie about.