Opposing view: Romney's record belies distortions

• President Obama and his allies have spent hundreds of millions of dollars attacking Mitt Romney.
• Governor Romney's record of results just doesn't fit the dishonest caricature they have tried to falsely construct.
• In contrast, President Obama has consistently pledged one thing and delivered another.

For months, President Obama and his allies have spent hundreds of millions of dollars attacking Mitt Romney, distorting his record and maligning his character.

Yet an interesting thing happened in the past few weeks, particularly in the three nationally televised debates: Americans got to see the real Mitt Romney — a man of steadiness and principle, and a leader who will stand for the values he has embodied throughout his life.

As governor, he inherited a deficit, balanced four budgets without raising taxes, improved his state's credit rating, created jobs and lowered unemployment. These accomplishments should be familiar to anyone following the presidential contest because those same goals are the centerpiece of his economic agenda.

He fought for tax reform and lower rates as governor, and he will as president. He promoted business growth and job creation as governor, and he will as president. He fought to reform education and improve schools as governor, and he will as president.

Governor Romney has focused on critical issues since the day he announced his candidacy: jobs and the economy, small business growth, energy, education and national defense, to name a few. He has consistently spoken of reforming the tax code to broaden the base and provide relief to the middle class. When he recounts his bipartisan accomplishments as governor, or his record of bringing people together to get things done, it's a true reflection of how he has governed — and how he has lived his life.

Unfortunately for his political opponents, Governor Romney's record of results just doesn't fit the dishonest caricature they have tried to falsely construct. That's their political problem. Mitt Romney's strong, positive record speaks for itself.

In contrast, President Obama's record also speaks for itself. It is littered with examples of saying one thing and doing another — adding to the debt, backing defense cuts, failing to create the jobs he promised. He has consistently pledged one thing and delivered another.

Throughout his life, Mitt Romney has been reliable, steadfast and principled — whether serving his family, his church, his community, or his state. He is running for president to help rebuild America. We are lucky to have a man of his character willing to serve, and I am honored to support him.