Romney says super PACs outside his control

CONCORD, N.H., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, campaigning in New Hampshire, says he has no control over attack ads being run by super PACs.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, told Politico Friday he would be breaking the law if he tried to get the independent campaign-financing organizations to do his bidding. The super PAC ads have aggressively targeted Romney's chief rival, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

"The law says that my campaign and I cannot in any way coordinate with the activities of the super PAC. Under federal law, that's something we can't do," Romney said. "So the Supreme Court has laid out what the rules are."

Romney did say he hopes the negative ads cease during the Christmas weekend.

ABC News reported Romney expressed satisfaction with the way his campaign has been going in New Hampshire, where the Republican primary election will be held Jan. 10.

"It's been great," Romney said. "The sense of growing momentum is pretty clear. At each event we go to we get enthusiastic response, people who said they are going to be supporting me. I was amazed I've had a number of folks who are Democrats, independents who say, 'Look I didn't help you last time but I'm going to help you this time.' I think people recognize that the president didn't do the job he said he would and they want someone new."

Manchester's WMUR-TV reported Romney confirmed he would take part in debates slated for the final days before the election.

"Absolutely. I'll be at both debates in New Hampshire that have been proposed," he said as he wound up a three-day bus tour of the state.