Cory Booker backs down from jab at Obama ads

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Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker, a rising star in the Democratic Party, has backed down from comments he made criticizing Obama campaign ads that attack Republican candidate Mitt Romney's record at his former private equity firm Bain Capital.

After the Republican National Committee seized on Booker's comments in an email blast, Mayor Booker sent out a video to Twitter followers Sunday night clarifying his words and reemphasizing his support of the president.

“Mitt Romney has made his business record a centerpiece of his campaign. He’s talked about himself as a job creator and therefore it is reasonable, and I encourage it, for the Obama campaign to examine that record and to discuss it," Booker said.

In an appearance on "Meet the Press" Sunday, Mayor Booker said that Obama's Bain ads contributed to the kind of negative political discourse that is "nauseating to the American public."

“If you look at the totality of Bain Capital’s record they’ve done a lot to support businesses, to grow businesses. And this, to me, I’m very uncomfortable with,” Booker said.

Booker linked Obama's Bain Capital ads with the Republican attacks on Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

"Enough is enough. Stop attacking private equity. Stop attacking Jeremiah Wright," Booker said.

Hoping to capitalize on Booker's gaffe, RNC began an online petition, "I Stand With Cory."

"Yesterday New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker, a surrogate spokesman for the Obama campaign called the president's attacks on the free market "ridiculous". That's right Mr. President, we aren't going to let you destroy free enterprise. Stand up for America. Stand up for job creators," the petition says.

Newark's young Mayor Booker is well-known for his energetic city management strategy, his active Twitter account and highly publicized bouts of heroism.