Former New Hampshire Governor John Sununu, one of Romney’s top surrogates, told reporters on a conference call that he wished Obama “would learn to be an American.”

Obama has repeatedly sought to end speculation by many conservatives that he was not born in the United States and thus not legally able to serve as president. Romney has repeatedly tried to avoid the so-called “birther” issue, and Sununu was quick to retreat from his statement. 

“What I thought I said but what I didn’t say is the president has to learn the American formula for creating business,” Sununu said.

READ ON: Romney campaign says Obama should “learn to be an American”

Photo credit: Mitt Romney greets workers at a food bank in Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 10, 2012. REUTERS/Rick Wilking