Mitt Romney

RE: "would need a specific RS source for the word "claims" whichsince WP is not a campaign site". WP may not be a campaign site, but it is apparently being used as one in this regard. The lead on Romney states as fact that he reduced the Massachusetts deficit by $3b. This "fact" is in dispute as the incoming Governor reported that there was actually a $1B deficit left, That deficit had to be (was) addressed by the Governor and the Legislature in the following year. That is a fact. See footnote (currently) #124 for a reference to this.

If this article is to contain "fact" only (no "claims"), then this needs to be removed as this *is* only a claim by Romney, not a fact. Either that or the disputed information noted in the body needs to be included side by side in the lead for balance. Stating this in the lead as fact is at the best misleading, at the worst, blatent manipulation of information by Romney and his campaign.