Romney dismisses 'too nice' label

SALEM, N.H. — Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney in an interview Monday dismissed concerns he's too nice to be a viable candidate in a vicious race, proving it by taking a swipe at yet-to-announced GOP rival Fred Thompson.

"We all get the chance to go on the talk shows. But it's not the sort of questions you get in the debates or the town meetings that I've had," Romney said in an Associated Press interview, alluding to plans by Thompson to formally announced his candidacy during a planned Wednesday night appearance on the "Tonight Show With Jay Leno."

"The talk show circuit is fine, but the town meetings show you're willing to listen to people and take their questions," continued Romney.

While Thompson, the "Law & Order" television actor and former senator from Tennessee, will be in Los Angeles for the Leno show, Romney will be among the GOP contenders at a Wednesday night debate in Durham., N.H.

"I think it will boost the ratings for Jay Leno's show, but I'd rather be doing well in New Hampshire," Romney earlier told reporters before he marched in a Labor Day parade in Milford, N.H.

Romney also took a jab as Thompson's long-delayed decision to become an official candidate for the GOP nomination.

"Well, I guess the only comment I'd make to Fred Thompson would be: Why the hurry? Why not take a little longer to think this over? From my standpoint, if he wants to wait until January or February, that would be ideal."

But Romney in the AP interview emphasized it would be wrong to write Thompson off.

"He's going to be getting in soon. He's going to be on Jay Leno. I'm sure he'll enjoy that experience. Then he'll be part of the process," said Romney.

While refusing to directly criticize Thompson's campaign, Romney insisted he's not too polite to win his Republican Party's nomination.

"My guess is that you're going to find that we will, at some point, contrast and compare our positions on issues," Romney said. "We can be as tough as we need to be. But I think the best kind of campaign is one where we can focus on issues, our background and our experiences. ... Campaigns have their own energy, and we'll see where it leads."

On another subject during the interview Monday, Romney said he believes Idaho Sen. Larry Craig did the right thing to resign from the Senate after he was caught in a sex sting in a men's room at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.