'The candidate of Yes We Can has become the President of No I Can't': Romney says if Obama can't change Washington from the inside then 'he's going outside!'

By TOBY HARNDEN IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA

PUBLISHED: 16:08 EST, 20 September 2012 | UPDATED: 16:56 EST, 20 September 2012

Mitt Romney has seized on President Barack Obama's statement that he 'can't change Washington from the inside by telling him: 'He can only change it from outside? Well, we're going to give him a chance in November. He's going outside!'

Speaking at a rally in Sarasota, Florida, Romney reacted swiftly to Obama's comment in a Univision television forum: 'The most important lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t change Washington from the inside. You can only change it from the outside.'

Rallying cry: Mitt Romney, speaking in Sarasota, Florida, on Thursday said he can change Washington from the inside

Romney said this amounted to Obama throwing in 'the white flag of surrender'.

The Republican nominee said this meant that Obama's 2008 slogan had been altered: 'His slogan was "Yes we can". His slogan now is "No I can't". It's time for a new president.'

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Declaring that the candidate of change in 2008 was now the candidate of a status quo that had brought in economic disaster, Romney said it was he who was now taking on the mantle of change.

'I can change Washington. I will change Washington and we'll get the job done from the inside. He can't do it.'