U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., went to bat for Mitt Romney, defending him in the wake of comments he made at a private fundraiser in May.

“Governor Romney is reaching out to average Americans with a plan to get people working again because the president's policies have not worked,” she said on Sunday's episode of Meet the Press.

Ayotte squared off with Gov. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., on Sunday's nationally televised show as host David Gregory asked about Romney's comments and President Barack Obama's economic record.

In a video recently leaked to the media, Romney is seen telling financial supporters that he believes 47 percent of the population will vote for Obama because they are dependant on the government.

“There are 47 percent who are with (Obama,) who are dependent upon government, who believe that — that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they're entitled to health care, to food, to housing. To you name it,” Romney said.

When pressed by Gregory on the impact of this statement on the presidential race, Ayotte said it is not how Romney will lead.

“You know, David that certainly was a political analysis at a fundraiser, but it's not a governing philosophy,” she said. “(Romney) absolutely has a vision for a 100 percent of America and that is very different from this President, really getting our economy moving.”

Ayotte said Romney is concerned about the record number of Americans receiving food stamp benefits when they would rather be working.

“I see 15 million more people on food stamps that don't want to be there,” she said. “I see 47 million overall Americans on food stamps that want a good job.”

Patrick said the comments show Romney does not care about people who need assistance.

“May I just say David that I — it's just shocking to me that a candidate could aspire to be president by turning his back on half the country,” he said.

Gregory told Ayotte and Patrick that government data shows that 49 percent of Americans receive some kind of government assistance, and that food stamp enrollment has gone from 28.2 million people in 2008 to 47 million people presently. Ayotte said this highlights the poor job Obama has done with the economy.

“I think where we are is that too many people have to rely on food stamps or unemployment benefits instead of a good job,” she said.

Patrick said Obama has added more private sector jobs in the last two years, 4.6 million, that George W. Bush added in eight years.

When asked about Romney's recently released tax returns for 2011, showing he paid about $1.9 million, or a little more than 14 percent of his income, in taxes, Patrick said that is not really an issue.

“I think, (the) important issue is what is it he plans to do with my taxes and yours and everybody — everybody else?” Patrick said. “He has a tax plan out there where he's talking about five trillion dollars in — in tax cuts, adding to the — to the deficit, no way to pay for that and no idea about how — what the impact is on the middle class.”

Ayotte said Romney's plan will spur economic growth and help create jobs, unlike the last four years under Obama.

“In fact the last jobs report show that for every job added, four people have left the workforce because the President, let's not forget the President and Democrats were in charge the first two years,” she said. “The policies they passed didn't deal with where we're (at in) the economy.”

Asked about a proposal from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., to impose a minimum federal income tax, Patrick said it is something that ought to be considered.

“(We) all have a stake in educating our kids. We all have a stake in ensuring that this country is well defended. We all have a stake in investing in the infrastructure that creates a platform for economic growth and — and opportunity and indeed we all have a stake in the American dream,” Patrick said.

Ayotte continued to argue the economy needs to be revived by Romney. Gregory asked about comments from U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, who recently attacked Obama on the economy.

“With 14 percent [black] unemployment, if we had a white president we'd be marching around the White House,” Cleaver said.

Patrick defended Obama's job on the economy, blaming much of the problems on the policies of President George W. Bush.

“We've had the worst economic environment in a generation or two, since the Great Depression,” Patrick said. “And that was caused, by the way, by some of the very policies that Governor Romney is urging on the country today.”

Ayotte said the weak economy has been hindered by Obama's policies.

“(This) is the worst economic recovery since World War II,” she said. “And (Romney) has a plan to make sure that we simplify lower rates, make it a better tax climate for everyone — for everyone and make sure that we get people to work, our regulatory climate where small businesses want to thrive and grow. It's been the opposite with (Obama.) I would say he tried, but his policies failed,” she said.

dfisher@unionleader.com