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Ann Romney defers same-sex marriage, birth control questions to husband

Posted at 12:39 PM, Sep 08, 2012
and last updated 2012-09-08 12:39:38-04

By CNN’s Dana Davidsen

(CNN) – Ann Romney adamantly stayed on message when asked in an interview with an Iowa television station about same-sex marriage and whether employer-provided health insurance should cover birth control, deferring questions on such issues to the GOP nominee.

Mrs. Romney told KWQC via satellite Friday morning that her message to voters was to trust Mitt Romney to bring the country a sound economic future. But when asked her views on contentious social issues Mrs. Romney firmly adhered to the GOP’s economic message and declined to answer.

“I’m not going to talk about the specific issues. I’m going to let my husband speak on issues,” said Mrs. Romney adding that such issues are a distraction from the focus of the election and what the Republican nominee’s wife says women voters want to talk about-jobs and the economy.

When asked if she believes employer-provided health insurance should be required to cover birth control, Mrs. Romney said, “Again, you’re asking me questions that are not about what this election is going to be about. This election is going to be about the economy and jobs.”

Republican candidate’s wife, a powerful and effective surrogate to her husband’s presidential efforts, insisted that the campaign’s message was focused on fixing the economy, period.

“So really if you want to try to pull me off of the other messages it’s not going to work because I know because I’ve been out there,” said Mrs. Romney.