Romney, Pawlenty Respond to President's 2012 Announcement

James Devaney/WireImage(WASHINGTON) -- Just hours after President Barack Obama told supporters on Monday that he was officially kicking off his 2012 re-election campaign, several possible Republican presidential hopefuls used the announcement to double-down on their criticism of the president.

All-but-declared presidential contender and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, tweeted Monday morning: "@barackobama I look forward to hearing details on your jobs plan, as are 14m unemployed Americans."

Romney's short comment highlights a point about the shaky economic recovery that Democrats acknowledge could be a vulnerability for Obama as he seeks a second term.

Another likely candidate, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, responded with a dramatic video -- a trademark of his nascent presidential campaign.

“How can America win the future, when we’re losing the present?” Pawlenty asks in the video. “In order for America to take a new direction, it’s going to take a new president.”

The Republican National Committee also chimed by unveiling a new website and ad using the theme, "Hope Isn’t Hiring," pinning the nation's nearly nine percent unemployment rate, a growing national debt and rising gas prices on Obama.

The RNC also took issue with the president over the timing of his announcement.

"President Obama’s reelection campaign is off and running, meaning once again the president is putting politics ahead of the work of the people," RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. "Despite a looming government shutdown, a new military operation in Libya and Tax Day around the corner, President Obama made the decision to focus on kicking off his billion dollar campaign." 

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