![Romney Advisor's 'Etch A Sketch' Comment Shakes Up The Web [VIDEO]](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/archives/06yHtgWoWpZdFroLe9fMBLO/hero-image.fill.size_1248x702.v1647020782.jpg)
An "Etch A Sketch" Romney campaign gaffe is spreading around the political web like wildfire.
Eric Fehrnstrom, one of Mitt Romney's senior advisors, told CNN's "Starting Point" Wednesday morning that winning the Republican primary would allow his campaign to "hit a reset button." But then came the quote that's gone viral:
"Everything changes. It's like Etch A Sketch," he said. "You can shake it up and we start all over again."
Political commentators seized on the quote, suggesting that it shows Romney's plan to present himself as a more moderate Republican after he locks up the nomination. Within moments, the political twittersphere lit up with the "Etch A Sketch" comment. It soon achieved trending status in Washington, D.C. and then around the world.
Fehrnstrom just said on CNN that "you set the reset button for the general election". It's like "an etch-a-sketch" #gop2012 #watchOut— Scott M. Ferson (@scottferson) March 21, 2012
Mark it down: Etch-a-Sketch will be in '12 what flip-flop was in '04— Sam Youngman (@samyoungman) March 21, 2012
The only response to Etch-a-Sketch gate? A staff shake-up. #ohgodimsorry #thepuns— daveweigel (@daveweigel) March 21, 2012
It didn't take long for Romney's rivals to attack him for Fehrnstrom's comments. Rick Santorum brought out an Etch A Sketch at a campaign event to assail Romney's status as a true conservative:
And here comes the Etch-a-Sketch. instagr.am/p/Icem6BrA3f/— Lindsey Boerma (@Lindsey_CBSNJ) March 21, 2012
And Newt Gingrich joined in via Twitter as well:
Etch a Sketch is a great toy but a losing strategy. We need a nominee w/ bold conservative solutions. Newt.org #RomneyToys— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) March 21, 2012
And Democrats pounded away at Romney, too, who at the moment stands the best chance of becoming the Republican's nominee for president. Within hours, they produced a 48-second YouTube clip entitled "Mitt Romney: Some Things You Can't Shake Off."
Mitt has a lot of shaking to do on his Etch A Sketch—words like "Let Detroit go bankrupt" leave a mark. #RomneyToys twitter.com/TheDemocrats/s…— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) March 21, 2012
At a campaign event, Romney was forced to defend the Etch A Sketch comments:
AP: "Romney is trying to shake accusations that he's an inconsistent conservative after a top adviser compared him to an Etch A Sketch toy."— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) March 21, 2012
Even the Ohio Arts Company, which produces the Etch A Sketch, got in on the trending action. In a statement, the company took pride in the way its product was "shaking up the national debate."