(Newser)
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Ann Romney is ecstatic that her horse Rafalca and co-owner/rider Jan Eberling are in 13th place as the mare heads into today's dressage competition, but her husband isn't crowing about it. CNN takes another look at horse, noting it "could be [a] political liability." The horse "fits into the narrative the Democrats are trying to put forward that Romney is wealthy and out of touch with the typical [American]," said University of Kentucky political science professor Donald Gross. MoveOn.org is running a new attack ad stirring up the horse waters. It points out that the Romneys spend an estimated $77,000 a year for Rafalca's upkeep.
The spot, delivered in a snooty accent by a video horse posing as Rafalca, concludes: "After Mitt Romney repeals health care and ships your jobs overseas, I daresay your life won't be nearly as pampered as mine. After all, you're not one of his horses." Even conservatives are embarrassed by the horse, notes CNN. "I'm not sure why the horse has to be in the most upper-class hoity-toity Olympic event ever invented," conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer said on Fox News recently. "It's unnecessary." One observer quipped to CNN: "If I were the Romney campaign I'd be hoping the Romney horse finishes fourth."
