WASHINGTON -- Speaking to an occasionally rowdy crowd two days before the Ames Straw poll, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made what seems likely to become a much-discussed flub, declaring to a group of Iowans that "corporations are people." 
 
 Pressed by an attendee at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday as to why he was focusing on entitlement reforms as a means of deficit reduction over asking corporations to share part of the burden, the GOP frontrunner shot back: 
 
 "Corporations are people, my friend... of course they are. Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to the people. Where do you think it goes? Whose pockets? Whose pockets? People's pockets. Human beings my friend." 
 
 The comment was immediately pounced on by Democrats, who saw it as another example of Romney being uncomfortable on the stump and inartful in his attempts to come off as an everyday pol. 
 
 "This is what Mitt Romney is going to run on? Corporations are people? Really?" said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Brad Woodhouse. "There's a great message for people struggling to get by and trying to make ends meet. Don't complain -- corporations are people too!" 
 
 Speaking at the Des Moines Register soapbox, Romney was also interrupted by a heckler who asked if if he supported "scrapping the Social Security payroll cap so that rich people pay their fair share into the trust fund?" 
 
 Romney responded, "There was a time in this country where we didn't celebrate attacking people based on their success. We didn't go after people because they were successful. I've watched this president go across the country attacking people, and I... and I am... if you want to speak, you can speak. But right now it's my turn, so let me continue." 
 
 The presidential contender went on to underscore his bottom line. "If you don't like my answer, you can vote for someone else," he said. 
 
 The situation that unfolded comes ahead of Thursday night's Republican presidential primary debate in the Hawkeye State. It also comes two days before the Ames Straw Poll, a test of conservative strength and table-setter for next year's Iowa caucuses that will take place on Saturday. While Romney will appear on the ballot, he is not actively campaigning to lock up support ahead of the event. 
 
 "As you know I participated in a major way in a straw poll four years ago," Romney said in addressing his decision to forego the straw poll during an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity" on Wednesday night. "Some of the benefit I already was able to accrue based upon what happened last time around... I want to use my financial resources and my time this time to actually get delegates, not the straw polls -- they are nice but don't get you delegates -- I'm not going to participate in the straw polls anywhere in the country." 
 
 More video of the heckling, from AP: ||||| Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s (R) exchange with a few hecklers turned into something of a shouting match while he was stumping Thursday in Iowa. 
 
 Romney faced aggressive inquiries with a liberal bent at the top of the question-and-answer segment of his soapbox speech, which was organized by the The Des Moines Register and broadcast on C-SPAN. 
 
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 He also waged a defense of low taxes for corporations with a response — “Corporations are people, my friend” — on which Democrats quickly seized. 
 
 The first two questioners pointedly asked Romney why he wouldn’t raise the cap on Social Security taxes, or promise not to cut Medicare benefits. 
 
 “If you want to speak, you can speak. But right now, it’s my turn,” Romney said, raising his voice toward the questioners, who bantered back-and-forth with him. 
 
 But it was his last line in response to a heckler that might stick with Romney the longest. 
 
 Democrats giddily circulated coverage of the comment; Democratic National Committee (DNC) communications director Brad Woodhouse emailed reporters an article about the remark with the subject line “BRUTAL.” 
 
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 Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom, who’s traveling in Iowa with the candidate, doubled down on the candidate’s remarks. 
 
 “Do folks think corporations are buildings?” he quipped. “They're people who incorporate to conduct business. They create jobs and hire more people.” 
 
 For the Romney campaign, the fear about such a remark is that it threatens to underscore perceptions about Romney that he's out of touch. The former Massachusetts governor appeared to have a tin ear earlier this summer when he joked with Florida supporters that he's “also unemployed.” 
 
 The tentative front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination accused the hecklers of wanting to raise taxes. The back-and-forth persisted throughout the Q-and-A period, which took place at the Register’s booth at the Iowa State Fair. 
 
 “If you don’t like my answer, you can go vote for someone else,” he said. “If you want someone who will raise taxes, you can vote for Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaWebb: President Trump is the elephant in the room Overnight Defense: Trump pulls US out of Iran nuke deal | Reaction and fallout | Obama calls decision a 'serious mistake' | Show of force for CIA pick | New questions after briefing on Niger Overnight Finance: Deal on Dodd-Frank rollback | Trump pulls US out of Iran nuke deal | House votes to repeal auto-loan guidance, setting new precedent MORE.” 
 
 
 
 
 
 This story was posted at 12:02 p.m. and updated at 1:30.
– Mitt Romney's appearance at the Iowa State Fair today got lively when he sparred with audience members at a Q&A, reports the Hill. "If you don’t like my answer, you can go vote for someone else," he said at one point. "If you want someone who will raise taxes, you can vote for Barack Obama." One person accused him of not asking corporations to kick in their fair share, prompting this response: "Corporations are people, my friend... of course they are. Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to the people. Where do you think it goes? Whose pockets? Whose pockets? People's pockets. Human beings my friend." Democrats already are pouncing, notes the Huffington Post. "This is what Mitt Romney is going to run on? Corporations are people? Really?" said party communications chief Brad Woodhouse. During the exchanges, Romney drew applause from supporters with this line: "There was a time in this country where we didn't celebrate attacking people based on their success."