Booker criticizes attack on Mitt Romney

>>> to domestic presidential politics . it's happened again. sunday morning on "meet the press" it was another comment by a politician that was rather stunning at first. still tonight it has both campaigns scrambling though it's been amended because it was a member of the obama team lobbing what looked like friendly fire at the obama campaign criticizing an attack on mitt romney . he was expected to defend. our report tonight from peter alexander .

>> reporter: the stinging critique of the obama campaign 's attack on mitt romney 's experience at bain capital came from an unlikely source, one of president obama 's own surrogates -- newark mayor cory booker on "meet the press."

>> if you look at the record at bain capital , they have done a lot to support businesses, grow businesses. this to me i'm very uncomfortable with. this kind of stuff is nauseating to me on both sides. it's nauseating to the american public. enough is enough.

>> reporter: just hours later responding to pressure from fellow democrats booker backtracked.

>> he's talked about himself as a job creator. therefore, it is reasonable and, in fact, i encourage it for the obama campaign to examine that record.

>> reporter: still, republicans quickly tried to capitalize using booker's remarks to raise money . on a day when the obama campaign hoped to highlight romney 's role at bain featuring a bankrupt company where hundreds lost jobs.

>> mitt romney didn't care about us as workers. they were looking at the mighty dollar.

>> reporter: the president had to defend his campaign's focus on romney 's business background arguing booker's comments weren't a distraction.

>> if your main argument for how to grow the economy is i knew how to make a lot of money for investors then you are missing what this job is about. my job is to take into account everybody, not just some.

>> both sides are scrambling to imprint an image upon the voters about what the bain capital experience was good for romney or bad for other people.

>> reporter: a senior adviser for the romney campaign says the bain attacks are so old they have cobwebs. but it's clear the obama campaign plans to use them again. peter alexander , nbc news, washington.