Mitt Romneybot says Aurora tragedy has restarted the presidential campaign

No really, he actually said it. (Reuters)
Okay, let's say you're a presidential candidate coming off a brutal few weeks of campaigning and you decide to do an interview with CNBC's Larry Kudlow and this is the first question you get:

KUDLOW: Before we dig into some of the economic and money issues, let me just ask you after this horrendous tragic Aurora movie shooting, has the campaign now restarted in your judgment? Are we starting the campaign again?

Yeah, I know it's a dumb question, but your answer is short and simple, and whatever you do, you don't talk about the political implications of the shooting. Perhaps you say something like: "Larry, the shooting was a tragedy. Pundits can debate the politics, but I think this is a time for America to come together and support the people of Aurora. When it comes to tragedy like this, there's no Democratic Party, there's no Republican Party, we're all Americans, and my heart goes out to the victims of this senseless violence."

But you're not Mitt Romney. His answer?

Gov. ROMNEY: Yes. I think we are, but we're starting also with a level of thoughtfulness and seriousness that I think is appropriate in the aftermath of a tragedy of this nature. Obviously, the campaigns are under way. We're talking about our respective views and at the same time, our hearts are heavy as we think about the funerals that'll be held this week and the families that have been so tragically altered by virtue of the loss of life.

I mean, I'd forgive Romney for being awkward in response to such a ridiculous question, but calling the tragedy in Aurora an opportunity to shake the campaign Etch A Sketch clean? Seriously, who says things like that? What is wrong with him?