Obama: My career is 'testimony to American exceptionalism'

President Obama defended his record on "American exceptionalism" on Monday, saying that his entire career has been a testimony to that core belief.

"It's worth noting that I first arrived on the national stage with a speech at the Democratic convention that was entirely about American exceptionalism and that my entire career has been a testimony to American exceptionalism," Obama said at a press conference alongside Mexican president Felipe Calderón and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Obama's comments come days after GOP front-runner Mitt Romney said Obama "doesn't have the same feelings about American exceptionalism that we do."

"I think over the last three of four years, some people around the world have begun to question that," Romney said in Wisconsin on Saturday. "On this Tuesday, we have an opportunity — you have an opportunity — to vote, and take the next step in bringing back that special nature of being American."

Asked about Romney's comments at the Rose Garden press conference on Monday, Obama — never mentioning Romney by name — chocked it up to primary season politics.

"I will cut folks some slack for now because they're still trying to get their nomination," Obama said. 

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