Before President Barack Obama even gave his State of the Union address, the Republican opposition to it began. Mitt Romney criticized the State of the Union in Florida and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels released excerpts from the official Republican Party response. 

Daniels' full speech is available on Speaker Boehner's website. Here is an excerpt:

“The status of ‘loyal opposition’ imposes on those out of power some serious responsibilities: to show respect for the Presidency and its occupant, to express agreement where it exists.  Republicans tonight salute our President, for instance, for his aggressive pursuit of the murderers of 9/11, and for bravely backing long overdue changes in public education.  I personally would add to that list admiration for the strong family commitment that he and the First Lady have displayed to a nation sorely needing such examples.

“On these evenings, Presidents naturally seek to find the sunny side of our national condition.  But when President Obama claims that the state of our union is anything but grave, he must know in his heart that this is not true.
“We will advance our positive suggestions with confidence, because we know that Americans are still a people born to liberty. There is nothing wrong with the state of our Union that the American people, addressed as free-born, mature citizens, cannot set right.  Republicans in 2012 welcome all our countrymen to a program of renewal that rebuilds the dream for all, and makes our ‘city on a hill’ shine once again.”

GOP hopeful Mitt Romney also made comments about the speech, giving a "prebuttal' to Obama's speech.

“He will give a nice speech with a lot of memorable phrases, but he won’t give you the hard numbers,” Romney told the Washington Post.  Romney did not have a copy of the speech when he made his comments.

Romney made his comments in a speech in Florida. He blamed Obama for failing to bring the unemployment rate down. He also said that Obama was using the State of the Union for campaign purposes.

"We'll also be treated to more divisive rhetoric from a desperate campaigner-in-chief," Romney told CNN. "It's shameful for a President to use the State of the Union to divide our nation."

Reach associate news editor Hannah Madans here.