Ben Affleck Says Republicans 'Had A Chance' But Gives Low-Key Obama Support

Not afraid to show off his political side, Ben Affleck is giving his take on the current U.S. Presidential campaign. Hitting the road promoting his political thriller Argo, the director and star of the film compared Republican nominee to past hopefuls who did not make it to the White House. A past ardent supporter of liberal causes and a full-fledged Obama fan four years ago, Affleck only offered tepid support for the incumbent.

"I think Republicans really had a chance to win," Affleck told A.P. during an interview about Argo. And they kind of ended up with like a sort of Mike Dukakis, Al Gore, Bob Dole type - who just couldn't get people to see him as a real person somehow. Romney just had such trouble coming off as just like the kind of person you see at the grocery store. And I truly believe that has cost him the election."

Affleck went on to add that it looks "quite unlikely" that the Republican hopeful will unseat Obama, saying "negative momentum" can at some point cause a downward spiral for a campaign.

"You start making mistakes and then all your advisers tell you, 'You've got to raise your arms more!' 'You've got to talk deeper.' So people just get into becoming robotic."

Still, if Affleck shares the same enthusiasm for Obama as in the first go-around, he is clearly holding back, saying that with hindsight his opinions have changed.

""I voted for Obama last time although he got to be all things to all people then," Affleck said. ''And now he's got a record which makes it really different ... I obviously have more complicated feelings."

Affleck has often thrown his hat in the political sphere, doing lobbying in Washington and traveling abroad for various causes. He's also said he wouldn't rule out a future run for an elected office in the future. And his latest film, which debuted last month at the Toronto International Film Festival has already prompted talk of possibly multiple Oscar nominations. The film recalls an international crisis that many attribute for the failed re-election bid of Jimmy Carter in 1980, ushering in the Reagan era.

Directed and starring Affleck, along with Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman, Argo is set as militants take over the U.S. embassy in Tehran in the aftermath of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. While 52 Americans are held, six others escape and hide in the Canadian ambassador's residence. The film recalls a plan hatched by the C.I.A. and specialist Tony Mendez (played by Affleck) to help the six to escape Iran.

[Source: Associated Press]