Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) — Mitt Romney played political pundit Thursday, telling reporters what he hoped to hear President Obama discuss in his much-hyped Democratic National Convention speech that evening.

"I actually think it will be interesting to listen to the president tonight," Romney told a small group of reporters at an impromptu stop in Concord, New Hampshire, as he reeled off a list of areas -- like reining in the national debt and restarting the sluggish job market -- where he said the president had failed. "The president needs to report tonight on his promises rather than try to reset a whole series of new promises that he won't be able to keep."

The GOP presidential candidate had dropped by the unveiling of the "New Hampshire Military Veterans and Families for Mitt" group, a phone bank where veterans were doing voter outreach, as he traveled back from three days of debate preparations in Vermont.

Romney, who had spent the intensive prep time huddled with advisers at a secluded home, said he had not watched the convention speeches of first lady Michelle Obama nor former President Clinton, and he did not expect to watch Obama's either.

"You asked the question am I going to watch tonight," Romney told reporters who shouted questions to him during the quick stop. "If I heard, or if in the excerpts that are put out I hear, the president is going to report on the promises he made and how he has performed on those promises then I would love to watch it."

The presidential candidate said if elected he would create more jobs for veterans returning from Afghanistan, and thanked the veterans working the phones at his drop-by for calling voters to spread his message.

Afterward, a reporter asked Romney about criticism he had not specifically mentioned U.S. troops or the war in Afghanistan during his convention speech last week.

Romney pointed to remarks he gave at an American Legion convention last Wednesday in Indiana, the day before he addressed the Republican National Convention. The candidate made a day trip to Indianapolis that morning to attend the event.

"My commitment to the military is as shown here and at the American Legion," Romney said. "The president was also invited to the American Legion and he was too busy to go. It was during my convention. I went to the American Legion, described my views with regards to our military, my commitment to our military, my commitment to our men and women in uniform."

Obama addressed American Legion convention attendees via video.

The-CNN-Wire/Atlanta
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