ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Attempts by Mitt Romney's campaign on Wednesday to limit reporters' access to the presumptive GOP nominee provoked a litany of complaints from the reporters.

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Reporters initially were told they would not be allowed to ask the candidate questions all day. They then were not allowed to watch an off-the-record meeting between Romney and middle-class families. 

They were also not allowed to watch an off-the-record meeting between Romney and middle-class families. The campaign has often closed such events to the press in the past, with Romney referencing the meetings in his stump speeches.

Later, reporters were told they would be barred from the rope line where Romney greets voters unless they had a campaign escort. Aides sought to prevent the reporters from going to the rope line, but the reporters tweeted that they refused to leave.

The Democratic National Committee e-mailed reporters a Huffington Post article about the tightened access.

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said the access on rope lines would return in the future.

"This was an error on the part of the campaign staff and volunteers," Saul said in the email. "We have reminded them that press is allowed on the rope line to record the governor’s interactions with voters.

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