Ben Affleck compares Mitt Romney to past failed presidential candidates - including Al Gore

Ryan Pearson, The Associated Press

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Ben Affleck is comparing U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to past campaign losers Al Gore, Michael Dukakis and Bob Dole.

But the actor and director, who has been outspoken in support of Democratic causes in the past, also doesn't offer full-throated support for President Barack Obama.

He says that while he voted for Obama in 2008, he now has "more complicated feelings" about the president.

Affleck says Republicans' chances of beating Obama have slipped away because of Romney's failure to connect with everyday Americans. He called the former Massachusetts governor "a sort of Mike Dukakis, Al Gore, Bob Dole type."

Affleck — who is promoting his new film "Argo" — said he expects Obama to win the November election but he's worried about a "permanent downtrend" in the country.