| Revision as of 00:04, 16 August 2012 view sourceWasted Time R (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers74,036 edits rv - there are dozens of pundits with all sorts of opinions on Ryan, this is not the place for them← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 18:25, 5 January 2025 view source And1987 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers38,501 edits →Political positions: Adding link | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Short description|American politician and businessman (born 1947)}} | |||
| {{pp-move-indef|small=yes}} | |||
| {{About|the American politician|the football player who went by the same name|Milton Romney|the singer with a similar sounding name|Ritt Momney}} | |||
| {{pp-semi|small=yes}} | |||
| {{ |
{{Pp-move|small=yes}} | ||
| {{Pp-blp|small=yes}} | |||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}} | |||
| {{Use American English|date=February 2019}} | |||
| {{good article}} | |||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} | |||
| {{Infobox officeholder | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
| | |
| name = Mitt Romney | ||
| | image = Mitt Romney official US Senate portrait.jpg | |||
| |image = <!-- Do not change this image without first presenting your preferred replacement on the talk page. There has been abundant discussion about which photo is best to use. --> Mitt Romney by Gage Skidmore 6.jpg | |||
| |alt |
| alt = U.S. Senator Mitt Romney | ||
| | jr/sr = United States Senator | |||
| |order = ] | |||
| | |
| state = ] | ||
| | term_start = January 3, 2019 | |||
| |lieutenant = ] | |||
| | |
| term_end = January 3, 2025 | ||
| | predecessor = ] | |||
| |term_end = January 4, 2007 | |||
| | successor = ] | |||
| |predecessor = ] <small>(Acting)</small> | |||
| | order1 = 70th ] | |||
| |successor = ] | |||
| | lieutenant1 = ] | |||
| |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|3|12}} | |||
| | term_start1 = January 2, 2003 | |||
| |birth_place = ], ], U.S. | |||
| | term_end1 = January 4, 2007 | |||
| |death_date = | |||
| | predecessor1 = ] (acting) | |||
| |death_place = | |||
| | |
| successor1 = ] | ||
| | birth_name = Willard Mitt Romney | |||
| |residence = ]<br/>]<br/>]<!-- La Jolla is not a city. It is a neighborhood within the City of San Diego. --> | |||
| | |
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|3|12}} | ||
| | birth_place = ], ], U.S. | |||
| |children = Taggart (b. 1970) <br /> Matthew (b. 1971) <br /> Joshua (b. 1975) <br /> Benjamin (b. 1978) <br /> Craig (b. 1981) | |||
| | death_date = | |||
| |alma_mater = {{nowrap|] <small>(])</small>}}<br/>{{nowrap|] <small>(], ])</small>}} | |||
| | death_place = | |||
| |religion = ] (]) | |||
| | party = ] (1993–present) | |||
| |blank1 = Positions | |||
| | otherparty = ] (before 1993) | |||
| |data1 = Co-founder and CEO, ] <small>(1984–2002)</small><br />CEO, ] <small>(1991–1992)</small><br />CEO, ] <small>(1999–2002)</small> | |||
| | spouse = {{marriage|]|March 21, 1969}} | |||
| |signature = Mitt Romney Signature.svg | |||
| | children = 5, including ] | |||
| |signature_alt = Signature "Mitt Romney", first name more legible than last name | |||
| | parents = ]<br />] | |||
| |website = | |||
| | relatives = ] | |||
| }}{{Mitt Romney series}} | |||
| | education = {{ubl |] |] (]) |] (], ])}} | |||
| | awards = '']'' | |||
| | signature = Mitt Romney Signature.svg | |||
| | website = {{url|romney.senate.gov|Senate website}} | |||
| |module = {{Listen | |||
| |pos = center | |||
| |embed = yes | |||
| |filename = Mitt Romney's remarks urging his colleagues not to object to the certification of the election results following the January 6th Insurrection.oga | |||
| |title = Romney's voice | |||
| |type = speech | |||
| |description = Romney on ] following the ]<br />Recorded January 6, 2021}} | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Mitt Romney series}} | |||
| <!-- NOTE ABOUT THE LEAD: Before considering any changes to the lead, please consult the consensus established at Talk:Mitt_Romney/GA2#Politician and more recent discussion at Talk:Mitt_Romney --> | <!-- NOTE ABOUT THE LEAD: Before considering any changes to the lead, please consult the consensus established at Talk:Mitt_Romney/GA2#Politician and more recent discussion at Talk:Mitt_Romney --> | ||
| '''Willard Mitt Romney''' (born March 12, 1947) is an American |
'''Willard Mitt Romney''' (born March 12, 1947) is an American retired politician and businessman who was the 70th ] from 2003 to 2007, the ]'s nominee for ] in the ], and a ] from ] from 2019 to 2025. | ||
| Mitt Romney is the son of ], a former governor of ]. Raised in ], Mitt spent over two years in France as a ]. He married ] in 1969; they have five sons. Active in ] (LDS Church) throughout his adult life, Romney served as ] of his ] and later as a ] for an area covering Boston and many of its suburbs. By 1971, he had participated in the political campaigns of both his parents. In 1971, Romney graduated with a ] in ] from ] (BYU) and in 1975 he received a ] degree from ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/successful-people-with-english-majors-2013-5 |first1=Vivian |last1=Giang |first2=Lynne |last2=Guey |first3=Max |last3=Nisen |date=May 16, 2013 |work=] |title=16 Wildly Successful People Who Majored In English |access-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-date=October 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031202453/https://www.businessinsider.com/successful-people-with-english-majors-2013-5 |url-status=live }}</ref> He became a management consultant and in 1977 joined ] in ]. As Bain's ] (CEO), he helped lead the company out of a financial crisis<!-- this is supported by detailed material and sources in body of article -->. In 1984, he co-founded and led the spin-off company ], a ] investment firm that became one of the ] in the nation.<!-- this is supported by detailed material and sources in body of article --> | |||
| After stepping down from his positions at Bain Capital and in the LDS Church, Romney ran as the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts in ] and lost to the incumbent, ]. He then resumed his position at Bain Capital. Years later, a successful stint as president and CEO of the then-struggling ] for the ] led to a relaunch of his political career. Elected governor of Massachusetts in ], Romney helped develop and later signed a ] law (commonly called "Romneycare") that provided near-universal health insurance access through state-level subsidies and ]. He also presided over the elimination of a projected $1.2–1.5 billion deficit through a combination of spending cuts, increased fees, and closing corporate ]. He did not seek reelection in ], instead focusing on his campaign ], which he lost to Senator ]. Romney ran for president again four years later and was the Republican nominee in the ], becoming the first LDS Church member to be a ]'s nominee. He lost the election to President ]. After reestablishing residency in Utah, Romney ran for ] in ]. When Romney won the Republican nomination and general election, he became the first person in modern American history to be elected governor and U.S. senator of different states.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schott |first=Bryan |date=September 12, 2017 |title=Romney could be first person to be a Governor and Senator for two different states in more than 100 years |url=https://utahpolicy.com/archive/14304-romney-could-be-first-person-to-be-a-governor-and-senator-for-two-different-states-in-more-than-100-years |access-date=October 2, 2024 |website=Utah Policy}}</ref> | |||
| Romney was ] but did not seek re-election in 2006. During his term he presided over the elimination of a projected $3 billion deficit by reducing state funding for higher education, cutting state aid to cities and towns, raising various fees, removing corporate tax loopholes, and by benefiting from unanticipated federal grants and unexpected revenue from a previously enacted capital gains tax increase. He signed into law the ] legislation, the first of its kind in the nation, which provided near-universal health insurance access via state-level subsidies and ]. | |||
| Generally considered a ],<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Is Mitt Romney doing a good job in the Senate? More Democrats than Republicans in Utah think so |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/7/27/23280627/mitt-romney-job-approval-rating-senate-washington-centrist-moderate-bipartisan-utah-poll |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=] |language=en |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820172201/https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/7/27/23280627/mitt-romney-job-approval-rating-senate-washington-centrist-moderate-bipartisan-utah-poll |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2022 |title=Are Republicans showing Mitt Romney more love? New Utah poll has the answers |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/2/2/22913085/do-republicans-like-mitt-romney-poll-numbers-joe-biden-donald-trump-hinckley-inistitute-utah |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=] |language=en |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820172200/https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/2/2/22913085/do-republicans-like-mitt-romney-poll-numbers-joe-biden-donald-trump-hinckley-inistitute-utah |url-status=live }}</ref> Romney was the lone Republican to vote to convict ] in his ], making him the first senator ever to have voted to remove a president of the same party from office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/2/5/21125118/mitt-romney-impeachment-vote-history|title= Mitt Romney just did something that literally no senator has ever done before|website= ]|date= February 5, 2020|accessdate= January 1, 2023|archive-date= January 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102014601/https://www.vox.com/2020/2/5/21125118/mitt-romney-impeachment-vote-history|url-status= live}}</ref> Romney also voted to convict in Trump's ] in 2021. He marched alongside ] protestors, voted to ] to the ], supported ] measures, and did not vote for Trump in the ] and ] presidential elections. He has long been hawkish on issues such as ], ], and ], and is one of ]'s staunchest supporters in Congress. He has been accused by Trump loyalists of being a ]. In 2023, Romney announced he would not run for ] and would retire from the Senate when his term expired in 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Balz |first=Dan |date=September 13, 2023 |title=Mitt Romney says he will not seek a second term in the Senate |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/13/mitt-romney-senate-reelection/ |access-date=September 13, 2023 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913213815/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/13/mitt-romney-senate-reelection/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| Romney ran for the ], winning several ] but losing the nomination to ]. In June 2011, he announced that he would ]; as of May 2012, he ] to become the party's presumptive nominee. | |||
| ==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
| {{See also|Romney family}} | |||
| ===Heritage and youth=== | ===Heritage and youth=== | ||
| {{See also|Romney family}} | |||
| Willard Mitt Romney<ref name="mitt-bc">{{cite news | url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-05-29/news/sns-rt-us-usa-campaign-romney-birth-certificatebre84s1gf-20120529_1_george-romney-republican-mitt-romney-citizen| title=Romney's birth certificate evokes his father's controversy | first=Mark | last=Hosenball | agency=] | newspaper=] | date=May 29, 2012}} Also see .</ref> was born at ] in ], ],<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-17/michigan-primary-santorum-romney/53159656/1 | title=Home sweet home? Michigan primary a challenge for Romney | first=Susan | last=Page | newspaper=] | date=February 20, 2012}}</ref> the youngest child of ], who was an automobile executive, and ] (née LaFount), a homemaker.<ref>Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 12–13.</ref><ref>Mahoney, ''The Story of George Romney'', pp. 59–62, 63–65, 94–96, 104, 113, 159.</ref><ref name="nyt-course">{{cite news |title=For Romney, a Course Set Long Ago |date=December 18, 2007 |newspaper=] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/us/politics/18romney.html | last=Kirkpatrick | first=David D.}}</ref> His mother was a native of ], and his father was born in a ] in ], to American parents.<ref>{{cite news |title = In besieged Mormon colony, Mitt Romney's Mexican roots | last=Miroff | first=Nick | newspaper = ] |date = July 21, 2011 | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-besieged-mormon-colony-mitt-romneys-mexican-roots/2011/07/21/gIQAFGOXVI_story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mexican Cousins Keep Romney's Family Tree Rooted |author=Burnett, John |url=http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/npr1327244449-Mexican-Cousins-Keep-Romneys-Family-Tree-Rooted.html |publisher=] |date=January 22, 2012}}</ref> He is of primarily English descent, and also has more distant Scottish and German ancestry.<ref>Mahoney, ''The Story of George Romney'', pp. 52, 70.</ref><ref name=rsgsg>{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Gary Boyd|authorlink=Gary Boyd Roberts|title=Notable Kin: An Anthology of Columns First Published in the NEHGS NEXUS 1986–1995, Volume 2|publisher=Carl Boyer, 3rd|year=1998|location=Boston|page=212|isbn=978-0-936124-20-9}}</ref><ref name=rsgsgs>{{Cite news|last=Potter|first=Mitch|title=Mitt Romney has Canadian roots|newspaper=]|date=January 23, 2012|url=http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1120129--mitt-romney-has-canadian-roots?bn=1}}</ref> He is a fifth-generation member of ] (LDS Church).<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-500146_162-3482233-4.html | title=Mitt Romney Pictures | publisher=] | accessdate=January 29, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/09/us-usa-campaign-romney-fb-idUSTRE8080YL20120109 | title=Factbox: Presidential candidate Mitt Romney | agency=] | date=January 9, 2012}}</ref> A great-great-grandfather, ], converted to the faith in its first decade, and another great-great-grandfather, ], was an ] during the same time.<ref name="bgseries2"/> | |||
| Willard Mitt Romney<ref name="mitt-bc">{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/05/29/romneys-birth-certificate-evokes-his-fathers-controversy/|title=Romney's birth certificate evokes his father's controversy|first=Mark|last=Hosenball|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=May 29, 2012|access-date=April 19, 2015|archive-date=October 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020083249/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-05-29/news/sns-rt-us-usa-campaign-romney-birth-certificatebre84s1gf-20120529_1_george-romney-republican-mitt-romney-citizen|url-status=live}} Also see {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315085751/http://static.reuters.com/resources/media/editorial/20120529/RomneyBirthCertificate.pdf |date=March 15, 2023 }}.</ref> was born on March 12, 1947, at ] in ], Michigan,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-17/michigan-primary-santorum-romney/53159656/1|title=Home sweet home? Michigan primary a challenge for Romney|first=Susan|last=Page|newspaper=]|date=February 20, 2012|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083727/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-17/michigan-primary-santorum-romney/53159656/1|url-status=live}}</ref> one of four children born to automobile executive <!-- at the time of Mitt's birth! what he did later is described later --> ] and former actress and homemaker <!-- at the time of Mitt's birth! what she did later is described later --> ] (née LaFount).<ref>Mahoney, ''The Story of George Romney'', pp. 59–62, 104, 113.</ref> His mother was a native of ], and his father was born to American parents in a ] in ], Mexico.<ref>{{cite news|title=In besieged Mormon colony, Mitt Romney's Mexican roots|last=Miroff|first=Nick|newspaper=]|date=July 21, 2011|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-besieged-mormon-colony-mitt-romneys-mexican-roots/2011/07/21/gIQAFGOXVI_story.html|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=May 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518123356/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-besieged-mormon-colony-mitt-romneys-mexican-roots/2011/07/21/gIQAFGOXVI_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mexican Cousins Keep Romney's Family Tree Rooted |author=Burnett, John |url=http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/npr1327244449-Mexican-Cousins-Keep-Romneys-Family-Tree-Rooted.html |publisher=] |date=January 22, 2012 |access-date=January 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605053609/http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/npr1327244449-Mexican-Cousins-Keep-Romneys-Family-Tree-Rooted.html |archive-date=June 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Of primarily English descent, he also has Scottish and German ancestry.<ref>Mahoney, ''The Story of George Romney'', pp. 52, 70.</ref><ref name="rsgsg">{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Gary Boyd|author-link=Gary Boyd Roberts|title=Notable Kin: An Anthology of Columns First Published in the NEHGS NEXUS 1986–1995, Volume 2 |publisher=Carl Boyer, 3rd|year=1998|location=Boston|page=212|isbn=978-0-936124-20-9}}</ref><ref name="rsgsgs">{{Cite news|last=Potter|first=Mitch|title=Mitt Romney has Canadian roots|newspaper=]|date=January 23, 2012|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2012/01/23/mitt_romney_has_canadian_roots.html|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304054655/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2012/01/23/mitt_romney_has_canadian_roots.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A fifth-generation member of the LDS Church, he is a great-grandson of ] and a great-great-grandson of ], who converted to Mormonism in its first decade. Another great-great-grandfather, ], helped ].<ref name="bgseries2">{{Cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/25/centered_in_faith_a_family_emerges/|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 2: Centered in faith, a family emerges|author=Kranish, Michael|author2=Paulson, Michael|newspaper=]|date=June 25, 2007|author-link=Michael Kranish|author-link2=Michael Paulson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083534/http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/25/centered_in_faith_a_family_emerges/|archive-date=January 13, 2020|access-date=February 7, 2020|url-status=dead}} Also available as {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206173241/https://www.deseret.com/2007/7/2/20027702/mitt-s-lds-roots-run-deep |date=February 6, 2020 }}, ''Deseret Morning News'', July 2, 2007.</ref><ref name="FaithRise">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitt-romney-mormon-faith_n_1834466|title=Mitt Romney Holds Mormon Faith Close Through Political Rise|first=Jaweed|last=Kaleem|work=]|date=August 29, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=April 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410060815/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitt-romney-mormon-faith_n_1834466|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| Romney was preceded in birth by three siblings: Margo Lynn, Jane LaFount, and ]. Mitt followed after a gap of nearly six years. He was named after family friend, hotel magnate ], and his father's cousin, ], a former quarterback for the ].<ref name="real-14">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 14–15.</ref> He was called "Billy" until kindergarten, when he indicated a preference for "Mitt".<ref name="crim102194">{{Cite news| url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1994/10/21/romney-gains-momentum-as-he-keeps/ | title=Romney Gains Momentum As He Keeps On Running | author=Gell, Jeffrey N. | newspaper=] | date=October 21, 1994}}</ref> In 1953, the family moved from Detroit to the affluent suburb of ].<ref name="real-15"/> In 1954, his father became the chairman and CEO of ], a company he helped avoid bankruptcy and return to profitability.<ref name="real-15">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 15–16.</ref> By the time Mitt was twelve, his father had become a nationally known figure in print and on television,<ref>{{cite book |title = ] | last=Candee | first=Marjorie Dent (ed.) | publisher = ] |location=New York |year = 1958 | page = 368 | isbn=978-0-8242-0124-1}}</ref> and Mitt idolized him.<ref name="bgseries1"/> ] in the seventh grade.]] | |||
| ]'s 1965 yearbook]] | |||
| Romney attended public ]s<ref name="crim102194"/> until the seventh grade, when he began commuting to ] in Bloomfield Hills, a traditional private boys' ] where he was one of only a few Mormons and where many students came from backgrounds even more privileged than his.<ref name="wapo-cran"/><ref name="prankster"/> He was not particularly athletic and at first did not excel academically.<ref name="bgseries1"/> During his sophomore year, he participated in the 1962 campaign in which ].<ref name="time-prof-2007"/> When his parents moved to ] as part of George Romney taking office, Mitt took up residence at Cranbrook's Stevens Hall.<ref name="wapo-cran">{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-prep-school-classmates-recall-pranks-but-also-troubling-incidents/2012/05/10/gIQA3WOKFU_singlePage.html | title=Mitt Romney’s prep school classmates recall pranks, but also troubling incidents | first=Jason | last=Horowitz | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=May 10, 2012}}</ref> George Romney was re-elected twice; Mitt worked for him as an intern in the Governor's office and was present at the ] when his moderate father battled ] party nominee ] over issues of ] and ideological extremism.<ref name="bgseries1"/><ref name="lat-father">{{Cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/25/nation/na-romneydadson25 | title=Romney's running mate | author=Martelle, Scott | newspaper=] | date=December 25, 2007}}</ref> | |||
| Romney has three older siblings: Margo, Jane, and Scott. Mitt was the youngest by nearly six years.<ref>Mahoney, ''The Story of George Romney'', pp. 104, 113.</ref> His parents named him after a family friend, businessman ], and his father's cousin, ], a former quarterback for the ].<ref name="real-14">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 14–15.</ref> Romney was called "Billy" until kindergarten, when he expressed a preference for "Mitt".<ref name="crim102194">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1994/10/21/romney-gains-momentum-as-he-keeps/|title=Romney Gains Momentum As He Keeps On Running|author=Gell, Jeffrey N.|newspaper=]|date=October 21, 1994|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083251/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1994/10/21/romney-gains-momentum-as-he-keeps/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1953, the family moved from Detroit to the affluent suburb of ] and his father became the chairman and CEO of ] the following year and helped the company avoid bankruptcy and return to profitability.<ref name="real-15">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 15–16.</ref> By 1959, his father had become a nationally known figure in print and on television,<ref>{{cite book |title=Current Biography Yearbook 1958|editor-last=Candee|editor-first=Marjorie Dent |publisher=] |location=New York |year=1958|page=|isbn=978-0-8242-0124-1|title-link=Current Biography Yearbook}}</ref> and Mitt idolized him.<ref name="bgseries1" /> | |||
| Romney attended public ]s until seventh grade, when he enrolled as one of only a few ] students at ], a private upscale boys' ] a few miles from his home.<ref name="crim102194" /><ref name="wapo-cran" /> Many students there came from backgrounds even more privileged than his.<ref name="prankster" /> Not particularly athletic, he also did not distinguish himself academically.<ref name="bgseries1" /> He participated in his father's successful ],<ref name="time-prof-2007" /> and later worked as an intern in the governor's office.<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref name="lat-father">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-25-na-romneydadson25-story.html|title=Romney's running mate|author=Martelle, Scott|newspaper=]|date=December 25, 2007|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083618/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-25-na-romneydadson25-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Romney took up residence at Cranbrook when his newly elected father began spending most of his time at ].<ref name="wapo-cran">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-prep-school-classmates-recall-pranks-but-also-troubling-incidents/2012/05/10/gIQA3WOKFU_singlePage.html|title=Mitt Romney's prep school classmates recall pranks, but also troubling incidents|first=Jason|last=Horowitz|newspaper=]|date=May 10, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821045215/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-prep-school-classmates-recall-pranks-but-also-troubling-incidents/2012/05/10/gIQA3WOKFU_singlePage.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| At Cranbrook, Romney was a manager for the ] team and a member of the ],<ref name="wapo-cran"/> and during his final year joined the ] team.<ref name="crim102194"/> He belonged to eleven school organizations and ]s, and started the Blue Key Club ].<ref name="wapo-cran"/> During his final year at Cranbook, he improved academically, but was still not a star pupil.<ref name="bgseries1"/><ref name="prankster"/> He won an award for those "whose contributions to school life are often not fully recognized through already existing channels".<ref name="prankster"/> | |||
| Romney was involved in many pranks, some of which he later said may have gone too far and apologized for.{{#tag:ref|Teenage pranks conducted by Romney included ], dressing as a police officer and either pretending to arrest people or tapping on the car windows of friends who were making out, and staging an elaborate ] on the ] of a busy street.<ref name="bgseries1"/><ref name="prankster"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-06-24/politics/32379946_1_romney-first-mitt-romney-police-officer | title=Mitt Romney's prankster ways continued in college | first=Michael | last=Kranish | authorlink=Michael Kranish | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=June 24, 2012}}</ref> The golf course escapade apparently got Romney and Ann Davies arrested, or otherwise detained, by the local police.<ref name="ap-2007-prof">{{Cite news| url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695236445/Fortunate-Son-Mitt-Romneys-life-is-his-fathers-legacy.html | title=Fortunate Son: Mitt Romney's life is his father's legacy | author=LeBlanc, Steve | agency=] | newspaper=] | location=Salt Lake City | date=December 16, 2007 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080626075029/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695236445,00.html | archivedate=June 26, 2008 | deadurl=no}}</ref><ref name="fortune-2007">{{cite news | url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/09/100121803/index.htm | title=The Republicans' Mr. Fix-it | author=Vickers, Marcia | magazine=] | date=June 27, 2007}}</ref> In 2012, five former classmates described a 1965 episode wherein Romney, then a senior, took the lead in holding down a younger student while cutting his long, bleached-blond hair with scissors.<ref name="wapo-cran"/> Romney said that he does not recall the incident, though he acknowledged that he may have participated in some high school "hijinks and pranks" that went too far, and he apologized for any harm that resulted from them.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/us/politics/years-later-a-prep-school-bullying-case-snares-romney.html?_r=1| title=Bullying Story Spurs Apology From Romney |first=Ashley |last=Parker | first2=Jodi |last2=Kantor | newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-apologizes-for-high-school-pranks-that-might-have-gone-too-far/2012/05/10/gIQAC3JhFU_story.html | title=Mitt Romney apologizes for high school pranks that 'might have gone too far' | first=Philip | last=Rucker | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=May 10, 2012}}</ref>|group="nb"}} | |||
| At Cranbrook, Romney helped manage the ] team, and joined the ].<ref name="wapo-cran" /> During his senior year, he joined the ] team.<ref name="crim102194" /> He belonged to 11 school organizations and ]s, including the Blue Key Club, a ] he had started.<ref name="wapo-cran" /> During his final year there, his academic record improved but fell short of excellence.<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref name="prankster" /> Romney was involved in several pranks while attending Cranbrook. He has since apologized for them, stating that some of them may have gone too far.{{#tag:ref|Pranks conducted by Romney during his Cranbrook years included ], dressing as a police officer and tapping on the car windows of friends who were making out, and staging an elaborate ] on the ] of a busy street.<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref name="prankster" /> The golf course escapade led to Romney and Ann Davies being detained by local police.<ref name="ap-2007-prof">{{Cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695236445/Fortunate-Son-Mitt-Romneys-life-is-his-fathers-legacy.html |title=Fortunate Son: Mitt Romney's life is his father's legacy |author=LeBlanc, Steve |agency=] |newspaper=] |location=Salt Lake City |date=December 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626075029/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1%2C5143%2C695236445%2C00.html |archive-date=June 26, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="fortune-2007">{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/09/100121803/index.htm |title=The Republicans' Mr. Fix-it |author=Vickers, Marcia |magazine=] |date=June 27, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922150346/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/09/100121803/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| In March of his senior year, he began dating ]; she attended the private ], the sister school to Cranbrook.<ref name="prankster">{{Cite news|title=From prankster to politician, Romney deemed a class act |url=http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/06/12/from_prankster_to_politician_romney_deemed_a_class_act/ |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=June 12, 2005 <!-- accessdate=2007-09-21 --> | author=Greenberger, Scott S.|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20091008050634/http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/06/12/from_prankster_to_politician_romney_deemed_a_class_act/|archivedate=October 8, 2009}}</ref><ref name="real-28">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 27–29.</ref> The two informally agreed to marriage around the time of his June 1965 graduation.<ref name="bgseries1">{{Cite news| author=Swidey, Neil | author2=Paulson, Michael | url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/24/privilege_tragedy_and_a_young_leader/ | title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 1: Privilege, tragedy, and a young leader | newspaper=] | date=June 24, 2007 | authorlink2=Michael Paulson |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070918153844/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_main/|archivedate=September 18, 2007|deadurl=no}} Also . Also available as , '']'', July 1, 2007 (archived from on September 18, 2007).</ref> | |||
| In 2012, five former classmates described a 1965 episode where Romney, then a senior, took the lead in holding down a younger student while cutting his long, bleached-blond hair with scissors.<ref name="wapo-cran" /> Romney said that he does not recall the incident, though he acknowledged that he might have participated in some high school "hijinks and pranks" that went too far, and he apologized for any harm that resulted from them.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/us/politics/years-later-a-prep-school-bullying-case-snares-romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511032125/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/us/politics/years-later-a-prep-school-bullying-case-snares-romney.html |archive-date=May 11, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Bullying Story Spurs Apology From Romney |first1=Ashley |last1=Parker|first2=Jodi |last2=Kantor|author-link2=Jodi Kantor|newspaper=]|date=May 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-apologizes-for-high-school-pranks-that-might-have-gone-too-far/2012/05/10/gIQAC3JhFU_story.html|title=Mitt Romney apologizes for high school pranks that 'might have gone too far'|first=Philip|last=Rucker|newspaper=]|date=May 10, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=October 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021232706/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-apologizes-for-high-school-pranks-that-might-have-gone-too-far/2012/05/10/gIQAC3JhFU_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>|group="nb"}} In March of his senior year, he began dating ]; she attended the private ], Cranbrook's sister school.<ref name="prankster">{{Cite news|title=From prankster to politician, Romney deemed a class act |url=https://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/06/12/from_prankster_to_politician_romney_deemed_a_class_act/ |newspaper=] |date=June 12, 2005|author=Greenberger, Scott S.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008050634/http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/06/12/from_prankster_to_politician_romney_deemed_a_class_act/|archive-date=October 8, 2009}}</ref><ref name="real-28">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 27–29.</ref> The two became informally engaged around the time he graduated from high school in June 1965.<ref name="bgseries1">{{Cite news|author=Swidey, Neil |author2=Paulson, Michael |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/24/privilege_tragedy_and_a_young_leader/ |title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 1: Privilege, tragedy, and a young leader |newspaper=] |date=June 24, 2007 |author-link2=Michael Paulson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918153844/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_main/ |archive-date=September 18, 2007 |url-status=live}} Also . Also available as {{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918090328/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249%2C680195540%2C00.html |title=Mitt Romney: the beginning |work=] |date=July 1, 2007 |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,680195540,00.html |archive-date=September 18, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="ap-2007-prof" /> | |||
| ===University, France mission, marriage, and children: 1965–1975=== | |||
| Romney attended ] in 1965–1966 for a year.<ref name="bgseries1"/><!-- Some sources say two quarters, but these appear to be incorrect. --><ref name="nb-byu" group="nb" /> Although the campus and environs were becoming radicalized with the beginnings of ], he kept a well-groomed appearance and participated in pre-] customs involving the ].<ref name="bgseries1"/><ref name="cbs-rcp-stan"/> In May 1966, he was part of a counter-protest against a group staging a ] at the university administration building in opposition to draft status tests.<ref name="bgseries1"/><ref name="cbs-rcp-stan">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57449254/at-stanford-romney-got-his-bearings-in-a-year-of-change/|title=At Stanford, Romney got his bearings in a year of change|first=Scott|last=Conroy|first2=Laura|last2=Strickler|publisher=CBS News|date=June 7, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ===College, France mission, marriage, and children=== | |||
| {{Quote box|quote=As you can imagine, it's quite an experience to go to Bordeaux and say, "Give up your wine! I've got a great religion for you!"|source=—Mitt Romney in 2002 reflecting upon his missionary experience.<ref name="nykr2002"/>|width=27%|align=left|style=padding:8px;}} | |||
| ] with ] and ] at the White House in 1969]] | |||
| Romney attended ] during the 1965–1966 academic year.<ref name="bgseries1" /> He was not part of the ] then taking form in the ].<ref name="bgseries1" /> As ] grew, a group staged a May 1966 ] at Stanford's administration building to demonstrate against draft status tests; Romney joined a counterprotest against that group.<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref name="cbs-rcp-stan">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/at-stanford-romney-got-his-bearings-in-a-year-of-change/|title=At Stanford, Romney got his bearings in a year of change|first1=Scott|last1=Conroy|first2=Laura|last2=Strickler|work=]|date=June 7, 2012|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083653/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/at-stanford-romney-got-his-bearings-in-a-year-of-change/|url-status=live}}</ref> He continued to enjoy occasional pranks.{{#tag:ref|Pranks conducted by Romney during his Stanford years included dressing as a police officer and pretending to arrest people<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2012/06/23/mitt-romney-impersonation-police-officer-high-school-and-college/3jTRhzcmp1C4XT70s1PbmK/story.html|title=Mitt Romney's prankster ways continued in college|first=Michael|last=Kranish|author-link=Michael Kranish|newspaper=]|date=June 24, 2012|access-date=June 21, 2017|archive-date=August 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829080908/https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2012/06/23/mitt-romney-impersonation-police-officer-high-school-and-college/3jTRhzcmp1C4XT70s1PbmK/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and pre-] customs involving the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stanforddaily.com/2012/08/22/mitt-romney-led-the-charge-as-a-big-game-prankster-in-1965/|title=Mitt Romney led the charge as a Big Game prankster in 1965|newspaper=]|date=August 22, 2012|first=Edward|last=Ngai|access-date=August 27, 2012|archive-date=August 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825235905/http://www.stanforddaily.com/2012/08/22/mitt-romney-led-the-charge-as-a-big-game-prankster-in-1965/|url-status=live}}</ref>|group="nb"}} | |||
| In July 1966, he |
In July 1966, he began a 30-month stint in ] as a ],<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/gallery/romney_france?pg=3|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 2: Photo 3|newspaper=]|access-date=March 17, 2011|date=June 18, 2007|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629024557/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/gallery/romney_france?pg=3|url-status=live}}</ref> a traditional rite of passage in his family.{{#tag:ref|Mitt's great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and two uncles had been missionaries,<ref>Mahoney, ''The Story of George Romney'', pp. 73–74.</ref> as had his brother, Scott.<ref name="nyt-searching" /> He did briefly consider breaking with tradition and not going on a mission<ref>Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', p. 63.</ref> (and he had successfully been rushed by the ] fraternity at Stanford, for sophomore year membership).<ref name="cbs-rcp-stan" /> But he did go, and all five of Mitt's sons later served as missionaries as well.<ref name="hewitt-82">Hewitt, ''A Mormon in the White House?'', pp. 81–82.</ref>|group="nb"}} He arrived in ], where he shared cramped quarters under meager conditions.<ref name="bgseries2" /><ref name="nyt-searching" /> Rules against drinking, smoking, and dating were strictly enforced.<ref name="bgseries2" /> | ||
| On average, individual Mormon missionaries do not gain many converts{{#tag:ref|Based on figures from 1971 to 2010, the average Mormon gets only 4–8 baptism converts to the faith per year during a mission.<ref>{{cite book|first=David G. Jr. |last=Stewart|year=2007|title=The Law of the Harvest: Practical Principles of Effective Missionary Work|publisher=Cumorah Foundation|location=Henderson, Nevada|isbn=978-0-9795121-0-0}}</ref> The church succeeds in expanding by having huge numbers of missionaries, so that the small number of conversions from each one add up.<ref>{{cite book |title=Building the Kingdom: A History of Mormons in America |url=https://archive.org/details/buildingkingdomh0000bush |url-access=registration |first1=Claudia Lauper|last1=Bushman|author-link=Claudia Lauper Bushman|first2=Richard Lyman|last2=Bushman|author-link2=Richard Bushman|publisher=]|location=New York|year=2001|isbn=978-0-19-515022-3|page=}}</ref>|group="nb"}} and Romney was no exception:<ref name="nyt-searching" /> he later estimated 10 to 20 for his entire mission.<ref>Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', p. 69.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Romney's task was complicated by proselytizing for a ] in a ].<ref name="bgseries2" /> He reflected upon this in 2002: "As you can imagine, it's quite an experience to go to Bordeaux and say, 'Give up your wine! I've got a great religion for you!{{' "}}<ref name="nykr2002" />|group="nb"}} He initially became demoralized and later recalled it as the only time when "most of what I was trying to do was rejected."<ref name="nyt-searching">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/us/politics/15romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117095728/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/us/politics/15romney.html |archive-date=November 17, 2007 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Romney, Searching and Earnest, Set His Path in '60s|author=Kirkpatrick, David D.|newspaper=]|date=November 15, 2007|page=A1}}</ref> | |||
| Romney soon gained recognition within the mission for the many homes he called on and the repeat visits he was granted.<ref name="bgseries2" /> He became a zone leader in ] in early 1968, and soon thereafter became an assistant to the ] in Paris.<ref name="bgseries2" /><ref name="nyt-searching" /><ref name="tlgh-paris" /> While in Paris, Romney resided at the Mission Home for several months, and enjoyed a mansion far more comfortable than the accommodations he experienced elsewhere in the country.<ref name="tlgh-paris">{{cite news|last1=Samuel|first1=Henry|last2=Swaine|first2=Jon|title=Mitt Romney's life as a poor Mormon missionary in France questioned|newspaper=]|date=December 15, 2011|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/8959440/US-election-2012-Mitt-Romneys-life-as-a-poor-Mormon-missionary-in-France-questioned.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216023502/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/8959440/US-election-2012-Mitt-Romneys-life-as-a-poor-Mormon-missionary-in-France-questioned.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 16, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| When the French expressed opposition to the U.S. role in the ], Romney debated them. Those who yelled at him and slammed their doors in his face merely reinforced his resolve.<ref name="bgseries2" /><ref name="nyt-searching" /> | |||
| {{multiple image | |||
| | align = left | |||
| | direction = vertical | |||
| | width = 200 | |||
| | footer = | |||
| | image1 = Romney Great for '68.jpg | |||
| | alt1 = 1968 campaign poster showing a smiling George Romney | |||
| | caption1 = Mitt's father ] (pictured here in a 1968 poster) lost the Republican presidential nomination to ] and later was appointed to the ]. | |||
| | image2 = Lenore Romney for U.S. Senate.jpg | |||
| | alt2 = campaign button advocating Lenore Romney for U. S. Senate | |||
| | caption2 = Mitt's mother Lenore, promoted here on a button, lost a Senate race in 1970. Mitt worked for her campaign. | |||
| }} | |||
| In June 1968, |
In June 1968, while in southern France and driving an automobile that was hit by another vehicle, Romney was seriously injured. The crash killed one of his passengers, the wife of the mission president.{{#tag:ref|On June 16, 1968, Romney and five fellow Mormons were traveling on dangerous roads in southern France.<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref name="wapo-mission">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/09/AR2007120901473.html|title=A Mission Accepted|author=Saslow, Eli|newspaper=]|date=December 10, 2007|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=December 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225011259/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/09/AR2007120901473.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bg-accident" /> As they drove through the village of ], a ] that was passing a truck missed a curve and swerved into the opposite lane hitting the ] Romney was driving ].<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref name="lexpress.fr">{{Cite news|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/info/monde/dossier/usa2008/diaporama.asp?id=464805|title=La jeunesse française de Mitt Romney|newspaper=]|date=January 23, 2008|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130005110/http://www.lexpress.fr/info/monde/dossier/usa2008/diaporama.asp?id=464805|archive-date=January 30, 2008}}</ref> Trapped between the steering wheel and door, the unconscious Romney had to be pried from the car; a French police officer mistakenly wrote ''Il est mort'' in his passport.<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref name="ap-2007-prof" /><ref name="bg-accident" /> Besides killing the wife of the mission president, the other four passengers were seriously injured.<ref name="bg-accident" /> George Romney relied on his friend ], the ], to go to the local hospital and discover that his son had survived.<ref name="ap-2007-prof" /> Mitt Romney, who was not at fault in the accident,<ref name="nyt-searching" /><ref name="bg-accident">{{cite news|author=Paulson, Michael|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side/|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Survivors recall tragic car crash in France with Romney at the wheel|newspaper=]|date=June 24, 2007|author-link=Michael Paulson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020133426/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side/?page=full |archive-date=October 20, 2010}} Also available as {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/world/europe/24iht-24Romney.6300715.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120031921/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/world/europe/24iht-24Romney.6300715.html |archive-date=November 20, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Survivors recall tragic car crash in France with Romney |work=] |date=June 24, 2007 }}</ref> had suffered broken ribs, a fractured arm, a concussion, and facial injuries, but recovered quickly without needing surgery.<ref name="wapo-mission" /><ref name="bg-accident" /> The French police say that they have no records of the incident because such records are routinely destroyed after 10 years.<ref name="bg-accident" />|name="nb-acc"|group="nb"}} | ||
| Romney then became co-president of a mission that had become demoralized and disorganized after the ] and the car accident.<ref name="wapo-mission" /> With Romney rallying the others, the mission met its goal of 200 baptisms for the year, the most in a decade.<ref name="wapo-mission" /> By the end of his stint in December 1968, he was overseeing the work of 175 others.<ref name="nyt-searching" /><ref name="bg-accident" /> As a result of his experience there, Romney developed a lifelong affection for France and its people, and has remained fluent in French.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120111/mitt-romney-blasts-obama-europe-new-hampshire-speech|title=Mitt Romney blasts Obama, Europe in NH primary victory speech|publisher=]|date=January 11, 2012|access-date=October 11, 2012|archive-date=November 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109043542/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120111/mitt-romney-blasts-obama-europe-new-hampshire-speech|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| While he was away, Ann Davies had ] and had begun attending ] (BYU).<ref name="bgseries1"/> Mitt was nervous that she had been wooed by others while he was away, and she had indeed started dating popular campus figure ] and had sent Romney in France a "]", greatly upsetting him; he wrote to her in an attempt to win her back.{{r|horowitz20120218}}<ref name="crim102194"/> At their first meeting following Romney's return, they reconnected and decided to get married immediately, but subsequently agreed to wait three months to appease their parents.<ref>Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', p. 88.</ref> At Ann's request, Romney began attending Brigham Young, in February 1969.{{r|horowitz20120218}}{{#tag:ref|When initially considering colleges after high school, Romney had not wanted to go to BYU.{{r|horowitz20120218}} He later recounted that he had planned to attend BYU to convince Ann to marry him, then the couple planned to transfer together back to Stanford, but in the end, they enjoyed BYU and decided to stay.{{r|lamb20060319}}|name="nb-byu"|group="nb"}} The couple were married on March 21, 1969, in a civil ceremony in Bloomfield Hills.<ref name="bgseries4"/><ref name="nyt-wedding"/> The following day, the couple flew to Utah for a wedding ceremony at the ].<ref name="bgseries4">{{Cite news| author=Swidey, Neil | author2=Ebbert, Stephanie | url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/27/raising_sons_rising_expectations/?page=full | title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 4: Journeys of a shared life: Raising sons, rising expectations bring unexpected turns | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=June 27, 2007 <!-- accessdate= 2007-09-22 --> | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20100112211501/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part4_main/ | archivedate=January 12, 2010 | deadurl=no}} Also . Also available as , ''Deseret Morning News'', July 4, 2007.</ref><ref name="nyt-wedding">{{Cite news| url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50B12FD3A5D137A93C0AB1788D85F4D8685F9 | title=Mitt Romney Marries Ann Davies | newspaper=The New York Times | date=March 22, 1969 | page=37 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> | |||
| At their first meeting following his return, Romney and Ann Davies reconnected and decided to get married.<ref>Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', p. 88.</ref> Before their wedding, Romney moved to ] and enrolled at ], where Ann had been studying.{{r|horowitz20120218}} They married on March 21, 1969, in a civil ceremony in Bloomfield Hills and the next day, they flew to Utah for a Mormon wedding ceremony at the ]; Ann had ] while he was away.<ref name="bgseries4">{{Cite news|author=Swidey, Neil|author2=Ebbert, Stephanie|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part4_main/|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 4: Journeys of a shared life: Raising sons, rising expectations bring unexpected turns|newspaper=]|date=June 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112211501/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part4_main/|archive-date=January 12, 2010|url-status=live}} Also . Also available as {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102020010/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/680196334/Romney-determined-to-make-mark-early.html |date=November 2, 2010 }}, ''Deseret Morning News'', July 4, 2007.</ref><ref name="nyt-wedding">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/03/22/archives/mitt-romney-marries-ann-davies.html|title=Mitt Romney Marries Ann Davies|newspaper=]|date=March 22, 1969|page=37|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723182352/https://www.nytimes.com/1969/03/22/archives/mitt-romney-marries-ann-davies.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ] but later served in Nixon's cabinet.]] | |||
| ] | |||
| Romney had missed much of the tumultuous |
Romney had missed much of the tumultuous ] while in France. Upon his return, he was surprised to learn that his father had joined that movement during ].<ref name="nyt-searching" /> George was now ] as ]. In a June 1970 newspaper profile of children of cabinet members, Mitt said that U.S. involvement in the war had been misguided – "If it wasn't a political blunder to move into Vietnam, I don't know what is" – but supported Nixon's ongoing ] as a sincere attempt to end the war.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SSIrAAAAIBAJ&pg=3426,2026569|title=Generation Gap Reaches to Top|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=June 4, 1970|page=32|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226001627/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SSIrAAAAIBAJ&pg=3426,2026569|url-status=live}}</ref> During the ] for the Vietnam War, Romney sought and received two ], then a ] while living in France as a missionary. He later sought and received two additional student deferments.<ref name="cbs-rcp-stan" /><ref name="bg-draft" /> When those ran out, he drew number 300 in the ], ensuring he would not be drafted.<ref name="cbs-rcp-stan" /><ref name="bg-draft">{{cite news|author=Kranish, Michael|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side_2/|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Mormon church obtained Vietnam draft deferrals for Romney, other missionaries|newspaper=]|date=June 24, 2007|author-link=Michael Kranish|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031020120/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side_2/?page=full|archive-date=October 31, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sss.gov/LOTTER8.HTM |title=Results from Lottery Drawing – Vietnam Era – 1970 |publisher=] |access-date=March 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915232321/http://www.sss.gov/LOTTER8.HTM |archive-date=September 15, 2012 }}</ref> | ||
| At culturally conservative BYU, |
At culturally conservative BYU, Romney remained separated from much of the upheaval of that era.<ref name="nyt-searching" />{{r|horowitz20120218}} He became president of the Cougar Club ] and showed a newfound discipline in his studies.<ref name="nyt-searching" />{{r|horowitz20120218}} During his senior year, he took a leave of absence to work as driver and ] for his mother's unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign;<ref name="ap-2007-prof" /><ref name="bgseries4" /> together, they visited ].<ref name="time-dreams">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,2115636,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021232613/http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,2115636,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2014|title=Dreams from His Mother|first=Barton|last=Gellman|author-link=Barton Gellman|magazine=]|date=June 4, 2012}}</ref><ref name="nyt-lessons" /> Romney graduated from BYU in 1971 with a ] degree in ] and a 3.97 ].<ref name="horowitz20120218">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-as-a-student-at-a-chaotic-time-for-byu-focused-on-family-church/2012/02/17/gIQABaWaMR_story.html|title=Mitt Romney, as a student at a chaotic time for BYU, focused on family, church|newspaper=]|date=February 18, 2012|author=Horowitz, Jason|access-date=October 16, 2022|archive-date=November 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126215547/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-as-a-student-at-a-chaotic-time-for-byu-focused-on-family-church/2012/02/17/gIQABaWaMR_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He gave commencement addresses to both the College of Humanities and the whole of BYU.{{#tag:ref|Some sources incorrectly report that Romney graduated first in his class at BYU. Romney himself has corrected this notion, saying that he didn't. While Romney believes he did have the highest grade point average for his on-campus BYU years in the College of Humanities, he did not if his Stanford record was factored in.<ref name="hewitt-46" />{{r|lamb20060319}}|group="nb"}} | ||
| The Romneys' first son, |
The Romneys' first son, ], was born in 1970<ref name="hewitt-82" /> while they were undergraduates at BYU and living in a ].{{r|horowitz20120218}} Their son Matthew was born in 1971 and Joshua in 1975. Benjamin (1978) and Craig (1981) were born after Romney had begun his career.<ref name="hewitt-82" /> | ||
| Romney |
Romney wanted to pursue a business career, but his father advised him that a law degree (]) would be valuable to his career even if he never practiced law.<ref name="bgseries3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/25/reaping_profit_in_study_sweat/|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 3: Reaping profit in study, sweat|author=Gavin, Robert|author2=Pfeiffer, Sacha|newspaper=]|date=June 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112040340/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part3_main/|archive-date=January 12, 2010}} Also . Also available as {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208080345/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/680195957/Plenty-of-pitting-preceded-Romneys-profits.html |date=December 8, 2018 }}, ''Deseret Morning News'', July 3, 2007.</ref><ref name="nyt-harvard">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/us/politics/how-harvard-shaped-mitt-romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225002053/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/us/politics/how-harvard-shaped-mitt-romney.html |archive-date=December 25, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=]|title=At Harvard, a Master's in Problem Solving |last=Kantor|first=Jodi|date=December 25, 2011|page=A1}}</ref> As a result, he enrolled in the recently created four-year ] ]/] program coordinated between ] and ].<ref name="bg-harvard">{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/26/romneys_harvard_classmates_recall_his_quick_mind_positive_attitude/|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Romney's Harvard classmates recall his quick mind, positive attitude|author=Pfeiffer, Sacha|newspaper=]|date=June 26, 2007|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123110046/http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/26/romneys_harvard_classmates_recall_his_quick_mind_positive_attitude/|url-status=live}}</ref> He readily adapted to the business school's pragmatic, data-driven ].<ref name="nyt-harvard" /> Living in a ], house with Ann and their two children, his social experience differed from that of most of his classmates.<ref name="bgseries4" /><ref name="nyt-harvard" /> He was nonideological and did not involve himself in the political issues of the day.<ref name="bgseries4" /><ref name="nyt-harvard" /> Romney graduated from Harvard in 1975. He was named a Baker Scholar for graduating in the top 5% of his business school class and received his ] degree '']'' for ranking in the top third of his law school class.<ref name="hewitt-46">Hewitt, ''A Mormon in the White House?'', p. 46.</ref><ref name="bg-harvard" /> | ||
| ==Business career== | ==Business career== | ||
| {{Main|Business career of Mitt Romney}} | |||
| ===Management consulting=== | ===Management consulting=== | ||
| Romney |
After receiving his ] from Harvard, Romney passed the Michigan ] but decided to pursue a career in business rather than law.<ref>Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', p. 97.</ref> He was recruited by several large companies but joined the ] (BCG), reasoning that working as a ] for a variety of companies would better prepare him for a future position as a chief executive.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="MrPowerPoint" /> Part of a 1970s wave of top graduates who chose to go into consulting rather than join a large company directly,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/sunday-review/consultant-nation.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211025543/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/sunday-review/consultant-nation.html |archive-date=December 11, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Consultant Nation|author=Leonhardt, David|newspaper=]|date=December 11, 2011|author-link=David Leonhardt}}</ref> he found his legal and business education useful in his job.<ref name="bgseries3" /> He applied BCG principles such as the ],<ref name="nykr2007" /> and executives viewed him as having a bright future there.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/us/politics/mitt-romney-and-benjamin-netanyahu-are-old-friends.html|title=A Friendship Dating to 1976 Resonates in 2012|first=Michael|last=Barbaro|newspaper=]|date=April 7, 2012|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=January 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117080821/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/us/politics/mitt-romney-and-benjamin-netanyahu-are-old-friends.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At BCG, he was a colleague of ], with whom he formed a friendship that has lasted for more than 40 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Friendship Dating From 1976 Resonates in 2012 |last=Barbaro |first=Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/us/politics/mitt-romney-and-benjamin-netanyahu-are-old-friends.html |newspaper=] |date=April 7, 2012 |access-date=April 7, 2012 |archive-date=April 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408215016/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/us/politics/mitt-romney-and-benjamin-netanyahu-are-old-friends.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
| In 1977, he was hired |
In 1977, he was hired by ], a management consulting firm in ] formed a few years earlier by ] and several other ex-BCG employees.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="nykr2007" /><ref name="hewitt-48">Hewitt, ''A Mormon in the White House?'', pp. 48–49.</ref> Bain later said of the 30-year-old Romney, "He had the appearance of confidence of a guy who was maybe ten years older."<ref name="howmakemoney">{{Cite news|first=David D.|last=Kirkpatrick|title=Romney's Fortunes Tied to Business Riches |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/politics/04bain.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606141352/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/politics/04bain.html |archive-date=June 6, 2007 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=] |date=June 4, 2007}}</ref> Unlike other consulting firms, which issued recommendations and then departed, Bain & Company <!-- "Bain way" --> immersed itself in a client's businesses and worked with them until changes were implemented.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="nykr2007" /> Romney became a vice president of the firm in 1978,<ref name="crim102194" /> working with such clients as the ], ], ], and ].<ref name="MrPowerPoint" /> Within a few years, the firm considered him one of its best consultants. In fact, clients sometimes preferred to use him rather than more-senior partners.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="vf-excerpt" /> | ||
| ===Minor political issues=== | |||
| Two family incidents during this time later came to light during Romney's political career: a confrontation with a park ranger in 1981,{{#tag:ref|While at a 1981 family outing at ] in Massachusetts, according to Romney, a ranger from ] told him his motorboat had an insufficiently visible license number and he would face a $50 fine if he took the boat onto the lake. Disagreeing about the license and wanting to continue the outing, Romney took it out anyway, saying he would pay the fine. The angry ranger then arrested him for ]. The charges were dropped several days later after Romney threatened to sue the officer and the state for ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61957067.html?dids=61957067:61957067&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | title=GOP hopeful arrested in 1981; Charge dismissed in boating case | author=Phillips, Frank | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=May 5, 1994 | page=37}}{{subscription required}}</ref>|group="nb"}} and persistent interest in ] in which Romney kept his family dog on the roof of his car during a long road trip.{{#tag:ref|In summer 1983, Romney and his family embarked on a 12-hour drive from Boston to his parents' cottage on the Canadian side of ]. ], the family ], was put up on the station wagon's roof rack, inside a ] with its own attached windshield, but after some hours the dog suffered gastrointestinal distress, evidence of which was readily seen on the rear window. With his five children loudly expressing revulsion, Romney calmly stopped off at a service station, hosed off the dog, carrier, and car, put the dog back in the carrier and completed the journey.<ref name="bgseries4"/><ref name="bg-seamus">{{cite news | url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-08/news/30605151_1_romney-family-mitt-romney-dog | title=What our fascination with Mitt Romney's dog Seamus says about our culture | author=Swidey, Neil | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> Since becoming public in 2007, the story has been the source of complaints from animal lovers, a point of psychological study regarding Romney's emotion-free crisis management, an obsession to ''New York Times'' columnist ], and the occasional target of news stories, talk show hosts and political rivals.<ref name="gc-295"/><ref name="bg-seamus"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/sep/13/gail-collins/mitt-romney-and-dog-car-roof-one-columnists-obsess/ | title=Mitt Romney and the dog on the car roof: one columnist's obsession | publisher=] | date=September 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/296683/18/Mitt-Romney-dog-on-the-roof-story-appears-in-Newt-Gingrich-ad | title=Mitt Romney 'dog-on-the-roof' story appears in Newt Gingrich ad | author=] | agency=CNN | publisher=] | date=January 13, 2012}}</ref>|group="nb"}} | |||
| Two family incidents during this time later surfaced during Romney's political campaigns.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2012/5/7/20502075/the-story-behind-mitt-romney-s-1981-arrest-for-disorderly-conduct|title=The story behind Mitt Romney's 1981 arrest for disorderly conduct|first=Jamshid Ghazi|last=Askar|newspaper=]|date=May 7, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206173242/https://www.deseret.com/2012/5/7/20502075/the-story-behind-mitt-romney-s-1981-arrest-for-disorderly-conduct|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wapo-dog">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-dog-on-the-car-roof-story-still-proves-to-be-his-critics-best-friend/2012/03/14/gIQAp2LxCS_story.html|title=Mitt Romney's dog-on-the-car-roof story still proves to be his critics' best friend|first=Philip|last=Rucker|newspaper=]|date=March 14, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902184247/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-dog-on-the-car-roof-story-still-proves-to-be-his-critics-best-friend/2012/03/14/gIQAp2LxCS_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A state park ranger in 1981 told Romney his motorboat had an insufficiently visible license number and that he would face a $50 fine if he took the boat onto the lake. Disagreeing about the license and wanting to continue a family outing, Romney took it out anyway, saying he would pay the fine. The ranger arrested him for ]. The charges were dropped several days later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61957067.html?dids=61957067:61957067&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720230245/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61957067.html?dids=61957067:61957067&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |title=GOP hopeful arrested in 1981; Charge dismissed in boating case |author=Phillips, Frank|newspaper=]|date=May 5, 1994|page=37|archive-date = July 20, 2011}}</ref> In 1983, on a 12-hour family road trip, he placed the family's ], and then washed the car and carrier after the dog suffered a bout of diarrhea.<ref name="bgseries4" /> The dog incident in particular later became fodder for Romney's critics and political opponents.<ref name="wapo-dog"/><ref name="bg-seamus">{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/01/08/what_our_fascination_with_mitt_romneys_dog_seamus_says_about_our_culture/ |url-status=live |title=What our fascination with Mitt Romney's dog Seamus says about our culture|author=Swidey, Neil|newspaper=]|date=January 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610211419/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/01/08/what_our_fascination_with_mitt_romneys_dog_seamus_says_about_our_culture/?page=full|archive-date=June 10, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ===Private equity=== | ===Private equity=== | ||
| {{ |
{{Further|Bain Capital}} | ||
| Romney was restless for a company of his own to run, and in 1983, Bill Bain offered him the chance to head a new venture that would buy into companies, have them benefit from Bain techniques, and then reap higher rewards than consulting fees.<ref name="bgseries3"/><ref name="nykr2007"/> He initially refrained from accepting the offer, and Bain re-arranged the terms in a complicated partnership structure so that there was no financial or professional risk to Romney.<ref name="bgseries3"/><ref name="howmakemoney"/><ref name="nyt060407db"/> Thus, in 1984, Romney left Bain & Company to co-found the spin-off ] investment firm, ].<ref name="atl-pappu">{{Cite news| author=Pappu, Sridhar | url=http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200509/pappu/3 | title=The Holy Cow! Candidate | magazine=] | date=September 2005}}</ref> In the face of skepticism from potential investors, Bain and Romney spent a year raising the $37 million in funds needed to start the new operation, which had fewer than ten employees.<ref name="MrPowerPoint"/><ref name="howmakemoney"/><ref name="blum"/> <ref name="bgseries3"/> Romney initially had the titles of president<ref name="bg-leave1">{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8199011.html | title=Bain & Co. plans major layoffs, Boston staff hardest hit | first=Gordon | last=McKibben | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=October 30, 1990}}{{subscription required}}</ref> and managing general partner<ref name="bg-leave1b">{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7645576.html | title=Bain agrees to reshape ownership | first=Diane E. | last=Lewis | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=January 30, 1991}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="nyt-leave1"/> or managing partner.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-11836430.html | title=Venture capital primer | first=Alan S. | last=Horowitz | magazine=] | date=February 1, 1992}}</ref> He later became referred to as managing director<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8473315.html | title=Dad's ideas live on – and in others | first=Mitt | last=Romney | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=June 21, 1998}}</ref> or CEO<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8329806.html | title=They're trying to sell volunteerism up the river | first=David | last=Nyhan | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=May 28, 1995}}{{subscription required}}</ref> as well. He was also the sole shareholder of the firm.<ref>Romney, ''Turnaround'', pp. 15–16.</ref> | |||
| In 1984, Romney left Bain & Company to co-found and lead the spin-off ] investment firm Bain Capital.<ref name="atl-pappu">{{Cite news|author=Pappu, Sridhar|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2005/09/the-holy-cow-candidate/304196/|title=The Holy Cow! Candidate|magazine=]|date=September 2005|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=December 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204114855/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2005/09/the-holy-cow-candidate/304196/|url-status=live}}</ref> He initially refrained from accepting Bill Bain's offer to head the new venture until Bain rearranged the terms in a complicated partnership structure so that there was no financial or professional risk to Romney.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="howmakemoney" /><ref name="nyt060407db" /> Bain and Romney raised the $37 million needed to start the new operation, which had seven employees.<ref name="MrPowerPoint" /><ref name="blum" /> Romney held the titles of president<ref name="bg-leave1">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8199011.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117074421/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8199011.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2013|title=Bain & Co. plans major layoffs, Boston staff hardest hit|first=Gordon|last=McKibben|newspaper=]|date=October 30, 1990}}</ref> and managing general partner.<ref name="bg-leave1b">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7645576.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117074312/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7645576.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2013|title=Bain agrees to reshape ownership|first=Diane E.|last=Lewis|newspaper=]|date=January 30, 1991}}</ref><ref name="nyt-leave1" /> Though he was the sole shareholder of the firm, publications also called him managing director or CEO.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8473315.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117074319/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8473315.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2013|title=Dad's ideas live on – and in others|first=Mitt|last=Romney|newspaper=]|date=June 21, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8329806.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117074348/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8329806.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2013|title=They're trying to sell volunteerism up the river|first=David|last=Nyhan|newspaper=]|date=May 28, 1995}}</ref><ref>Romney, ''Turnaround'', pp. 15–16.</ref> | |||
| Romney spent little money on costs such as office appearance, and saw weak spots in so many potential deals that by 1986, few had been done.<ref name="bgseries3"/> At first, Bain Capital focused on ] opportunities.<ref name="bgseries3"/> Their first big success was a 1986 investment to help start ], after founder ] convinced Romney of the market size for office supplies and Romney convinced others; Bain Capital eventually reaped a nearly sevenfold return on its investment, and Romney sat on the Staples board of directors for over a decade.<ref name="bgseries3"/><ref name="blum"/><ref name="nym-onep"/> | |||
| Initially, Bain Capital focused on ] investments. Romney set up a system in which any partner could veto one of these potential opportunities, and he personally saw so many weaknesses that few venture capital investments were approved in the initial two years.<ref name="bgseries3" /> The firm's first significant success was a 1986 investment to help start ], after founder ] convinced Romney of the market size for office supplies and Romney convinced others; Bain Capital eventually reaped a nearly sevenfold return on its investment, and Romney sat on Staples's board of directors for over a decade.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="blum" /><ref name="nym-onep">{{cite news|url=https://nymag.com/print/?/news/politics/mitt-romney-2011-10/|title=Mitt Romney and the 1% Economy|author=Wallace-Wells, Benjamin|magazine=]|date=October 23, 2011|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083601/http://nymag.com/print/?/news/politics/mitt-romney-2011-10/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ] Romney co-founded in 1984]] Romney soon switched Bain Capital's focus from startups to the relatively new business of ]: buying existing firms with money mostly borrowed against their assets, partnering with existing management to apply the "Bain way" to their operations (rather than the hostile takeovers practiced in other leverage buyout scenarios), and selling them off in a few years.<ref name="bgseries3"/><ref name="howmakemoney"/> Existing CEOs were offered large equity stakes in the process, owing to Bain Capital's belief in the emerging ] that CEOs should be bound to maximizing ] rather than other goals.<ref name="nym-onep"/> Bain Capital lost most of its money in many of its early leveraged buyouts, but then started finding deals that made large returns.<ref name="bgseries3"/> The firm invested in or acquired ], ], ], ], ], and ], as well as lesser-known companies in the industrial and medical sectors.<ref name="bgseries3"/><ref name="howmakemoney"/><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2001/08/20/daily27.html | title=Bain Capital's Romney aiming for politics after Olympics | newspaper=] | date=August 23, 2001}}</ref> He ran Bain Capital for fourteen years, during which time the firm's average annual ] on realized investments was 113 percent.<ref name="MrPowerPoint" /> Much of this profit was earned from a relatively small number of deals; Bain Capital's overall success–to–failure ratio was about even.{{#tag:ref|One study of 68 deals that Bain Capital made during Romney's time there found that the firm lost money or broke even on 33 of them.<ref name="vf-excerpt"/> Another study that looked at the eight-year period following 77 deals during Romney's time found that in 17 cases the company went bankrupt or out of business, and in 6 cases Bain Capital lost all its investment. But 10 deals were very successful and represented 70 percent of the total profits.<ref name="wsj-bc">{{cite news | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204331304577140850713493694.html | title=Romney at Bain: Big Gains, Some Busts | author=Maremont, Mark | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | date=January 9, 2012}}</ref> |group="nb"}} | |||
| Romney soon switched Bain Capital's focus from startups to the relatively new business of ]: buying existing companies with money mostly borrowed from banking institutions using the newly bought companies' assets as collateral, taking steps to improve the companies' value, and then selling those companies when their value peaked, usually within a few years.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="howmakemoney" /> Bain Capital lost money in many of its early leveraged buyouts, but then found deals that made large returns.<ref name="bgseries3" /> The firm invested in or acquired ], ], ], ], ], and ], as well as some lesser-known companies in the industrial and medical sectors.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="howmakemoney" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2001/08/20/daily27.html|title=Bain Capital's Romney aiming for politics after Olympics|newspaper=]|date=August 23, 2001|access-date=June 6, 2007|archive-date=December 20, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220040313/http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2001/08/20/daily27.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Much of the firm's profit was earned from a relatively small number of deals; Bain Capital's overall success-to-failure ratio was about even.{{#tag:ref|One study of 68 deals that Bain Capital made during Romney's time there found that the firm lost money or broke even on 33 of them.<ref name="vf-excerpt" /> Another study that looked at the eight-year period following 77 deals during Romney's time found that in 17 cases the company went bankrupt or out of business, and in 6 cases Bain Capital lost all its investment. But 10 deals were very successful and represented 70 percent of the total profits.<ref name="wsj-bc">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204331304577140850713493694|title=Romney at Bain: Big Gains, Some Busts|author=Maremont, Mark|newspaper=]|date=January 9, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=December 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216222541/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204331304577140850713493694|url-status=live}}</ref> |group="nb"}} | |||
| Romney discovered few investment opportunities himself (and those that he did, often failed to make money for the firm).<ref name="real-155"/> Instead, he focused on analyzing the merits of possible deals that others brought forward and on recruiting investors to participate in them once approved.<ref name="real-155">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 141, 155.</ref> The firm initially gave a cut of its profits to Bain & Company, but Romney persuaded Bain to give that up.<ref name="nyt060407db"/> Within Bain Capital, Romney spread profits from deals widely within the firm to keep people motivated, often keeping less than ten percent for himself.<ref name="nyt-depagr"/> Viewed as a fair manager, he received considerable loyalty from the firm's members.<ref name="nym-onep"/> | |||
| Romney's wary instincts were still in force at times, and he was generally data-driven and averse to risk.<ref name="bgseries3"/><ref name="nym-onep"/> He wanted to drop a Bain Capital ] that initially lost money, but other partners prevailed and it eventually gained billions.<ref name="bgseries3"/> He also personally opted out of the Artisan Entertainment deal, not wanting to profit from a studio that produced ].<ref name="bgseries3"/> Romney was on the board of directors of Damon Corporation, a medical testing company later found guilty of defrauding the government; Bain Capital tripled its investment before selling off the company, and the fraud was discovered by the new owners (Romney was never implicated).<ref name="bgseries3"/> In some cases, Romney had little involvement with a company once acquired.<ref name="blum"/> | |||
| Romney discovered few investment opportunities himself (and those that he did often failed to make money for the firm).<ref name="real-155" /> Instead, he focused on analyzing the merits of possible deals that others brought forward and on recruiting investors to participate in them once approved.<ref name="real-155">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 141, 155.</ref> At Bain Capital, Romney spread profits from deals widely within the firm to keep people motivated, often keeping less than 10% for himself.<ref name="nyt-depagr" /> Data-driven, he often played the role of a ] during exhaustive analysis of whether to go forward with a deal.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="nym-onep" /> He wanted to drop a Bain Capital ] that initially lost money, but other partners disagreed with him and it eventually made billions.<ref name="bgseries3" /> He opted out of the Artisan Entertainment deal, not wanting to profit from a studio that produced ].<ref name="bgseries3" /> Romney served on the board of directors of Damon Corporation, a medical testing company later found guilty of defrauding the government; Bain Capital tripled its investment before selling off the company, and the fraud was discovered by the new owners (Romney was never implicated).<ref name="bgseries3" /> In some cases, Romney had little involvement with a company once Bain Capital acquired it.<ref name="blum" /> | |||
| {{Quote box|quote=Sometimes the medicine is a little bitter but it is necessary to save the life of the patient. My job was to try and make the enterprise successful, and in my view the best security a family can have is that the business they work for is strong.|source=—Mitt Romney in 2007, commenting on job losses at companies that were subject to leveraged buyouts by Bain Capital.<ref name="nyt060407db"/>|width=27%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}} | |||
| Bain Capital's leveraged buyouts sometimes led to layoffs, either soon after acquisition or later after the firm had |
Bain Capital's leveraged buyouts sometimes led to layoffs, either soon after acquisition or later after the firm had concluded its role.<ref name="nykr2007" /><ref name="nyt060407db">{{Cite news|url=http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/romneys-presidential-run-throws-spotlight-on-bain-capital/|title=Romney's Presidential Run Puts Spotlight on Bain Capital|author=Sorkin, Andrew Ross|newspaper=]|date=June 4, 2007|author-link=Andrew Ross Sorkin|access-date=May 2, 2010|archive-date=August 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807181626/http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/romneys-presidential-run-throws-spotlight-on-bain-capital/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="blum">{{Cite news|last1=Blum|first1=Justin|first2=Lisa|last2=Lerer|title=Romney's Record Defies Image as Job-Creator|publisher=]|date=July 20, 2011|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-20/romney-as-job-creator-clashes-with-bain-record-of-job-cuts.html|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=October 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027115959/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-20/romney-as-job-creator-clashes-with-bain-record-of-job-cuts.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Exactly how many jobs Bain Capital added compared to those lost because of these investments and buyouts is unknown, owing to a lack of records and Bain Capital's penchant for privacy for itself and its investors<!-- by 2011/2012 BC backed off 2008 "bg-bc-jobs" claim of net positive and said nothing at all -->.<ref name="nyt-dade">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/us/politics/after-mitt-romney-deal-company-showed-profits-and-then-layoffs.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113004917/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/us/politics/after-mitt-romney-deal-company-showed-profits-and-then-layoffs.html |archive-date=November 13, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=After a Romney Deal, Profits and Then Layoffs|author=Barbaro, Michael|newspaper=]|date=November 13, 2011|page=A1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/fact-checker-biography-romneys-claims-about-bain-capital-job-creation/2011/10/28/gIQAA447cM_blog.html|title=Romney's claims about Bain Capital job creation|author=Hicks, Josh|newspaper=]|date=November 2, 2011|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217215719/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/fact-checker-biography-romneys-claims-about-bain-capital-job-creation/2011/10/28/gIQAA447cM_blog.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71344.html|title=Mitt Romney's Bain Capital days: A black box|author=Hagey, Keach|newspaper=]|date=January 11, 2012|access-date=January 13, 2012|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628162721/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71344.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Maximizing the value of acquired companies and the return to Bain's investors, not job creation, was the firm's primary investment goal.<ref name="blum" /><ref name="bg-bc-jobs">{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/as_bain_slashed_jobs_romney_stayed_to_side/ |title=As Bain slashed jobs, Romney stayed to side|author=Gavin, Robert|newspaper=]|date=January 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021193945/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/as_bain_slashed_jobs_romney_stayed_to_side/?page=all|archive-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref> Bain Capital's acquisition of ] exemplified a deal where it profited handsomely from early payments and management fees, even though the subject company itself later went into bankruptcy.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="nym-onep" /><ref name="bg-bc-jobs" /> ] was another case where Bain Capital received an eightfold return on its investment but the company itself was saddled with debt and laid off over a thousand employees before Bain Capital exited (the company subsequently went into bankruptcy, with more layoffs, before recovering and prospering).<ref name="nyt-dade" /> Referring to the layoffs that sometimes occurred, Romney said in 2007: "Sometimes the medicine is a little bitter but it is necessary to save the life of the patient. My job was to try and make the enterprise successful, and in my view the best security a family can have is that the business they work for is strong."<ref name="nyt060407db" /> | ||
| In 1990, |
In 1990, facing financial collapse, Bain & Company asked Romney to return.<ref name="atl-pappu" /> Announced as its new CEO in January 1991,<ref name="bg-leave1b" /><ref name="nyt-leave1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/30/business/business-people-bain-names-chief-executive-and-begins-a-reorganization.html|title=Bain Names Chief Executive And Begins a Reorganization|author=Fabrikant, Geraldine|newspaper=]|date=January 30, 1991|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=December 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215223421/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/30/business/business-people-bain-names-chief-executive-and-begins-a-reorganization.html|url-status=live}}</ref> he drew a symbolic ]<ref name="atl-pappu" /> (remaining managing general partner of Bain Capital during this time).<ref name="bg-leave1b" /><ref name="nyt-leave1" /> He oversaw an effort to restructure Bain & Company's employee stock-ownership plan and real-estate deals, while rallying the firm's 1,000 employees, imposing a new governing structure that excluded Bain and the other founding partners from control, and increasing fiscal transparency.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="MrPowerPoint" /><ref name="atl-pappu" /> He got Bain and other initial owners who had removed excessive amounts of money from the firm to return substantial amounts, and persuaded creditors, including the ], to accept less than full payment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/did-mitt-romney-get-a-bailout-for-bain-and-company/2012/07/24/gJQAvzSh7W_blog.html|title=Did Mitt Romney get a 'bailout' for Bain & Company?|first=Glenn|last=Kessler|newspaper=]|date=July 25, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=May 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529054111/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/did-mitt-romney-get-a-bailout-for-bain-and-company/2012/07/24/gJQAvzSh7W_blog.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Within about a year, he led Bain & Company to a return to profitability.<ref name="MrPowerPoint">{{Cite news|author=Rees, Matthew |url=http://www.american.com/archive/2006/december/mitt-romney/ |title=Mister PowerPoint Goes to Washington |magazine=] |date=December 1, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130094507/http://www.american.com/archive/2006/december/mitt-romney/ |archive-date=January 30, 2012 }}</ref> He then turned it over to new leadership and returned to Bain Capital in December 1992.<ref name="bgseries3" /><ref name="ap022407">{{Cite news|url=http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/NEWS/702240385/1052/RSS01|title=Romney urges states to divest from Iran despite links to business interests there|author=Johnson, Glen|agency=]|newspaper=]|location=Worcester|date=February 24, 2007|access-date=May 2, 2010|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925192820/https://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/NEWS/702240385/1052/RSS01|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Hewitt, ''A Mormon in the White House'', p. 51.</ref> | ||
| Romney took a leave of absence from Bain Capital from November 1993<ref>{{cite news |
Romney took a leave of absence from Bain Capital from November 1993 to November 1994 to run for U.S. Senate.<ref name="bgseries4" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8299040.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117074326/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8299040.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2013|title=Romney agrees to talk; union balks|first=Frank|last=Phillips|newspaper=]|date=October 8, 1994}}</ref> During that time, Ampad workers went on strike and asked Romney to intervene. Against the advice of Bain Capital lawyers, Romney met the strikers, but told them he had no position of active authority in the matter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8299231.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117074407/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8299231.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2013|title=Romney meets with strikers Ind. workers say nothing resolved|first=Meg|last=Vaillancourt|newspaper=]|date=October 10, 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8310951.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117074343/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8310951.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2013|title=Strike-bound factory tied to Romney during US Senate race is set to close|first=Frank|last=Phillips|newspaper=]|date=January 5, 1995}}</ref> | ||
| By 1999, Bain Capital was on its way to |
By 1999, Bain Capital was on its way to becoming one of the foremost private equity firms in the nation,<ref name="nyt060407db" /> having increased its number of partners from 5 to 18, with 115 employees and $4 billion under management.<ref name="howmakemoney" /><ref name="blum" /> The firm's average annual ] on realized investments was 113%<ref name="MrPowerPoint" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/297/metro/Business_record_helps_hinder_Romney+.shtml |title=Business record helps, hinders Romney |first1=Thomas |last1=Farragher |first2=Scott Bernard |last2=Nelson |newspaper=] |date=October 24, 2002 |page=A1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021103004449/http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/297/metro/Business_record_helps_hinder_Romney%2B.shtml |archive-date=November 3, 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and its average yearly return to investors was around 50–80%.<ref name="wsj-bc"/> | ||
| Romney took a paid leave of absence from Bain Capital in |
Starting in February 1999, Romney took a paid leave of absence from Bain Capital in order to serve as the president and CEO of the 2002 ].<ref name="bg-reins">{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/07/20/romney_kept_reins_bargained_hard_on_severance/ |title=Romney kept reins, bargained hard on severance|first1=Beth|last1=Healy|first2=Michael|last2=Kranish|newspaper=]|date=July 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825150025/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/07/20/romney_kept_reins_bargained_hard_on_severance/?page=full|archive-date=August 25, 2012}}</ref><ref name="bg-paid">{{cite news|title=Romney Stayed Longer at Bain|newspaper=]|date=July 12, 2012|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/07/12/government_documents_indicate_mitt_romney_continued_at_bain_after_date_when_he_says_he_left/ |first1=Callum |last1=Borchers |first2=Christopher |last2=Rowland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715052931/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/07/12/government_documents_indicate_mitt_romney_continued_at_bain_after_date_when_he_says_he_left/?page=full|archive-date=July 15, 2012}}</ref> Billed in some public statements as keeping a part-time role,<ref name="bg-reins" /><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=]|first=Greg|last=Gatlin|title=Romney Looks To Restore Olympic Pride|date=February 12, 1999|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-57110202.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502155203/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-57110202.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2013}}</ref> Romney remained the firm's sole shareholder, managing director, CEO, and president, signing corporate and legal documents, attending to his interests within the firm, and conducting prolonged negotiations for the terms of his departure.<ref name="bg-reins" /><ref name="ap-exit">{{cite news|url=http://www.macombdaily.com/article/20120725/NEWS06/120729692/fact-check-romney-met-bain-partners-after-exit&pager=full_story|title=Fact Check: Romney Met Bain Partners After Exit|first1=Stephen|last1=Braun|first2=Jack|last2=Gillum|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=July 25, 2012|access-date=April 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821003818/http://www.macombdaily.com/article/20120725/NEWS06/120729692/fact-check-romney-met-bain-partners-after-exit%26pager%3Dfull_story|archive-date=August 21, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> He did not involve himself in the firm's day-to-day operations or the investment decisions of its new private equity funds.<ref name="bg-reins" /><ref name="ap-exit" /> He retained his position on several boards of directors during this time and regularly returned to Massachusetts to attend meetings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78463.html|title=Mitt Romney did business in Massachusetts during Olympics|first=Alexander|last=Burns|newspaper=]|date=July 12, 2012|access-date=September 7, 2012|archive-date=August 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829040929/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78463.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
| In August 2001, Romney announced that he would not return to Bain Capital.<ref name="dn082001"/> |
In August 2001, Romney announced that he would not return to Bain Capital.<ref name="dn082001" /> His separation from the firm concluded in early 2002;<ref name="bg-reins" /> he transferred his ownership to other partners and negotiated an agreement that allowed him to receive a share of the profits as a retired partner in some Bain Capital entities, including buyout and investment funds.<ref name="personalworth">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293140,00.html|title=Romney Worth As Much As $250 Million|last=Kuhnhenn|first=Jim|date=August 14, 2007|newspaper=]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204023043/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293140,00.html|archive-date=February 4, 2012|access-date=March 21, 2010|agency=]}}</ref><ref name="nyt-depagr">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/us/politics/retirement-deal-keeps-bain-money-flowing-to-romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219222756/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/us/politics/retirement-deal-keeps-bain-money-flowing-to-romney.html |archive-date=December 19, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Buyout Profits Keep Flowing to Romney|author=Confessore, Nicholas|author2=Drew, Christopher|author3=Creswell, Julie|newspaper=]|date=December 18, 2011}}</ref> The private equity business continued to thrive, earning him millions of dollars in annual income.<ref name="nyt-depagr" /> | ||
| ==LDS Church service== | |||
| ===Personal wealth=== | |||
| During his business career, Romney held several positions in the church's ]. In the early 1970s, he served in a ward bishopric. He then served for a time as a seminary teacher and then as a member of the ] ] of the Boston Stake while ] was stake president.<ref name=Horowitz/> | |||
| As a result of his business career, by 2007, Romney and his wife had a net worth of between $190 and $250 million, most of it held in ]s since 2003.<ref name="personalworth">{{Cite news|first=Jim |last=Kuhnhenn |title=Romney Worth As Much As $250 Million |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293140,00.html |agency=Associated Press | newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 14, 2007}}</ref> In 2012, it was estimated that he had amassed twice the net worth of the last eight U. S. presidents combined,<ref name="prezholdings">{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-01-28/romney-richest-presidents/52838148/1|title=Romney would rank among richest presidents ever|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=USA Today|date=January 28, 2012}}</ref> and would rank among the four richest in American history if elected.<ref name="prezholdings"/><ref name=barrettwlth>{{cite news|last=Barrett|first=William P.|title=How Romney Would Rank Among the Richest U.S. Presidents|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampbarrett/2012/01/24/how-romney-would-rank-among-the-richest-u-s-presidents/|magazine=Forbes|date=January 24, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| In 1977, he became a counselor to the president of the Boston Stake.<ref name="Horowitz">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romneys-rise-through-the-ranks-of-the-mormon-church-in-boston/2012/08/19/bbb2ec96-cad3-11e1-aea8-34e2e47d1571_story.html|title=Romney's rise through the ranks of the Mormon Church in Boston|first=Jason|last=Horowitz|newspaper=]|date=August 19, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821050406/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romneys-rise-through-the-ranks-of-the-mormon-church-in-boston/2012/08/19/bbb2ec96-cad3-11e1-aea8-34e2e47d1571_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He served as ] at Belmont, Massachusetts, from 1981 <!-- sources conflict, accept NYT and LAT 1981 over WaPo 1984 since they seem more heavily researched --> to 1986<!-- sources conflict again, LAT has 1985 -->.<ref name="wapo-belmont">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR2007121401846.html |title=In Mitt Romney's Neighborhood, A Mormon Temple Casts a Shadow |last=Pappu |first=Sridhar |newspaper=] |date=December 15, 2007 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=January 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083757/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR2007121401846.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nyt-bishop">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/us/politics/for-romney-a-role-of-faith-and-authority.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016171155/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/us/politics/for-romney-a-role-of-faith-and-authority.html |archive-date=October 16, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=For Romney, a Role of Faith and Authority|last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay|newspaper=]|date=October 15, 2011|page=1 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> As such, in addition to ], he also formulated Sunday services and classes using ] to guide the congregation.<ref name="lat-church" /> After the destruction of the Belmont ] by a fire of suspicious origins in 1984, he forged links with other religious institutions, allowing the congregation to rotate its meetings to other houses of worship during the reconstruction of the Belmont building.<ref name="nyt-bishop" /><ref name="wbur-belmont">{{cite news |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2011/12/06/romney-mormonism |title=At Belmont Temple, Romney Was An Influential Leader |last=Brady-Myerov |first=Monica |work=] |date=December 6, 2011 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206120214/https://www.wbur.org/news/2011/12/06/romney-mormonism |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| An additional blind trust existed in the name of the Romneys' children and grandchildren that was valued at between $70 and $100 million as of 2007.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/12/us/politics/12romney.html | title=Romney Aides Say His Worth Is at Least $260 Million | author=Luo, Michael | newspaper=The New York Times | date=May 12, 2007}}</ref> The couple's net worth remained in the same range as of 2011, and was still held in blind trusts.<ref name="bg-discl-2011">{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/08/romney-net-worth-pegged/lHBpKxaHYWDhJzOiCuA7fI/index.html | title=Romney's net worth pegged at $190–$250M | author=Viser, Matt | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=August 12, 2011}}</ref> In 2010, Romney and his wife received $21.7 million in income, almost all of it from investments, of which about $3 million went to federal income taxes (a rate of 13.9 percent, based upon the ] by the U.S. tax code) and almost $3 million to charity, including $1.5 million to the LDS Church.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/0124/Romney-tax-return-shows-he-paid-3-million.-His-tax-plan-wouldn-t-bump-that | title=Romney tax return shows he paid $3 million. His tax plan wouldn't bump that. | first=Ron | last=Scherer | newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor | date=January 24, 2012}}</ref> Romney has always ]d to the church, including stock from Bain Capital holdings.<ref name="bgseries2"/><ref name="wbur-belmont"/><ref>{{cite news|publisher = ]|url = http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/mitt-romney-millions-mormon-church/story?id=15380149#.TxiUH2_lMuY|first1 = Matthew|last1 = Mosk|first2 = Brian|last2 = Ross|authorlink2 = Brian Ross (journalist)|date = January 18, 2012|title = Mitt Romney Sent Millions to Mormon Church}}</ref> In 2010, the Romney family's Tyler Charitable Foundation gave out about $650,000, with some of it going to organizations that fight specific diseases such as ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|first = Mary|last = Moore|newspaper = ]|date = January 24, 2012|url = http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2012/01/24/romney-foundation-gives-210k-in-boston.html|title=Boston MS charities get big gifts from Romney foundation}}</ref> | |||
| From 1986 to 1994, Romney was ] of the Boston Stake, which included more than a dozen wards in eastern Massachusetts and almost 4,000 church members.<ref name="vf-excerpt" /><ref name="lat-church">{{cite news|newspaper=]|first=Alana|last=Semuels|date=December 7, 2011|title=Romney, an active man of faith|url=https://www.latimes.com/la-xpm-2011-dec-07-la-na-romney-faith-20111208-story.html|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206120210/https://www.latimes.com/la-xpm-2011-dec-07-la-na-romney-faith-20111208-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Hersh, ''The Shadow President'', p. 123.</ref> He organized a team to handle financial and management issues, sought to counter ] sentiment, and tried to solve social problems among poor Southeast Asian converts.<ref name="nyt-bishop" /><ref name="wbur-belmont" /> An unpaid position, his local church leadership often took 30 or more hours a week of his time,<ref name="lat-church" /> and he became known for his considerable energy in the role.<ref name="vf-excerpt" /> He also earned a reputation for avoiding any overnight travel that might interfere with his church responsibilities.<ref name="lat-church" /> | |||
| ==Local LDS Church leadership== | |||
| During his years in business, Romney held several specific positions in the ], which generally consists of males over the age of 12.<ref name="bgseries2"/> | |||
| Around 1977, he became a counselor to the president of the ].<ref>Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', p. 114.</ref> He served as ] (ecclesiastical and administrative head of his congregation) at Belmont, Massachusetts, from 1981 <!-- sources conflict, accept NYT and LAT 1981 over WaPo 1984 since they seem more heavily researched --> to 1986<!-- sources conflict again, LAT has 1985 -->.<ref name="wapo-belmont">{{Cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR2007121401846.html | title=In Mitt Romney's Neighborhood, A Mormon Temple Casts a Shadow | author=Pappu, Sridhar | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=December 15, 2007}}</ref><ref name="nyt-bishop">{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/us/politics/for-romney-a-role-of-faith-and-authority.html | title=For Romney, a Role of Faith and Authority | author=Stolberg, Sheryl Gay | newspaper=The New York Times | date=October 15, 2011 | page=1}}</ref> As such, in addition to ], he also formulated Sunday services and classes using ] to guide the congregation.<ref name="lat-church"/> He forged bonds with other religious institutions in the area when the Belmont ] was destroyed by a fire of suspicious origins in 1984; the congregation rotated its meetings to other houses of worship while it was rebuilt.<ref name="wbur-belmont">{{cite news | url=http://www.wbur.org/2011/12/06/romney-mormonism | title=At Belmont Temple, Romney Was An Influential Leader | author=Brady-Myerov, Monica | publisher=] | date=December 6, 2011}}</ref><ref name="nyt-bishop"/> | |||
| Romney took a hands-on role in the Boston Stake's matters, helping in domestic maintenance efforts, visiting the sick, and counseling burdened church members.<ref name="wapo-belmont" /><ref name="nyt-bishop" /><ref name="lat-church" /> A number of local church members later credited him with turning their lives around or helping them through difficult times.<ref name="nyt-bishop" /><ref name="lat-church" /><ref name="wbur-belmont" /> Others, rankled by his leadership style, desired a more consensus-based approach.<ref name="nyt-bishop" /> Romney tried to balance the conservative directives from church leadership in Utah with the desire of some Massachusetts members to have a more flexible application of religious doctrine.<ref name="vf-excerpt">{{cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/politics/2012/02/mitt-romney-201202 |title=The Meaning of Mitt |author-link=Michael Kranish |last1=Kranish |first1=Michael |last2=Helman |first2=Scott |magazine=] |date=January 4, 2012 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=October 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007095517/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/politics/2012/02/mitt-romney-201202 |url-status=live }}</ref> He agreed with some requests from a liberal women's group that published '']'' calling for changes in the way the church dealt with women, but he clashed with women he felt were departing too much from doctrine.<ref name="vf-excerpt" /> In particular, he counseled women not to have abortions except in the rare cases allowed by LDS doctrine<ref name="nb-abor" group="nb" /> and encouraged unmarried women facing unplanned pregnancies to give their babies up for adoption.<ref name="vf-excerpt" /> Romney later said that the years spent as an LDS minister gave him direct exposure to people struggling financially and empathy for those with family problems.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/us/politics/gingrichs-rise-prompts-romney-to-speak-more-of-mormon-role.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214033040/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/us/politics/gingrichs-rise-prompts-romney-to-speak-more-of-mormon-role.html |archive-date=December 14, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=As Rivalry Tightens, Romney Is Reflective|author=Parker, Ashley|newspaper=]|date=December 13, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| From 1986 to 1994, he presided over the Boston Stake, which included more than a dozen wards in eastern Massachusetts with about 4,000 church members altogether.<ref name="vf-excerpt"/><ref name="lat-church">{{cite news|newspaper = Los Angeles Times|first = Alana|last = Semuels|date = December 7, 2011|title = Romney, an active man of faith | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/07/nation/la-na-romney-faith-20111208}}</ref><ref>Hersh, ''The Shadow President'', p. 123.</ref> He organized a team to handle financial and management issues, sought to counter ] sentiments, and tried to solve social problems among poor Southeast Asian converts.<ref name="wbur-belmont"/><ref name="nyt-bishop"/> An unpaid position, his local church leadership often took 30 or more hours a week of his time,<ref name="lat-church"/> and he became known for his tireless energy in the role.<ref name="vf-excerpt"/> He generally refrained from overnight business travel owing to his church responsibilities.<ref name="lat-church"/> | |||
| ==1994 United States Senate campaign in Massachusetts== | |||
| He took a hands-on role in general matters, helping in maintenance efforts in- and outside homes, visiting the sick, and counseling troubled or burdened church members.<ref name="wapo-belmont"/><ref name="nyt-bishop"/><ref name="lat-church"/> A number of local church members later credited him with turning their lives around or helping them through difficult times.<ref name="wbur-belmont"/><ref name="nyt-bishop"/><ref name="lat-church"/> Some others were rankled by his leadership style and desired a more consensus-based approach.<ref name="nyt-bishop"/> Romney tried to balance the conservative dogma insisted upon by the church leadership in Utah with the desire of some Massachusetts members to have a more flexible application of doctrine.<ref name="vf-excerpt">{{cite news | url=http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2012/02/mitt-romney-201202 | title=The Meaning of Mitt | author=] | author2=Helman, Scott | magazine=] |date=February 2012}}</ref> He agreed with some modest requests from the liberal women's group ] for changes in the way the church dealt with women, but clashed with women whom he felt were departing too much from doctrine.<ref name="vf-excerpt"/> In particular, he counseled women not to have abortions except in the rare cases allowed by LDS doctrine, and also in accordance with church policy encouraged single women facing unplanned pregnancies to give up the baby for adoption.<ref name="vf-excerpt"/> Romney later said that the years spent as an LDS minister gave him direct exposure to people struggling in economically difficult circumstances, and empathy for those going through problematic family situations.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/us/politics/gingrichs-rise-prompts-romney-to-speak-more-of-mormon-role.html | title=As Rivalry Tightens, Romney Is Reflective | author=Parker, Ashley | newspaper=The New York Times | date=December 13, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| {{Main|1994 United States Senate election in Massachusetts}} | |||
| ], 1994]] | |||
| For much of his business career, Romney did not take public political stances.<ref name="hersh-139">Hersh, ''The Shadow President'', p. 139.</ref><ref>Canellos, ''The Last Lion'', p. 295.</ref> He had kept abreast of national politics since college,<ref name="nyt-searching" /> and the circumstances of his father's presidential campaign loss had irked him for decades.<ref name="ap-2007-prof" /> He registered as an ]<ref name="bgseries4" /> and voted in the ] for the ] former senator from Massachusetts, ].<ref name="hersh-139" /><ref name="slate-ceo">{{cite news|url=https://slate.com/business/2007/02/how-mitt-romney-s-corporate-success-explains-his-campaign-and-his-flip-flops.html|title=The CEO Candidate|author=Gross, Daniel|magazine=]|date=February 26, 2007|author-link=Daniel Gross (journalist)|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206120214/https://slate.com/business/2007/02/how-mitt-romney-s-corporate-success-explains-his-campaign-and-his-flip-flops.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ==1994 U.S. senatorial campaign== | |||
| {{Main|United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1994}} | |||
| For much of his business career, Romney did not take public political stances.<ref name="hersh-139">Hersh, ''The Shadow President'', p. 139.</ref><ref>Canellos, ''The Last Lion'', p. 295.</ref> He had kept abreast of national politics during college,<ref name="nyt-searching"/> though, and the circumstances of his father's presidential campaign loss would irk him for decades.<ref name="ap-2007-prof"/> He was registered as an ]<ref name="bgseries4"/> who in the ] had voted for the Democratic former senator from Massachusetts, ].<ref name="hersh-139"/><ref name="slate-ceo">{{cite news | url=http://www.slate.com/id/2160642/ | title=The CEO Candidate | author=Gross, Daniel | magazine=] | date=February 26, 2007 | authorlink=Daniel Gross}}</ref> | |||
| By 1993, Romney had |
By 1993, Romney had begun thinking about entering politics, partly on Ann's urging and also to follow in his father's footsteps.<ref name="bgseries4" /> He decided to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. senator ], who was seeking reelection to a sixth term. Political pundits viewed Kennedy as vulnerable that year, in part because of the unpopularity of the Democratic Congress as a whole, and in part because this was Kennedy's first election since the ] in Florida, in which Kennedy's reputation had suffered.<ref name="ted-bg-series-5" /><ref>{{Cite news|author=Marcus, Ruth|title=Clinton Gets a Sense of the Real Thing; Kennedy and Massachusetts Democrats Put on a Campaign Rally|newspaper=]|date=October 21, 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4LEaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6812,1794559|title=Ted Kennedy lacks luster as he seeks re-election|author=Trott, Robert W.|agency=]|newspaper=]|location=Bowling Green, Kentucky|date=July 17, 1994|page=12C|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208095737/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4LEaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6812,1794559|url-status=live}}</ref> Romney changed his affiliation to ] in October 1993 and formally announced his candidacy in February 1994.<ref name="bgseries4" /> In addition to his leave from ], Romney also stepped down from his church leadership role in 1994.<ref name="lat-church" /> | ||
| Radio personality Janet Jeghelian took an early lead in polls among candidates for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat, but Romney proved the most effective fundraiser.<ref>{{cite news |
Radio personality Janet Jeghelian took an early lead in polls among candidates for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat, but Romney proved the most effective fundraiser.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8273657.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502155821/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8273657.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2013|title=Romney leads GOP Senate hopefuls in race for funds|first=Frank|last=Phillips|newspaper=]|date=April 5, 1994}}</ref><ref>Hersh, ''The Shadow President'', pp. 124, 126–127.</ref> He won 68% of the vote at the May 1994 ] convention; businessman ] finished a distant second, eliminating Jeghelian.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8279357.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502183752/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8279357.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2013|title=Romney wins GOP approval; Given the nod for US Senate|first=Frank|last=Phillips|newspaper=]|date=May 15, 1994}}</ref> Romney defeated Lakian in the September 1994 primary with more than 80% of the vote.<ref name="crim102194" /><ref>{{Cite news|title=Romney will oppose Sen. Kennedy in Nov|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=September 21, 1994|page=B1}}</ref> | ||
| In the general election, Kennedy faced the first serious |
In the general election, Kennedy faced the first serious reelection challenge of his career.<ref name="ted-bg-series-5" /> The younger, telegenic, and well-funded Romney ran as a businessman who said he had created 10,000 jobs and as a Washington outsider with a solid family image and moderate stances on social issues.<ref name="ted-bg-series-5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/02/19/chapter_5_trials__redemption/|title=Ted Kennedy: Chapter 5: Trials & Redemptions: An untidy private life, then a turn to stability|author=Kahn, Joseph P.|newspaper=]|date=February 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222080513/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/02/19/chapter_5_trials__redemption|archive-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref><ref>Clymer, ''Edward M. Kennedy'', p. 549.</ref> When Kennedy tried to tie Romney's policies to those of ] and ], Romney responded, "Look, I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I'm not trying to take us back to Reagan-Bush."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2011/nov/29/democratic-national-committee/dnc-calls-out-romneys-evolving-affection-reagan/|title=DNC calls out Romney's evolving affection for Reagan|publisher=]|date=November 29, 2011|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206120212/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2011/nov/29/democratic-national-committee/dnc-calls-out-romneys-evolving-affection-reagan/|url-status=live}}</ref> Romney said, "Ultimately, this is a campaign about change."<ref>Clymer, ''Edward M. Kennedy'', p. 553.</ref> | ||
| After two decades out of public view, his father George re-emerged during the campaign.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/29/us/1994-campaign-massachusetts-religion-latest-volatile-issue-ignite-kennedy.html | title=Religion Is Latest Volatile Issue to Ignite Kennedy Contest | author=Rimer, Sara | newspaper=The New York Times | date=September 29, 1994 | page=A22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/06/us/1994-campaign-massachusetts-last-weekend-senate-races-where-battle-has-been.html | title=Massachusetts The Last Weekend: Senate Races Where the Battle Has Been Intense; Romney Eclectic In Final Sprint | author=Cooper, Michael | newspaper=The New York Times | date=November 6, 1994 | page=26}}</ref> | |||
| Romney's campaign was effective in portraying Kennedy as soft on crime |
Romney's campaign was effective in portraying Kennedy as soft on crime but had trouble establishing its own consistent positions.<ref>Hersh, ''The Shadow President'', pp. 128–129, 139.</ref> By mid-September 1994, polls showed the race about even.<ref name="ted-bg-series-5" /><ref name="NYT1994-bank-family">{{Cite news |first=Sarah |last=Rimer |title=Kennedy's Wife Is Giving Him a Political Advantage in a Difficult Contest |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/24/us/1994-campaign-kennedy-s-wife-giving-him-political-advantage-difficult-contest.html |newspaper=] |date=September 24, 1994 |access-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-date=October 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022114657/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/24/us/1994-campaign-kennedy-s-wife-giving-him-political-advantage-difficult-contest.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gordon |first=Al |url=http://www.algordon.com/writing/page15/assets/kennedy_in_fight_of_his_political_life_10-02-1994.html |title=Kennedy in Fight of His Political Life |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830203417/http://www.algordon.com/writing/page15/assets/kennedy_in_fight_of_his_political_life_10-02-1994.html |archive-date=August 30, 2009 |work=], Nassau and Suffolk edition |page=A4 |date=October 2, 1994 |access-date=October 29, 2006 }}</ref> Kennedy responded with a series of ads that focused on Romney's seemingly shifting political views on issues such as abortion;<ref>Hersh, ''The Shadow President'', pp. 141–142.</ref> Romney responded, "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country."<ref name="cbs-a-views">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/romney-contradicts-past-comments-on-abortion/|title=Romney contradicts past comments on abortion|first=Brian|last=Montopoli|work=]|date=January 16, 2012|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021193900/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57359886-503544/romney-contradicts-past-comments-on-abortion/|url-status=live}}</ref> Other Kennedy ads centered on layoffs of workers at the Ampad plant owned by Bain Capital.<ref name="ted-bg-series-5" /><ref>{{cite news|author1=Apple Jr.|author2=R. W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/26/us/1994-campaign-massachusetts-kennedy-romney-meet-rancor-flows-freely.html|title=Kennedy and Romney Meet, and the Rancor Flows Freely|newspaper=]|date=October 26, 1994|author-link=R. W. Apple Jr.|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310084838/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/26/us/1994-campaign-massachusetts-kennedy-romney-meet-rancor-flows-freely.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The latter was effective in blunting Romney's momentum.<ref name="nym-onep" /> Kennedy and Romney held a widely watched late October debate that had no clear winner, but by then, Kennedy had pulled ahead in polls and remained so.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/27/us/the-1994-campaign-massachusetts-kennedy-and-romney-look-to-round-2.html|title=Kennedy and Romney Look to Round 2|author=Clymer, Adam|newspaper=]|date=October 27, 1994|author-link=Adam Clymer|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022114801/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/27/us/the-1994-campaign-massachusetts-kennedy-and-romney-look-to-round-2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Romney spent $3 million of his own money on the race and more than $7 million overall.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8303189.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502143606/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8303189.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2013|title=2 million may vote on Weld–Roosevelt, Kennedy–Romney|first=Scot|last=Lehigh|newspaper=]|date=November 8, 1994}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Kennedy spent $10.5 million overall, including a $1.5 million loan to himself.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vwASAAAAIBAJ&pg=6451,26718|title=Kennedy reports $1.3 million debt|newspaper=]|date=August 1, 1995|page=5A|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608020647/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vwASAAAAIBAJ&pg=6451%2C26718|url-status=live}}</ref> This was the second-most expensive race of the 1994 election cycle, after the ]–] ].|group="nb"}} Despite a ], Kennedy won the election with 58% of the vote to Romney's 41%,<ref name="bgseries3" /> the smallest margin in any of Kennedy's reelection campaigns for the Senate.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kennedy|first=Edward M.|author-link=Ted Kennedy|title=True Compass|publisher=]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-446-53925-8|page=|title-link=True Compass}}</ref> | ||
| The day after the election, Romney returned to Bain Capital, but the loss had a lasting effect; he told his brother, "I never want to run for something again unless I can win."<ref name="bgseries4" /><ref name="nyt-olympics-edge" /> | |||
| ==2002 Winter Olympics== | |||
| ] for the ], speaking before a ] match]] | |||
| Romney returned to Bain Capital the day after the election, but the loss had a lasting effect; he told his brother, "I never want to run for something again unless I can win."<ref name="bgseries4"/><ref name="nyt-olympics-edge"/> When his father died in 1995, Mitt donated his inheritance to BYU's ] and joined the board and was vice-chair of the ] (which had incorporated his father's ]).<ref name="dn082001">{{cite news | url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/859621/Public-service-for-Romney.html | title=Public service for Romney | author=Roche, Lisa Riley | author2=Bernick Jr., Bob | newspaper=Deseret News | location=Salt Lake City | date=August 20, 2001}}</ref><ref name="lamb20060319">{{cite interview | title=Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) | date=March 19, 2006 | url=http://www.q-and-a.org/Transcript/?ProgramID=1066 | last=Romney | first=Mitt | interviewer=] | program=] | callsign=]}}</ref> His mother died in 1998. Romney felt restless as the decade neared a close; the goal of simply making more money was losing its appeal to him.<ref name="bgseries4"/><ref name="nyt-olympics-edge">{{Cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/us/politics/19romney.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all | title=In Olympics Success, Romney Found New Edge | author=Johnson, Kirk | newspaper=The New York Times | date=September 19, 2007}}</ref> He no longer had a church leadership position, although he still taught ].<ref name="wapo-belmont"/> During the long and controversial approval and construction process for the $30 million ], he feared that as a political figure who had opposed Kennedy, he would become a focal point for opposition to the structure.<ref name="nyt-bishop"/> He thus kept to a limited, behind-the-scenes role in attempts to ease tensions between the church and local residents, but locals nonetheless sometimes referred to it as "Mitt's Temple".<ref name="wbur-belmont"/><ref name="wapo-belmont"/><ref name="nyt-bishop"/> | |||
| ===After election=== | |||
| Ann Romney was diagnosed with ] in 1998; Mitt described watching her fail a series of neurological tests as the worst day of his life.<ref name="bgseries4"/> After two years of severe difficulties with the disease, she found while living in ] (where the couple had built a vacation home) a mixture of mainstream, alternative, and equestrian therapies that gave her a lifestyle mostly without limitations.<ref name="saddle"/> When the offer came for him to take over the troubled ] and ], to be held in ] in Utah, she urged him to take it, and eager for a new challenge, he did.<ref name="nyt-olympics-edge"/><ref name="nyt-olympics-man"/> On February 11, 1999, Romney was hired as the president and CEO of the ].<ref name="Fire Within">{{Cite news| author=Call, Jeff | url=http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=843 |title=The Fire Within | magazine=] |date=Winter 2002 }}<!-- retrieved October 28, 2006 --></ref> | |||
| When his father died in 1995, Mitt donated his inheritance to BYU's ].<ref name="lamb20060319">{{cite interview|title=Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts)|date=March 19, 2006|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?191449-1/qa-mitt-romney|last=Romney|first=Mitt|interviewer=]|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083841/https://www.c-span.org/video/?191449-1/qa-mitt-romney|url-status=live}}</ref> He also became vice-chair of the board of the ],<ref name="dn082001">{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2001/8/20/19602551/public-service-for-romney|title=Public service for Romney|author=Roche, Lisa Riley|author2=Bernick Jr., Bob|newspaper=]|location=Salt Lake City|date=August 20, 2001|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207130859/https://www.deseret.com/2001/8/20/19602551/public-service-for-romney|url-status=live}}</ref> which had embraced his father's ]. Romney felt restless as the decade neared a close; making more money held little attraction for him.<ref name="bgseries4" /><ref name="nyt-olympics-edge">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/us/politics/19romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029161106/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/us/politics/19romney.html |archive-date=October 29, 2007 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=In Olympics Success, Romney Found New Edge|author=Johnson, Kirk|newspaper=]|date=September 19, 2007}}</ref> Although no longer in a local leadership position in his church, he still taught ].<ref name="wapo-belmont" /> During the long and controversial approval and construction process for the $30-million ], he feared that, as a political figure who had opposed Kennedy, he would become a focal point for opposition to the structure.<ref name="nyt-bishop" /> He thus kept to a limited, behind-the-scenes role in attempts to ease tensions between the church and local residents.<ref name="wapo-belmont" /><ref name="nyt-bishop" /><ref name="wbur-belmont" /> | |||
| ==2002 Winter Olympics== | |||
| {{Further|2002 Winter Olympics}} | |||
| ] at a press conference on Olympic security in October 2001]] | |||
| In 1998, Ann Romney learned that she had ]; Mitt described watching her fail a series of neurological tests as the worst day of his life.<ref name="bgseries4" /> After experiencing two years of severe difficulties with the disease, she found – while living in ], Utah, where the couple had built a vacation home – a combination of mainstream, alternative, and equestrian therapies that enabled her to lead a lifestyle mostly without limitations.<ref name="saddle">{{Cite news |title=Ann Romney: From the Saddle to the Campaign Trail |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=3477592 |work=] |date=August 14, 2007 |access-date=August 19, 2007 |archive-date=July 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725161817/http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=3477592 |url-status=live }}</ref> When her husband received a job offer to take over the troubled organization responsible for the ] and ], to be held in ] in Utah, she urged him to accept it; eager for a new challenge, as well as another chance to prove himself in public life, he did.<ref name="nyt-olympics-edge" /><ref name="nyt-olympics-man" /><ref name="bgseries5" /> On February 11, 1999, the ] hired Romney as its president and CEO.<ref name="Fire Within">{{Cite news |author=Call, Jeff |url=https://magazine.byu.edu/article/the-fire-within/ |title=The Fire Within |magazine=] |date=Winter 2002 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207130857/https://magazine.byu.edu/article/the-fire-within/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| ] for the ], speaking before a ] match]] | |||
| Before Romney came on, the event was running $379 million short of its revenue benchmarks.<ref name="Fire Within"/> Plans were being made to scale back the Games to compensate for the fiscal crisis, and there were fears the Games might be moved away entirely.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ULgKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Qk4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3197,1083753&dq=salt+lake+scale+back+olympics&hl=en | title=Officials deny Salt Lake could lose 2002 Olympics | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=] | date=January 12, 1999 | page=13}}</ref> The Games had also been damaged by ], including prior Salt Lake Olympic Committee president and CEO ]. Joklik and committee vice president Dave Johnson were forced to resign.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9901/10/ioc.bribery/index.html?iref=allsearch | title=Man who led Salt Lake's Olympic bid denies wrongdoing | publisher=CNN | date=January 10, 1999}}</ref> Romney was chosen by Utah figures looking for someone with expertise in business and law and with connections to the state and the LDS Church.<ref name="bgseries5"/> The appointment faced some initial criticism from non-Mormons, and fears from Mormons, that it represented cronyism or gave the Games too Mormon an image.<ref name="nykr2002"/> | |||
| Before Romney took over, the event was $379 million short of its revenue goals.<ref name="Fire Within" /> Officials had made plans to scale back the Games to compensate for the fiscal crisis, and there were fears it might be moved away entirely.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ULgKAAAAIBAJ&pg=3197,1083753|title=Officials deny Salt Lake could lose 2002 Olympics|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=January 12, 1999|page=13|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204190642/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ULgKAAAAIBAJ&pg=3197,1083753|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, the Games' image had been damaged by ] against top officials including prior committee president and CEO Frank Joklik. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee forced Joklik and committee vice president Dave Johnson to resign.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/US/9901/10/ioc.bribery/index.html|title=Man who led Salt Lake's Olympic bid denies wrongdoing|publisher=]|date=January 10, 1999|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804044153/http://edition.cnn.com/US/9901/10/ioc.bribery/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Utah power brokers, including Governor ], searched for someone with a scandal-free reputation to take charge of the Olympics. They chose Romney based on his business and legal expertise as well as his connections to both the LDS Church and the state.<ref name="bgseries5" /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Ostling|first1=Richard|last2=Ostling|first2=Joan|title=Mormon America: The Power and the Promise|url=https://archive.org/details/mormonamericapow00ostl|url-access=registration|publisher=]|year=1999|isbn=978-0-06-066372-8|page=}}</ref> The appointment faced some initial criticism from both non-Mormons and Mormons that it represented cronyism and made the Games seem too Mormon-dominated.<ref name="nykr2002">{{cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/01/21/lives-of-the-saints |title=Lives of the Saints |last=Wright |first=Lawrence |magazine=] |date=January 21, 2002 |author-link=Lawrence Wright |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=March 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324033934/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/01/21/lives-of-the-saints |url-status=live }}</ref> Romney donated to charity the $1.4 million in salary and severance payments he received for his three years as president and CEO, and also donated $1 million to the Olympics.<ref name="bg-olympic-ties">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/27/romneys_olympic_ties_helped_him_reap_campaign_funds/ |title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Romney's Olympic ties helped him reap campaign funds|last=Hohler |first=Bob |newspaper=]|date=June 28, 2007|author-link=Bob Hohler|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008153329/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part5_side/|archive-date=October 8, 2009 |access-date=February 7, 2020 }}</ref> | |||
| Romney revamped the organization's leadership and policies, reduced budgets, and boosted fundraising, alleviated the concerns of corporate sponsors and recruited many new ones.<ref name="nyt-olympics-edge"/><ref name="bgseries5"/> Romney worked to ensure the safety of the Games following the ] by coordinating a $300 million security budget.<ref name="nyt-olympics-man"/> Overall, he oversaw a $1.32 billion budget, 700 employees, and 26,000 volunteers.<ref name="Fire Within"/> The federal government provided between approximately $400 million<ref name="bgseries5"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/03/nation/na-olympics3/2 | title=GOP spat began with Olympics | first=Bob | last=Drogin | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=February 3, 2008}}</ref><ref name=karloly/> and $600 million<ref name=dobhuntOly>{{cite news|last=Dobner|first=Jennifer|last2=Hunt|first2=Kasie|title=Romney led Olympics to success – with some help|agency=Associated Press|publisher=]|date=February 18, 2012|url=http://news.yahoo.com/romney-led-olympics-success-help-085513182--spt.html}}</ref><ref name=heldoly>{{cite news|last=Helderman|first=Rosalind S.|title=Romney's work on Olympics, Mass. projects reveals complex history with earmarks|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romneys-work-on-olympics-mass-projects-reveals-a-complex-history-with-earmarks/2012/02/15/gIQAHJ72HR_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|date=February 16, 2012}}</ref> of that budget, much of it a result of Romney's having aggressively lobbied Congress and federal agencies.<ref name="heldoly"/><ref name=isikoly>{{cite news|last=Isikoff|first=Michael|authorlink=Michael Isikoff|title=Salt Lake City Olympics Earmarks a Double-Edged Sword for Romney|url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/18/10444876-salt-lake-city-olympics-earmarks-a-double-edged-sword-for-romney?lite|publisher=]|date=February 18, 2012}}</ref> It would prove to be a record level of federal funding for the staging of a U.S. Olympics.<ref name=karloly>{{cite news|last=Karl|first=Jonathan|title=In '02 Romney touted D.C. connections, federal funds|url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/exclusive-in-02-romney-touted-d-c-connections-federal-funds/|publisher=ABC News|date=March 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name="isikoly"/> An additional $1.1 billion of indirect federal funding came in the form of highway and transit projects.<ref name="ap-hunt">{{cite news| first=Kasie |last = Hunt| agency = Associated Press | title =Romney cites Olympics success, rivals are leery| newspaper=Deseret News| location=Salt Lake City | date = February 18, 2012| url = http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765552098/Romney-cites-Olympics-success-rivals-are-leery.html}}</ref> | |||
| Romney restructured the organization's leadership and policies. He reduced budgets and boosted fundraising, alleviating corporate sponsors' concerns while recruiting new ones.<ref name="nyt-olympics-edge" /><ref name="bgseries5" /> Romney worked to ensure the Games's safety after the ] by coordinating a $300 million security budget.<ref name="nyt-olympics-man">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/12/sports/olympics-the-man-in-charge-romney-s-future-after-salt-lake-a-guessing-game.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201015612/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/12/sports/olympics-the-man-in-charge-romney-s-future-after-salt-lake-a-guessing-game.html |archive-date=February 1, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Olympics: The Man in Charge: Romney's Future After Salt Lake A Guessing Game|author=Zernike, Kate|newspaper=]|date=February 12, 2002}}</ref> He oversaw a $1.32 billion budget, 700 employees, and 26,000 volunteers.<ref name="Fire Within" /> The federal government provided approximately $400 million<ref name="bgseries5" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-03-na-olympics3-story.html|access-date=February 7, 2020|title=GOP spat began with Olympics|first=Bob|last=Drogin|newspaper=]|date=February 3, 2008|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207130855/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-03-na-olympics3-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="karloly" /> to $600 million<ref name="dobhuntOly">{{cite news|last1=Dobner|first1=Jennifer|last2=Hunt|first2=Kasie|title=Romney led Olympics to success – with some help|agency=]|publisher=]|date=February 18, 2012|url=https://news.yahoo.com/romney-led-olympics-success-help-085513182--spt.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041111/http://news.yahoo.com/romney-led-olympics-success-help-085513182--spt.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="heldoly">{{cite news|last=Helderman|first=Rosalind S.|title=Romney's work on Olympics, Mass. projects reveals complex history with earmarks|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romneys-work-on-olympics-mass-projects-reveals-a-complex-history-with-earmarks/2012/02/15/gIQAHJ72HR_story.html|newspaper=]|date=February 16, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=January 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106034206/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romneys-work-on-olympics-mass-projects-reveals-a-complex-history-with-earmarks/2012/02/15/gIQAHJ72HR_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> of that budget, much of it a result of Romney's having aggressively lobbied Congress and federal agencies.<ref name="heldoly" /><ref name="isikoly">{{cite news|last=Isikoff |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Isikoff |title=Salt Lake City Olympics Earmarks a Double-Edged Sword for Romney |url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/18/10444876-salt-lake-city-olympics-earmarks-a-double-edged-sword-for-romney?lite |work=] |date=February 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603073730/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/18/10444876-salt-lake-city-olympics-earmarks-a-double-edged-sword-for-romney?lite |archive-date=June 3, 2012}}</ref> It was a record level of federal funding for the staging of a U.S. Olympics.<ref name="karloly">{{cite news|last=Karl|first=Jonathan|title=In '02 Romney touted D.C. connections, federal funds|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/exclusive-in-02-romney-touted-d-c-connections-federal-funds/|work=]|date=March 2, 2012|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114225247/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/exclusive-in-02-romney-touted-d-c-connections-federal-funds/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="isikoly" /> An additional $1.1 billion of indirect federal funding came to the state in the form of highway and transit projects.<ref name="ap-hunt">{{cite news|first=Kasie|last=Hunt|agency=]|title=Romney cites Olympics success, rivals are leery|newspaper=]|location=Salt Lake City|date=February 18, 2012|url=https://www.deseret.com/2012/2/18/20394184/romney-cites-olympics-success-rivals-are-leery|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207130855/https://www.deseret.com/2012/2/18/20394184/romney-cites-olympics-success-rivals-are-leery|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| {{Quote box|quote=I have learned from my Olympic experience that if you have people who really understand how Washington works and have personal associations there you can get money to help build economic development opportunities.|source=—Mitt Romney in 2002, addressing the New Bedford Industrial Foundation.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/exclusive-in-02-romney-touted-d-c-connections-federal-funds/ | title=In '02 Romney Touted D.C. Connections, Federal Funds | first=Jonathan | last=Karl | publisher=ABC News | date=March 2, 2012}}</ref>|width=27%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}} | |||
| Romney emerged as the public face of the Olympic effort, appearing in photographs, news stories |
Romney emerged as the local public face of the Olympic effort, appearing in photographs, in news stories, on ] depicting him wrapped by an American flag, and on buttons carrying phrases like "Hey, Mitt, we love you!"<ref name="nyt-olympics-edge" /><ref name="bgseries5" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/choice-2012/artifact-10-mitt-romneys-olympic-pins/|title=Artifact 10: Mitt Romney's Olympic Pins|first=Azmat|last=Khan|work=]|publisher=]|date=October 1, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924225228/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/choice-2012/artifact-10-mitt-romneys-olympic-pins/|url-status=live}}</ref> Organizing committee chair ] later said, "It was obvious that he had an agenda larger than just the Olympics",<ref name="nyt-olympics-edge" /> and that Romney wanted to use the Olympics to propel himself into the national spotlight and a political career.<ref name="bgseries5" /><ref name="wapo021212" /> Garff believed the initial budget situation was not as bad as Romney portrayed, given there were still three years to reorganize.<ref name="bgseries5" /> Utah Senator ] said that much of the needed federal money was already in place.<ref name="bgseries5" /> A '']'' analysis later found that the committee had nearly $1 billion in committed revenues at that time.<ref name="bgseries5" /> Olympics critic Steve Pace, who led Utahns for Responsible Public Spending, thought Romney exaggerated the initial fiscal state to lay the groundwork for a well-publicized rescue.<ref name="wapo021212">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/10-years-after-salt-lake-city-olympics-questions-about-romneys-contributions/2012/02/01/gIQABnCX9Q_story.html|title=10 years after Salt Lake City Olympics, questions about Romney's contributions|first=Amy|last=Shipley|newspaper=]|date=February 12, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=November 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114160742/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/10-years-after-salt-lake-city-olympics-questions-about-romneys-contributions/2012/02/01/gIQABnCX9Q_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Kenneth Bullock, another board member of the organizing committee and also head of the ], often clashed with Romney at the time, and later said that Romney deserved some credit for the turnaround but not as much as he claimed.<ref name="nyt-olympics-edge" /> Bullock said: "He tried very hard to build an image of himself as a savior, the great white hope. He was very good at characterizing and castigating people and putting himself on a pedestal."<ref name="bgseries5" /> | ||
| Kenneth Bullock, another board member of the organizing committee and also head of the ], often clashed with Romney at the time, and later said that Romney deserved some credit for the turnaround but not as much as he claimed:<ref name="nyt-olympics-edge"/> Bullock said: "He tried very hard to build an image of himself as a savior, the great white hope. He was very good at characterizing and castigating people and putting himself on a pedestal."<ref name="bgseries5"/> | |||
| Despite the initial fiscal shortfall, the Games ended up with a surplus of $100 million.<ref>{{Cite news|title=SLOC plotting how to dole out Olympics profits|date=September 17, 2002|publisher=]|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1433186|agency=]|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818011414/https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1433186|url-status=live}}</ref> President ] praised Romney's efforts and 87% of Utahns approved of his performance as Olympics head.<ref name="fortune-2007" /><ref name="aap04-772">Barone and Cohen, ''The Almanac of American Politics 2004'', p. 772.</ref> It solidified his reputation as a "turnaround artist",<ref name="bgseries5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/28/in_games_a_showcase_for_future_races/ |title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 5: In Games, a showcase for future races |last=Hohler |first=Bob |newspaper=] |date=June 28, 2007 |author-link=Bob Hohler |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112073500/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part5_main/ |archive-date=January 12, 2010 |url-status=live}} Also . Also available as {{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819115033/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249%2C680196503%2C00.html |title=Mitt used Games role for political impetus |work=] Morning News |date=July 5, 2007 |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,680196503,00.html |archive-date=August 19, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/mitts-mission-103243 |title=Mitt's Mission |first1=Jonathan |last1=Darman |first2=Lida |last2=Miller |magazine=] |date=October 1, 2007 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207130855/https://www.newsweek.com/mitts-mission-103243 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.islandpacket.com/2008/01/12/128897/candidate-known-as-turnaround.html |title=Candidate known as turnaround artist |first=David |last=Lightman |agency=McClatchy-Tribune News Service |newspaper=] |date=January 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614230911/http://www.islandpacket.com/2008/01/12/128897/candidate-known-as-turnaround.html |archive-date=June 14, 2013 }}</ref> and Harvard Business School taught a case study based around his actions.<ref name="nykr2007">{{cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/10/29/the-mission-3 |title=The Mission: Mitt Romney's strategies for success |last=Lizza |first=Ryan |magazine=] |date=October 29, 2007 |author-link=Ryan Lizza |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=January 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119060623/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/10/29/the-mission-3 |url-status=live }}</ref> ] head William Hybl credited Romney with an extraordinary effort in overcoming a difficult time for the Olympics, culminating in "the greatest Winter Games I have ever seen".<ref name="bgseries5" /> Romney wrote a book about his experience, '']'', published in 2004. The role gave him experience in dealing with federal, state, and local entities, a public persona he had previously lacked, and the chance to relaunch his political aspirations.<ref name="nyt-olympics-edge" /> | |||
| Despite the initial fiscal shortfall, the Games ended up clearing a profit of $100 million.<ref>{{Cite news| title= SLOC plotting how to dole out Olympics profits| date=September 17, 2002 | publisher= ] | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1433186&type=news | agency=Associated Press | pages= | <!––accessdate = December 12, 2007 ––>}}</ref> His performance as Olympics head was rated positively by 87 percent of Utahns.<ref name="aap04-772">Barone and Cohen, ''The Almanac of American Politics 2004'', p. 772.</ref> | |||
| Romney and his wife contributed $1 million to the Olympics, and he donated to charity the $1.4 million in salary and severance payments he received for his three years as president and CEO.<ref name="bg-olympic-ties">{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/27/romneys_olympic_ties_helped_him_reap_campaign_funds/ | title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Romney's Olympic ties helped him reap campaign funds | author=Hohler, Bob | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=June 28, 2007 | authorlink=Bob Hohler | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20091008153329/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part5_side/ | archivedate=October 8, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ==2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign== | |||
| Romney was widely praised for his efforts with the 2002 Winter Olympics<ref name="nyt-olympics-man">{{Cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/12/sports/olympics-the-man-in-charge-romney-s-future-after-salt-lake-a-guessing-game.html | title=Olympics: The Man in Charge: Romney's Future After Salt Lake A Guessing Game | author=Zernike, Kate | newspaper=The New York Times | date=February 12, 2002}}</ref> including by President ],<ref name="fortune-2007"/> and it solidified his reputation as a turnaround artist.<ref name="bgseries5">{{Cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/28/in_games_a_showcase_for_future_races/ | title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 5: In Games, a showcase for future races | author=Hohler, Bob | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=June 28, 2007 | authorlink=Bob Hohler <!-- accessdate=2010-03-27 --> | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20100112073500/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part5_main/ | archivedate=January 12, 2010 | deadurl=no}} Also . Also available as , ''Deseret Morning News'', July 5, 2007 (archived from on August 19, 2007).</ref> Harvard Business School taught a case study based around his actions.<ref name="nykr2007">{{cite news | url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/10/29/071029fa_fact_lizza?currentPage=all | title=The Mission: Mitt Romney's strategies for success | author=Lizza, Ryan | magazine=] | date=October 29, 2007 | authorlink=Ryan Lizza}}</ref> He wrote a book about his experience titled '']'', published in 2004. | |||
| {{Main|2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election}} | |||
| The role gave Romney experience in dealing with federal, state, and local entities, a public persona he had previously lacked, and the chance to re-launch his political aspirations.<ref name="nyt-olympics-edge"/> He was mentioned as a possible candidate for statewide office in both Massachusetts and Utah, and also as possibly joining the Bush administration.<ref name="nyt-olympics-man"/><ref name="dn022202"/><ref name="bgseries6"/> | |||
| In 2002, plagued by political missteps and personal scandals, the administration of Republican ] ] appeared vulnerable, and many Republicans viewed her as unable to win a general election.<ref name="aap04-772" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Frank |first=Mitch |url=http://www.time.com/time/columnist/frank/article/0,9565,219417,00.html |title=Jane Swift Takes One For the Team |magazine=]|date=March 21, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030406181452/http://www.time.com/time/columnist/frank/article/0%2C9565%2C219417%2C00.html |archive-date=April 6, 2003 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Prominent party figures – as well as the White House – wanted Romney to run for governor<ref name="dn022202">Berwick Jr., Bob; Roche, Lisa Riley. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313223320/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/897445/Boston-GOP-beseeching-Mitt.html |date=March 13, 2012 }} ''Deseret News'' (Salt Lake City), February 22, 2002. <!-- Retrieved November 1, 2006. --></ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/03/20/gops-swift-drops-out-romney-is-in/|title=GOP's Swift drops out|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|newspaper=]|date=March 20, 2002|access-date=May 20, 2012|archive-date=September 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919233204/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-03-20/news/0203200179_1_massachusetts-governor-first-governor-mitt-romney|url-status=live}}</ref> and the opportunity appealed to him for reasons including its national visibility.<ref>Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 224–225.</ref> A '']'' poll showed Republicans favoring Romney over Swift by more than 50 percentage points.<ref name="cnn031902">{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/03/19/massachusetts.governor/index.html |title=Swift exits, Romney joins Mass. governor's race |publisher=] |date=March 19, 2002 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108195146/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/03/19/massachusetts.governor/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 19, 2002, Swift announced she would not seek her party's nomination, and hours later Romney declared his candidacy,<ref name="cnn031902" /> for which he would face no opposition in the primary.<ref name="pbs-race" /> In June 2002, the ] challenged Romney's eligibility to run for governor, noting that state law required seven years' consecutive residence and that Romney had filed his state tax returns as a Utah resident in 1999 and 2000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87037568.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502151752/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87037568.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2013|title=State Dems file challenge on residency of Romney|last1=Guarino|first1=David R.|last2=Crummy|first2=Karen E.|newspaper=Boston Herald|date=June 8, 2002}}</ref><ref name="nyt-challenge">{{cite news|last=Butterfield|first=Fox|author-link=Fox Butterfield|title=Republican's Candidacy Is Challenged By Democrats|newspaper=]|date=June 8, 2002 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/08/us/republican-s-candidacy-is-challenged-by-democrats.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320191720/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/08/us/republican-s-candidacy-is-challenged-by-democrats.html |archive-date=March 20, 2013 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live }}</ref> In response, the bipartisan Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission unanimously ruled that he had maintained sufficient financial and personal ties to Massachusetts to be an eligible candidate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120282117.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502183559/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120282117.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2013|title=Mass. board confirms GOP gubernatorial candidate's residency|first=Evan|last=Osnos|author-link=Evan Osnos|newspaper=]|date=June 25, 2002}}</ref> | |||
| Romney again ran as a political outsider.<ref name="aap04-772" /> He played down his party affiliation,<ref name="bgseries6" /> saying he was "not a partisan Republican" but rather a "moderate" with "progressive" views.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/13/democrats-rail-against-romney-over-decade-old-comments/|title=Democrats rail against Romney over decade-old comments|author=Killough, Ashley|publisher=]|date=December 13, 2011|access-date=December 19, 2011|archive-date=December 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214050837/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/13/democrats-rail-against-romney-over-decade-old-comments/|url-status=dead}} See " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217115131/http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/12/romney-2002-moderate-progressive-not-partisan-Worcester |date=December 17, 2011 }}" for video.</ref> He said he would observe a moratorium on changes to the state's laws on abortion, but reiterated that he would "preserve and protect a woman's right to choose" and that his position was "unequivocal".<ref name="cbs-a-views"/><ref name="bgseries7" /> He touted his private sector experience as qualifying him for addressing the state's fiscal problems<ref name="pbs-race">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2002/races/ma_governor.html|title=Vote 2002: Massachusetts Governor's Race|website=]|publisher=]|access-date=November 1, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030625184413/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2002/races/ma_governor.html|archive-date=June 25, 2003}}</ref> and stressed his ability to obtain federal funds for the state, offering his Olympics record as evidence.<ref name="karloly" /><ref name="isikoly" /> He proposed to reorganize the state government while eliminating waste, fraud, and mismanagement.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="baylesgolden" /> The campaign innovatively utilized ] techniques, identifying like-minded groups of voters and reaching them with narrowly tailored messaging.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/04/AR2007070401423.html|title=Romney's Data Cruncher|author=Cillizza, Chris|newspaper=]|date=July 5, 2007|author-link=Chris Cillizza|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112054945/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/04/AR2007070401423.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ==Governor of Massachusetts== | |||
| ===2002 gubernatorial campaign=== | |||
| {{Main|Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002}} | |||
| In 2002, Republican ] ]'s administration was plagued by political missteps and personal scandals.<ref name="aap04-772"/> Many Republicans viewed her as a liability and considered her unable to win a general election.<ref>Frank, Mitch. ''Time'', March 21, 2002. <!-- Retrieved October 29, 2006. --></ref> Prominent party figures – as well as the White House – wanted Romney to run for governor,<ref name="dn022202">Berwick Jr., Bob; Roche, Lisa Riley. ''Deseret News'' (Salt Lake City), February 22, 2002. <!-- Retrieved November 1, 2006. --></ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-03-20/news/0203200179_1_massachusetts-governor-first-governor-mitt-romney | title=GOP's Swift drops out | first=Jeff | last=Zeleny | newspaper=] | date=March 20, 2002}}</ref> and the opportunity appealed to him for its national visibility.<ref>Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 224–225.</ref> One poll taken at that time showed Republicans favoring Romney over Swift by more than 50 percentage points.<ref name="cnn031902">{{cite news | url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/03/19/massachusetts.governor/index.html | title=Swift exits, Romney joins Mass. governor's race | publisher=CNN | date= March 19, 2002 <!-- Retrieved October 30, 2006 --> }}</ref> On March 19, 2002, Swift announced she would not seek her party's nomination, and hours later Romney declared his candidacy,<ref name="cnn031902"/> for which he would face no opposition in the primary.<ref name=pbs-race/> In June 2002, the ] challenged Romney's eligibility to run for governor, noting that state law required seven years' consecutive residence and that Romney had filed his state tax returns as a Utah resident in 1999 and 2000.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87037568.html | title=State Dems file challenge on residency of Romney | first=David R. | last=Guarino | first2=Karen E. | last=Crummy | newspaper=Boston Herald | date=June 8, 2002}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="nyt-challenge">{{cite news | last = Butterfield | first = Fox | authorlink = Fox Butterfield | title = Republican's Candidacy Is Challenged By Democrats | newspaper = The New York Times| date = June 8, 2002| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/08/us/republican-s-candidacy-is-challenged-by-democrats.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm}}</ref> In response, the bipartisan Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission unanimously ruled that he had maintained sufficient financial and personal ties to Massachusetts and was therefore an eligible candidate.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120282117.html | title=Mass. board confirms GOP gubernatorial candidate's residency | first=Evan | last=Osnos | newspaper=] | date=June 25, 2002}}{{subscription required}}</ref> | |||
| In an attempt to overcome the image that had damaged him in the 1994 Senate race – that of a wealthy corporate buyout specialist out of touch with the needs of regular people – the campaign staged a series of "work days", in which Romney performed blue-collar jobs such as herding cows and baling hay, unloading a fishing boat, and hauling garbage.<ref name="baylesgolden" /><ref name="Kleinshirtless">{{cite news |last=Klein |first=Rick |title=New Ads, 'Work Days' Show Down-to-Earth Candidate |newspaper=] |url=https://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/269/metro/New_ads_work_days_show_down_to_earth_candidate+.shtml |date=September 26, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021002043211/http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/269/metro/New_ads_work_days_show_down_to_earth_candidate%2B.shtml |archive-date=October 2, 2002 |url-status=dead }} Also available with photo as {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204222108/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sVFOAAAAIBAJ&pg=1371,5073072 |date=December 4, 2020 }}, ''Deseret News'', September 27, 2002.</ref><ref name="MigaFuzzy" /> Television ads highlighting the effort, as well as one portraying his family in gushing terms and showing him shirtless,<ref name="Kleinshirtless" /> received a poor public response and were a factor in his Democratic opponent, ] ], leading in the polls as late as mid-October.<ref name="baylesgolden">{{cite news|last=Bayles|first=Fred|title=Romney may be losing his touch in Mass|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-10-15-massgov-usat_x.htm|newspaper=]|date=October 16, 2002|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=October 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006134313/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-10-15-massgov-usat_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MigaFuzzy">{{cite news|last=Miga|first=Andrew|title=Don't expect a warm and fuzzy Romney this fall|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120405/PC1603/120409549|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=April 5, 2012|access-date=June 3, 2012|archive-date=September 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929154441/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120405/PC1603/120409549|url-status=live}}</ref> He responded with ads that accused O'Brien of being a failed watchdog for state pension fund losses in the stock market and that associated her husband, a former lobbyist, with the ].<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="MigaFuzzy" /> These were effective in capturing independent voters.<ref name="MigaFuzzy" /> O'Brien said that Romney's budget plans were unrealistic; the two also differed on capital punishment and bilingual education, with Romney supporting the former and opposing the latter.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/02/us/the-2002-campaign-the-accusations-tight-and-heated-race-rages-in-massachusetts.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320191725/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/02/us/the-2002-campaign-the-accusations-tight-and-heated-race-rages-in-massachusetts.html |archive-date=March 20, 2013 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Tight and Heated Race Rages in Massachusetts|first=Pam |last=Belluck|newspaper=]|date=November 2, 2002}}</ref> | |||
| Romney again ran as a political outsider.<ref name="aap04-772"/> He played down his party affiliation,<ref name="bgseries6"/> saying he was "not a partisan Republican" but rather a "moderate" with "progressive" views.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/13/democrats-rail-against-romney-over-decade-old-comments/ | title=Democrats rail against Romney over decade-old comments | author=Killough, Ashley | publisher=CNN | date=December 13, 2011}} See for video.</ref> He touted his private sector experience as qualifying him for addressing the state's fiscal problems<ref name=pbs-race>{{cite web | url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2002/races/ma_governor.html | title=Vote 2002: Massachusetts Governor's Race | work=] | publisher= ] | accessdate=November 1, 2006}}</ref> and stressed his ability to obtain federal funds for the state, giving his Olympics record as evidence.<ref name=karloly/><ref name="isikoly"/><ref>{{cite news | title=The Utah Factor | first=Christopher | last=Smith | newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune | date=November 4, 2002 | page=A1}}</ref> He proposed to reorganize the state government while eliminating waste, fraud, and mismanagement.<ref name="bgseries6"/><ref name=baylesgolden/> The campaign was the first to use ] techniques, in which fine-grained groups of voters were reached with narrowly tailored messaging.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/04/AR2007070401423.html | title=Romney's Data Cruncher | author=Cillizza, Chris | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 5, 2007 | authorlink=Chris Cillizza}}</ref> | |||
| During the election, Romney contributed more than $6 million – a state record at the time – to the nearly $10 million raised for his campaign.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mooney, Brian C.|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/08/22/gabrieli_surpasses_spending_record/|title=Gabrieli surpasses spending record|newspaper=]|date=August 22, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103230438/http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/08/22/gabrieli_surpasses_spending_record/|archive-date=January 3, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94133968.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129232942/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94133968.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 29, 2012|title=Donor cash still floods campaigns|first=Ted|last=Bunker|newspaper=Boston Herald|date=November 11, 2002}}</ref> On November 5, 2002, he won the election with 50% of the vote to O'Brien's 45%.<ref>Barone and Cohen, ''Almanac of American Politics 2004'', p. 773.</ref> | |||
| == |
==Governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007)== | ||
| {{Main|Governorship of Mitt Romney}} | {{Main|Governorship of Mitt Romney}} | ||
| <!-- Several concise paragraphs surveying Romney's term are what is desirable | <!-- Several concise paragraphs surveying Romney's term are what is desirable | ||
| for this section. Detail is subject to severe editing. --> | for this section. Detail is subject to severe editing. --> | ||
| ] | |||
| ] portrait of Governor Mitt Romney, by artist ]]] | |||
| Romney was sworn in as the 70th governor of Massachusetts on January 2, 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7KFJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2500,518323|title=Romney takes oath as governor|first=Jennifer|last=Peter|newspaper=]|date=January 3, 2003|page=B2|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205071849/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7KFJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2500,518323|url-status=live}}</ref> He faced a ] with large Democratic majorities in both houses, and had picked his cabinet and advisors based more on managerial abilities than partisan affiliation.<ref name="aap08-789">Barone and Cohen, ''Almanac of American Politics 2008'', p. 789.</ref><ref name="tnr-cohn">{{cite news|url=http://www.tnr.com/article/parent-trap-how-mitt-romney-un-became-his-father|title=Parent Trap: How Mitt Romney un-became his father|author=Cohn, Jonathan|magazine=]|date=July 2, 2007|author-link=Jonathan Cohn|access-date=December 23, 2010|archive-date=September 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926194200/http://www.tnr.com/article/parent-trap-how-mitt-romney-un-became-his-father|url-status=live}}</ref> He declined a governor's salary of $135,000 during his term.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aCMzAAAAIBAJ&pg=5032,6034303|title=Romney says he'd donate his salary|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=May 30, 2007|page=5A|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225095508/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aCMzAAAAIBAJ&pg=5032,6034303|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon entering office in the middle of a ], he faced an immediate $650 million shortfall and a projected $3 billion deficit for the next year.<ref name="bgseries6" /> Unexpected revenue of $1.0–1.3 billion from a previously enacted ] increase and $500 million in new federal grants decreased the deficit to $1.2–1.5 billion.<ref name="Telegram" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.factcheck.org/more_mitt_missteps.html|title=More Mitt Missteps|publisher=]|date=July 9, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711050047/http://www.factcheck.org/more_mitt_missteps.html|archive-date=July 11, 2007}}</ref> Through a combination of spending cuts, increased fees, and removal of corporate tax loopholes,<ref name="Telegram">{{cite news|author=Landrigan, Kevin |url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS08/312130115/-1/news08 |title=Taxing Matter |newspaper=] |location=Nashua, New Hampshire |date=December 13, 2007 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080109195323/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20071213%2FNEWS08%2F312130115%2F-1%2Fnews08 |archive-date=January 9, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the state achieved surpluses of around $600–700 million during Romney's last two full fiscal years in office, although it began running deficits again after that.{{#tag:ref|Official state figures for fiscal year 2005 (July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005) declared a $594.4 million surplus.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="gov-mass" /> For fiscal 2006, the surplus was $720.9 million.<ref name="gov-mass">{{cite web|url=http://www.mass.gov/treasury/docs/debt/disclosurearchive/2008/infostatementsupplement12-4-08.pdf|title=Information Statement Supplement|publisher=]|date=December 4, 2008|access-date=October 24, 2012|page=A–12|archive-date=December 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218150132/http://www.mass.gov/treasury/docs/debt/disclosurearchive/2008/infostatementsupplement12-4-08.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> During fiscal 2007, Romney cut $384 million in spending that the legislature wanted; in January 2007, midway through the fiscal year, incoming Governor ] restored that amount,<ref name="bg010707">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/07/patricks_reversal_of_cuts_brings_joy/|title=Patrick's reversal of cuts brings joy|author=Carroll, Matt|newspaper=]|date=January 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726115032/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/07/patricks_reversal_of_cuts_brings_joy/|archive-date=July 26, 2008}}</ref> and also declared that the state faced a "looming budget shortfall" of $1 billion for fiscal 2008.<ref name="ap-deficit">{{cite news|url=http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO39099/|title=Patrick says state has $1 billion deficit|agency=]|publisher=]|date=January 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107032133/http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO39099/|archive-date=January 7, 2007}}</ref> Patrick consequently proposed a budget for fiscal 2008 that included $515 million in spending cuts and $295 million in new corporate taxes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/28/patrick_says_budget_without_gimmicks/|title=Patrick says budget 'without gimmicks'|author=Frank Phillips|author2=Andrea Estes|newspaper=]|date=February 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305093832/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/28/patrick_says_budget_without_gimmicks/?page=full|archive-date=March 5, 2007}}</ref> As it happened, the state ended fiscal 2007 with a $307.1 million deficit and fiscal 2008 with a $495.2 million deficit.<ref name="gov-mass" />|group="nb"}} | |||
| ] portrait by ]]] | |||
| When Romney was sworn in as the 70th governor of Massachusetts on January 2, 2003,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/1865313/detail.html | title=Romney Sworn In As Bay State's Governor | first=M.R.F. | last=Buckley | publisher=] | date=January 2, 2003}}</ref> both houses of the ] held large Democratic majorities.<ref name="aap08-789">Barone and Cohen, ''Almanac of American Politics 2008'', p. 789.</ref> He picked his cabinet and advisors more on managerial abilities than partisan affiliation.<ref name="tnr-cohn">{{cite news | url=http://www.tnr.com/article/parent-trap-how-mitt-romney-un-became-his-father | title=Parent Trap: How Mitt Romney un-became his father | author=Cohn, Jonathan | magazine=] | date=July 2, 2007 | authorlink=Jonathan Cohn}}</ref> He declined his governor's salary during his term.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aCMzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5KcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5032,6034303 | title=Romney says he'd donate his salary | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=] | date=May 30, 2007 | page=5A}}</ref> Upon entering office in the middle of a fiscal year, he faced an immediate $650 million shortfall and a projected $3 billion deficit for the next year.<ref name="bgseries6"/> Unexpected revenue of $1.0–1.3 billion from a previously enacted capital gains tax increase and $500 million in unanticipated federal grants decreased the deficit to $1.2–1.5 billion.<ref name="Telegram"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.factcheck.org/more_mitt_missteps.html | title=More Mitt Missteps | publisher=] | date= July 9, 2007}}</ref> Through a combination of spending cuts, increased fees, and removal of corporate tax loopholes,<ref name="Telegram">{{cite news | author=Landrigan, Kevin | url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS08/312130115/-1/news08 | title=Taxing Matter | newspaper=] | location=Nashua, New Hampshire | date=December 13, 2007 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071221092907/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS08/312130115/-1/news08 | archivedate=December 21, 2007}}</ref> the state ran surpluses of around $600–700 million for the last two full fiscal years Romney was in office, although it began running deficits again after that.{{#tag:ref|Official state figures for fiscal year 2005 (July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005) declared a $594.4 million surplus.<ref name="bgseries6"/><ref name="dws-mass"/> For fiscal 2006, the surplus was $720.9 million.<ref name="dws-mass">{{cite web | url=https://www.dws-investments.com/EN/docs/fund-literature/sai/DMATF-13.pdf | title=DWS State Tax-Free Trust: Statement of Additional Information | publisher=] | date=September 27, 2011 | accessdate=January 28, 2012 | pages=31–32}}</ref> During fiscal 2007, Romney cut $384 million in spending that the legislature wanted; in January 2007, midway through the fiscal year, incoming Governor ] restored that amount,<ref name="bg010707">{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/07/patricks_reversal_of_cuts_brings_joy/ | title=Patrick's reversal of cuts brings joy | author=Carroll, Matt | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=January 7, 2007}}</ref> and also declared that the state faced a "looming budget shortfall" of $1 billion for fiscal 2008.<ref name="ap-deficit">{{cite news | url=http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO39099/ | title=Patrick says state has $1 billion deficit | agency=] | publisher=] | date=January 5, 2007}}</ref> Patrick consequently proposed a budget for fiscal 2008 that included $515 million in spending cuts and $295 million in new corporate taxes.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/28/patrick_says_budget_without_gimmicks/ | title=Patrick says budget 'without gimmicks' | author=Frank Phillips | author2= Andrea Estes | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=February 28, 2007}}</ref> As it happened, the state ended fiscal 2007 with a $307.1 million deficit and fiscal 2008 with a $495.2 million deficit.<ref name="dws-mass"/>|group="nb"}} | |||
| Romney supported raising various fees, including those for drivers' licenses and gun licenses, to raise more than $300 million.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="Telegram" /> He increased a special gasoline retailer fee by {{convert|0.02|$/USgal}}, generating about $60 million per year in additional revenue.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="Telegram" /> Opponents said the reliance on fees sometimes imposed a hardship on those who could least afford them.<ref name="Telegram" /> Romney also closed tax loopholes that brought in another $181 million from businesses over the next two years and over $300 million for his term.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/us/politics/romneys-strategies-as-governor-bucked-his-ceo-image.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003002338/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/us/politics/romneys-strategies-as-governor-bucked-his-ceo-image.html |archive-date=October 3, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|last=Barbaro |first=Michael|title=Seeking Taxes, Romney Went After Business|newspaper=] |date=October 1, 2011}}</ref><ref name="bg013105" /> He did so in the face of conservative and corporate critics who viewed these actions as tax increases.<ref name="NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro" /><ref name="bg013105">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/business/taxes/articles/2005/01/31/romney_businesses_wrangle_on_loopholes/|title=Romney, Businesses Wrangle on 'Loopholes'|first=Scott S.|last=Greenberger|newspaper=]|date=January 31, 2005|page=A1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060223174513/http://www.boston.com/business/taxes/articles/2005/01/31/romney_businesses_wrangle_on_loopholes/|archive-date=February 23, 2006}}</ref> | |||
| The state legislature, with the governor's support, cut spending by $1.6 billion, including $700 million in reductions in state aid to cities and towns.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/18/property_taxes_still_on_rise_in_mass/ |url-status=live |title=Property taxes still on rise in Mass|author=Viser, Matt|newspaper=]|date=December 18, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103135947/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/18/property_taxes_still_on_rise_in_mass/?page=full|archive-date=January 3, 2009}}</ref> The cuts also included a $140 million reduction in state funding for higher education, which led state-run colleges and universities to increase fees by 63% over four years.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="Telegram" /> Romney sought additional cuts in his last year as governor by vetoing nearly 250 items in the state budget; the legislature overrode all the vetoes.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Romney's vetoes seldom stood |author=Barrick, Daniel |newspaper=] |date=May 3, 2007 |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/romneys-vetoes-seldom-stood |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027012435/http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/romneys-vetoes-seldom-stood |archive-date=October 27, 2012 }}</ref> | |||
| Romney supported raising various fees by more than $300 million, including those for driver's licenses, marriage licenses, and gun licenses.<ref name="bgseries6"/><ref name="Telegram" /> He increased a special gasoline retailer fee by two cents per gallon, generating about $60 million per year in additional revenue.<ref name="bgseries6"/><ref name="Telegram" /> (Opponents said the reliance on fees sometimes imposed a hardship on those who could least afford them.)<ref name="Telegram" /> Romney also closed tax loopholes, in the interests of both better fairness and revenue increases, that brought in another $181 million from businesses over the next two years and over $300 million for his term.<ref name="bgseries6"/><ref name = "NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro">{{cite news | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/us/politics/romneys-strategies-as-governor-bucked-his-ceo-image.html | last = Barbaro |first = Michael | title = Seeking Taxes, Romney Went After Business | newspaper = The New York Times |date = October 1, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="bg013105"/> He did so in the face of conservative and corporate critics that considered them tax increases.<ref name = "NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro"/><ref name="bg013105">{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7889736.html | title=Romney, Business Wrangle on 'Loopholes' | first=Scott S. | last=Greenberger | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=January 31, 2005 | page=A1}}{{subscription required}}</ref> | |||
| The cuts in state spending put added pressure on localities to reduce services or raise property taxes, and the share of town and city revenues coming from property taxes rose from 49% to 53%.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="Telegram" /> The combined state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased during Romney's governorship.<ref name="bgseries6">{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/29/taking_office_remaining_an_outsider/ |title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 6: Taking office, remaining an outsider |last=Mooney |first=Brian |date=June 29, 2007 |newspaper=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112081226/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part6_main/ |archive-date=January 12, 2010 |url-status=live }} Also . Also available as {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202035700/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/680196789/Romney-took-on-outsider-role-at-helm-of-Bay-State.html |date=February 2, 2011 }}, ''Deseret Morning News'', July 6, 2007.</ref> He did propose a reduction in the state income tax rate, but the legislature rejected it.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sahadi|first=Jeanne|url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/01/23/news/economy/Romney_tax_record/|title=Is Romney a tax cutter?|publisher=]|date=January 23, 2012|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202132528/https://money.cnn.com/2012/01/23/news/economy/Romney_tax_record/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| The state legislature, with the governor's support, also cut spending by $1.6 billion, including $700 million in reductions in state aid to cities and towns.<ref>{{Cite news|url =http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/18/property_taxes_still_on_rise_in_mass/?page=full | title = Property taxes still on rise in Mass | author = Viser, Matt | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=December 18, 2005|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090103135947/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/18/property_taxes_still_on_rise_in_mass/?page=full|archivedate=January 3, 2009}}</ref> The cuts also included a $140 million reduction in state funding for higher education, which led state-run colleges and universities to increase tuition by 63 percent over four years.<ref name="bgseries6"/><ref name="Telegram" /> Romney sought additional cuts in his last year as governor by vetoing nearly 250 items in the state budget, but all were overridden by the heavily Democratic legislature.<ref>{{Cite news| title= Romney's vetoes seldom stood| author= Barrick, Daniel | newspaper=]| date=May 3, 2007| url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/romneys-vetoes-seldom-stood}}</ref> | |||
| Romney sought to bring near-universal health insurance coverage to the state. This came after ] founder ] told him at the start of his term that doing so would be the best way he could help people.<ref name="bg-hc-1" /> Another factor was that the federal government, owing to the rules of ] funding, threatened to cut $385 million in those payments to Massachusetts if the state did not reduce the number of uninsured recipients of health care services.<ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="nyt040606" /> Although the idea of universal health insurance had not come to the fore during the campaign, Romney decided that because people without insurance still received expensive health care, the money spent by the state for such care could be better used to subsidize insurance for the poor.<ref name="bg-hc-1">{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/05/30/romney_and_health_care_in_the_thick_of_history/ |url-status=live |title=Romney and health care: In the thick of history|author=Mooney, Brian C.|newspaper=]|date=May 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407080254/http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/05/30/romney_and_health_care_in_the_thick_of_history/?page=full|archive-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref> | |||
| The cuts in state spending put added pressure on localities to reduce services or raise property taxes, and the share of town and city revenues coming from property taxes rose from 49 to 53 percent.<ref name="bgseries6"/><ref name="Telegram" /> | |||
| The combined state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased during Romney's governorship but remained below the national average.<ref name="bgseries6">{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/29/taking_office_remaining_an_outsider/|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 6: Taking office, remaining an outsider |last=Mooney |first=Brian |date=June 29, 2007 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |<!--accessdate=July 3, 2007-->| archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20100112081226/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part6_main/? | archivedate=January 12, 2010 |deadurl=no}} Also . Also available as , ''Deseret Morning News'', July 6, 2007.</ref> | |||
| ] on May 20, 2005, as part of celebrating ]]] | |||
| Romney sought to bring near-universal health insurance coverage to the state. This came after Staples founder Stemberg told him at the start of his term that doing so would be the best way he could help people,<ref name="nyt040606">{{Cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/us/06health.html | title=On Health Care, Massachusetts Leaders Invoke Action, Not Talk | author=Belluck, Pam | newspaper=The New York Times | date=April 6, 2006 <!-- accessdate April 25, 2010 -->}}</ref><ref name="npr040806">{{cite news | url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5330854 | title=Romney's Mission: Massachusetts Health Care | author=Knox, Richard | publisher=] | date=April 8, 2006}}</ref><ref name="bg-hc-1"/> and after the federal government, owing to the rules of ] funding, threatened to cut $385 million in those payments to Massachusetts if the state did not reduce the number of uninsured recipients of health care services.<ref name="tnr-cohn"/><ref name="nyt040606"/><ref name="bgseries7"/> Although he had not campaigned on the idea of universal health insurance,<ref name="bg-hc-1">{{cite news | url = http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/05/30/romney_and_health_care_in_the_thick_of_history/?page=full | title = Romney and health care: In the thick of history | author=Mooney, Brian C. | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date = May 30, 2011 }}</ref> Romney decided that because people without insurance still received expensive health care, the money spent by the state for such care could be better used to subsidize insurance for the poor.<ref name="npr040806"/><ref name="bg-hc-1"/> | |||
| Determined that a new Massachusetts health insurance measure not raise taxes or resemble the previous decade's failed ] proposal at the federal level, Romney formed a team of consultants from diverse political backgrounds to apply those principles. Beginning in late 2004, they devised a set of proposals that were more ambitious than an incremental one from the ] and more acceptable to him than one from the ] that incorporated a new payroll tax.<ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="tnr-cohn" /><ref name="nyt040606" /> In particular, Romney pushed for incorporating an ] at the state level.<ref name="time-prof-2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1619212,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512215003/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1619212,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 12, 2007|title=What Romney Believes|author=Tumulty, Karen|magazine=]|date=May 10, 2007|author-link=Karen Tumulty}}</ref> Past rival Ted Kennedy, who had made universal health coverage his life's work and who, over time, had developed a warm relationship with Romney,<ref>Canellos, ''The Last Lion'', p. 300.</ref> gave the plan a positive reception, which encouraged Democratic legislators to cooperate.<ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="nyt040606" /> The effort eventually gained the support of all major stakeholders within the state, and Romney helped break a logjam between rival Democratic leaders in the legislature.<ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="nyt040606" /> | |||
| On April 12, 2006, Romney signed the resulting ], commonly called "Romneycare", which requires nearly all Massachusetts residents to buy health insurance coverage or face escalating tax penalties, such as the loss of their personal income tax exemption.<ref name="bg-signs">{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/13/joy_worries_on_healthcare/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060421094214/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/13/joy_worries_on_healthcare/?page=full |archive-date=April 21, 2006|title=Mass. governor signs health bill, with vetoes|newspaper=]|date=April 13, 2006 |author1=Helman, Scott |author2=Kowalczyk, Liz |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> The bill also established ] state subsidies for people who lacked adequate employer insurance and whose income was below a threshold, using funds that had covered the health costs of the uninsured.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200606u/nj_crook_2006-06-27|title=The Massachusetts Experiment|last=Crook|first=Clive|date=June 2006|magazine=]|access-date=November 21, 2006|archive-date=October 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011121837/http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200606u/nj_crook_2006-06-27|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Dembner, Alice|url=https://boston.com/yourlife/health/other/articles/2007/01/20/sticker_shock_for_state_care_plan/|title=Sticker shock for state care plan|newspaper=]|date=January 20, 2007|access-date=April 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427160515/http://boston.com/yourlife/health/other/articles/2007/01/20/sticker_shock_for_state_care_plan/|archive-date=April 27, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He vetoed eight sections of the health care legislation, including a controversial $295-per-employee assessment on businesses that do not offer health insurance and provisions guaranteeing dental benefits to Medicaid recipients.<ref name="bg-signs" /><ref name="ap-overrides" /> The legislature overrode all eight vetoes, but the governor's office said the differences were not essential.<ref name="ap-overrides">{{cite news|url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2006/04/26/67613.htm|title=Mass. House Overrides Gov. Romney Veto of Health Care Fee|author=LeBlanc, Steve|agency=]|magazine=Insurance Journal|date=April 26, 2006|access-date=December 4, 2010|archive-date=May 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519225254/http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2006/04/26/67613.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The law was the first of its kind in the nation and became the signature achievement of Romney's term in office.<ref name="bgseries7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part7_main/|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 7: Ambitious goals; shifting stances|author=Mooney, Brian C.|author2=Ebbert, Stephanie|author3=Helman, Scott|newspaper=]|date=June 30, 2007|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003315/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part7_main/|url-status=live}} Also .</ref>{{refn|group=nb|Upon passage of the law, Romney said "There really wasn't Republican or Democrat in this. People ask me if this is conservative or liberal, and my answer is yes. It's liberal in the sense that we're getting our citizens health insurance. It's conservative in that we're not getting a government takeover."<ref name="nyt040606">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/us/06health.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060411163445/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/us/06health.html |archive-date=April 11, 2006 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=On Health Care, Massachusetts Leaders Invoke Action, Not Talk|author=Belluck, Pam|newspaper=]|date=April 25, 2010 }}</ref> Within four years, the Massachusetts law had achieved its primary goal of expanding coverage: in 2010, 98% of state residents had coverage, compared to a national average of 83%. Among children and seniors the 2010 coverage rate was even higher, 99.8% and 99.6% respectively. Approximately two-thirds of residents received coverage through employers; one-sixth each received it through Medicare or public plans.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20101214/BENEFITS03/101219966|title=Massachusetts' insured rate hits 98.1%: Analysis|author=Geisel, Jerry|magazine=]|date=December 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213210806/http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20101214/BENEFITS03/101219966|archive-date=February 13, 2011}}</ref>}} | |||
| After positing that any measure adopted not raise taxes and not resemble the previous decade's failed ], Romney formed a team of consultants from diverse political backgrounds.<ref name="tnr-cohn"/><ref name="nyt040606"/><ref name="bgseries7"/> Beginning in late 2004, they came up with a set of proposals more ambitious than an incremental one from the ] and more acceptable to him than one from the ] that incorporated a new payroll tax.<ref name="tnr-cohn"/><ref name="nyt040606"/><ref name="bgseries7"/> In particular, Romney pushed for incorporating an ] at the state level.<ref name="time-prof-2007">{{cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1619212,00.html | title=What Romney Believes | author=Tumulty, Karen | magazine=] | date=May 10, 2007 | authorlink=Karen Tumulty}}</ref> Past rival Ted Kennedy, who had made universal health coverage his life's work and who, over time, had developed a warm relationship with Romney,<ref>Canellos, ''The Last Lion'', p. 300.</ref> gave the plan a positive reception, which encouraged Democratic legislators to cooperate.<ref name="nyt040606"/><ref name="bgseries7"/> The effort eventually gained the support of all major stakeholders within the state, and Romney helped break a logjam between rival Democratic leaders in the legislature.<ref name="nyt040606"/><ref name="bgseries7"/> | |||
| ] | |||
| At the beginning of his governorship, Romney opposed same-sex marriage and civil unions but advocated tolerance and supported some domestic partnership benefits.<ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="lat-sht">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OPEeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6776,1388597|title=Massachusetts ballot initiative could halt same-sex marriages|author=Mehren, Elizabeth|work=]|via=]|date=June 17, 2005|page=4A|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222232954/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OPEeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6776%2C1388597|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mitt Romney on the Issues|publisher=Romney for Governor 2002|access-date=December 11, 2006|url=http://www.romneyhealey.com/issues/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20021218005104/http://www.romneyhealey.com/issues/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 18, 2002}}</ref> A November 2003 ] decision, '']'', required the state to recognize same-sex marriages.<ref name="bg-civu" /> Romney reluctantly backed a state constitutional amendment in February 2004 that would have banned those marriages but still allowed civil unions, viewing it as the only feasible way to comply with the court's ruling.<ref name="bg-civu">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ |title=Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=February 23, 2005 |newspaper=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406222646/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/|archive-date=April 6, 2009}}</ref> In May 2004 and per the court decision, he instructed town clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But citing a ] that barred out-of-state residents from getting married in Massachusetts if their union would be illegal in their home state, he said no marriage licenses were to be issued to people not planning to move to Massachusetts.<ref name="lat-sht" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/05/19/romney_eyes_order_on_licenses/|title=Romney Eyes Order on Licenses; Seeks to Halt Marriage of Gay Outsiders|first1=Yvonne|last1=Abraham|first2=Frank|last2=Phillips|newspaper=]|date=May 19, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725233440/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/05/19/romney_eyes_order_on_licenses/|archive-date=July 25, 2008}}</ref> In June 2005, Romney abandoned his support for the compromise amendment, stating that it confused voters who opposed both same-sex marriage and civil unions.<ref name="lat-sht" /> Instead, he endorsed a ballot initiative led by the Coalition for Marriage and Family (an alliance of socially conservative organizations) that would have banned same-sex marriage and made no provisions for civil unions.<ref name="lat-sht" /> In 2004 and 2006, he urged the U.S. Senate to vote for the ].<ref>{{cite speech |title=Testimony of Honorable Mitt Romney, Governor, Massachusetts |first=Mitt |last=Romney |event=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary |date=June 22, 2004 |url=http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=4f1e0899533f7680e78d03281ffb4522&wit_id=4f1e0899533f7680e78d03281ffb4522-1-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913091038/http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=4f1e0899533f7680e78d03281ffb4522&wit_id=4f1e0899533f7680e78d03281ffb4522-1-1 |archive-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/06/the_importance_of_protecting_m.html |title=The Importance of Protecting Marriage |last=Romney |first=Mitt |date=June 2, 2006 |access-date=October 26, 2012 |archive-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212054805/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/06/the_importance_of_protecting_m.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| In 2005, Romney revealed a change of view regarding abortion, moving from the ] positions expressed during his 1994 and 2002 campaigns to an ] one in opposition to '']''.<ref name="bgseries7" /> He attributed his conversion to an interaction with Harvard University biologist ], an expert on ], although Melton vehemently disputed Romney's recollection of their conversation.<ref name="draper-nyt">{{cite news|magazine=] Magazine|first=Robert|last=Draper|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/magazine/mitt-romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309061257/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/magazine/mitt-romney.html|archive-date=March 9, 2021 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=October 2, 2012|title=The Mitt Romney Who Might Have Been}}</ref> Romney subsequently vetoed a bill on pro-life grounds that expanded access to ] in hospitals and pharmacies; the legislature overrode the veto.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=]|last=Greenberger|first=Scott S.|date=September 16, 2005|title=Lawmakers override governor's contraception veto: Move will ease morning-after pill's availability|url=https://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/women/articles/2005/09/16/lawmakers_override_governors_contraception_veto/|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221551/http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/women/articles/2005/09/16/lawmakers_override_governors_contraception_veto/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also amended his position on embryonic stem cell research.<ref name="nb-stem" group="nb" /> | |||
| {{Quote box|quote=There really wasn't Republican or Democrat in this. People ask me if this is conservative or liberal, and my answer is yes. It's liberal in the sense that we're getting our citizens health insurance. It's conservative in that we're not getting a government takeover. |source=—Mitt Romney upon passage of the Massachusetts health reform law in 2006.<ref name="nyt040606"/>|width=27%|align=left|style=padding:8px;}} | |||
| ], 2005]] | |||
| On April 12, 2006, the governor signed the resulting ], commonly called "Romneycare", which requires nearly all Massachusetts residents to buy health insurance coverage or face escalating tax penalties, such as the loss of their personal income tax exemption.<ref name="ap-signs">{{cite news | url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F44iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QKoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1040,6024975 | title=Mass. governor signs health bill, with vetoes | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=] | date= April 13, 2006 |page=4A |author=LeBlanc, Steve}}</ref> The bill also establishes means-tested state subsidies for people who do not have adequate employer insurance and whose income is below a threshold, with funds that were previously used to compensate for the health costs of the uninsured.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200606u/nj_crook_2006-06-27 |title=The Massachusetts Experiment |last=Crook |first=Clive |magazine=] |date=June 2006 }}<!-- accessdate=2006-11-21 --></ref><ref> Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Acts of 2006 (Session Laws), Chapter 58. Retrieved January 2, 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Dembner, Alice | url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/01/outline_for_new_1.html | title=Outline for new insurance plan proposed | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date= January 19, 2007 <!-- Retrieved January 19, 2007 -->}}</ref> He vetoed eight sections of the health care legislation, including a controversial $295-per-employee assessment on businesses that do not offer health insurance and provisions guaranteeing dental benefits to Medicaid recipients.<ref name="ap-signs"/><ref name="ap-overrides"/> The legislature overrode all eight vetoes, but the governor's office said the differences were not essential.<ref name="ap-overrides">{{cite news | url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2006/04/26/67613.htm | title=Mass. House Overrides Gov. Romney Veto of Health Care Fee | author=LeBlanc, Steve | agency=Associated Press | magazine=] | date=April 26, 2006}}</ref> The law was the first of its kind in the nation and became the signature achievement of Romney's term in office.<ref name="bgseries7">{{Cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/29/ambitious_goals_shifting_stances/ | title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 7: Ambitious goals; shifting stances | author=Mooney, Brian C. | author2=Ebbert, Stephanie | author3=Helman, Scott | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=June 30, 2007 |archiveurl=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part7_main/ |archivedate=June 29, 2011 |deadurl=no}} Also .</ref>{{#tag:ref|Within four years, the Massachusetts law had achieved its primary goal of expanding coverage: in 2010, 98% of state residents had coverage, compared to a national average of 83%. Among children and seniors the 2010 coverage rate was even higher, 99.8% and 99.6% respectively. Approximately two-thirds of residents received coverage through employers; one-sixth each received it through Medicare or public plans.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20101214/BENEFITS03/101219966 | title= Massachusetts' insured rate hits 98.1%: Analysis | author=Geisel, Jerry | magazine=] | date=December 14, 2010 | unused_data=<!-- accessdate=December 14, 2010 -->}}</ref>|group="nb"}} | |||
| Romney used a ] approach towards promoting his agenda, staging well-organized ]s to appeal directly to the public rather than pushing his proposals in behind-doors sessions with the state legislature.<ref name="bgseries7" /> He dealt with a public crisis of confidence in Boston's ] project after a ] by wresting control of the project from the ].<ref name="bgseries7" /> After two years of negotiating the state's participation in the landmark ] that instituted a ] arrangement for power plant emissions in the Northeast, Romney pulled Massachusetts out of the initiative shortly before its signing in December 2005, citing a lack of cost limits for industry.<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenberger|first=Scott S.|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/21/7_states_sign_emissions_pact/ |title=7 states sign emissions pact|newspaper=]|date=December 21, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051228085120/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/21/7_states_sign_emissions_pact/|archive-date=December 28, 2005}}</ref> | |||
| In 2004, Romney spent considerable effort trying to bolster the state Republican Party, but it failed to gain any seats in the legislative elections that year.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="aap06-809">Barone and Cohen, ''The Almanac of American Politics 2006'', p. 809.</ref> Given a prime-time appearance at the ], he began to be discussed as a potential 2008 presidential candidate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/5831818|title=Is Romney ready for the big time?: Mass. Gov. gets plum prime-time speaking spot during convention|author=Bradley, Nina|work=]|date=August 29, 2004|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304172539/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5831818|url-status=dead}}</ref> Midway through his term, Romney decided that he wanted to stage a full-time run for president,<ref name="battle-238">Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 238.</ref> and on December 14, 2005, he announced that he would not seek reelection as governor.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aaFxZpr2FrSk&refer=us |title=Romney Says He Won't Seek Second Term as Governor |first=Heidi |last=Przybyla |publisher=] |date=December 14, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021234934/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aaFxZpr2FrSk&refer=us |archive-date=October 21, 2015}}</ref> As chair of the ], Romney traveled around the country, meeting prominent Republicans and building a national political network;<ref name="battle-238" /> he spent more than 200 days out of state in 2006, preparing for his run.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=nightlife&sc=&sc2=photoalbum&id=30744|agency=]|publisher=EdgeBoston.com|date=December 26, 2006|title=Romney out of state 212 days so far in 2006|access-date=March 20, 2010|archive-date=October 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021234404/http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=nightlife&sc=&sc2=photoalbum&id=30744|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| At the beginning of his governorship, Romney opposed same-sex marriage and civil unions, but advocated tolerance and supported some domestic partnership benefits.<ref name="bgseries7"/><ref | |||
| name="lat-sht">{{cite news | url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OPEeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q4QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6776,1388597&dq=romney+coalition+for+marriage+%26+family&hl=en | title=Massachusetts ballot initiative could halt same-sex marriages | author=Mehren, Elizabeth | publisher='']'' for '']'' | date=June 17, 2005 | page=4A}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20021218005104/www.romneyhealey.com/issues/ | title=Mitt Romney on the Issues | publisher=Romney for Governor 2002 | accessdate=December 11, 2006 | archivedate=December 18, 2002 | url=http://www.romneyhealey.com/issues/}}</ref> Faced with the dilemma of choosing between same-sex marriage or civil unions after the November 2003 ] decision legalizing same-sex marriages ('']''), Romney reluctantly backed a state constitutional amendment in February 2004 that would have banned same-sex marriage but still allow civil unions, viewing it as the only feasible way to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ |title=Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=February 23, 2005 |newspaper= The Boston Globe|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090406222646/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/|archivedate=April 6, 2009}}</ref> In May 2004, the governor instructed town clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but citing a ] that barred out-of-state residents from getting married in Massachusetts if their union would be illegal in their home state, no marriage licenses were to be issued to out-of-state same-sex couples not planning to move to Massachusetts.<ref name="lat-sht"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/05/19/romney_eyes_order_on_licenses/ | title=Romney Eyes Order on Licenses; Seeks to Halt Marriage of Gay Outsiders | first=Yvonne | last=Abraham | first2=Frank | last2=Phillips | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=May 19, 2004|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080725233440/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/05/19/romney_eyes_order_on_licenses/|archivedate=July 25, 2008}}</ref> In June 2005, Romney abandoned his support for the compromise amendment, stating that the amendment confused voters who oppose both same-sex marriage and civil unions.<ref name="lat-sht"/> Instead, he endorsed a petition effort led by the Coalition for Marriage & Family that would have banned same-sex marriage and made no provisions for civil unions.<ref name="lat-sht"/> In 2004 and 2006, he urged the U.S. Senate to vote in favor of the ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mass.gov/Agov2/docs/20060602_Marriage_Letter.pdf |title=Letter to the US Senate |last=Romney |first=Mitt |date=June 2, 2006|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|format=PDF|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20061117202508/www.mass.gov/Agov2/docs/20060602_Marriage_Letter.pdf |archivedate = November 17, 2006|deadurl=yes|unused_data=<!-- accessdate=2006-12-08 -->}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=1234&wit_id=3608 |title=Testimony of Honorable Mitt Romney, Governor, Massachusetts |date=June 22, 2004 |publisher=]|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20061227213222/http%3A//judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm%3Fid%3D1234%26wit_id%3D3608 |archivedate = December 27, 2006|deadurl=yes|unused_data=<!-- accessdate=2006-12-08 -->}}</ref> | |||
| Romney had a 61 percent job approval rating after his initial fiscal actions in 2003, but it subsequently declined,<ref name="mason-polls">{{cite news|last1=Mason|first1=Edward|last2=Mashberg|first2=Tom|title=Mitt has Always Plummeted in the Polls|magazine=Salon.com|date=December 9, 2011|url=http://www.salon.com/2011/12/09/mitt_has_always_plummeted_in_the_polls/|access-date=May 26, 2012|archive-date=May 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526080016/http://www.salon.com/2011/12/09/mitt_has_always_plummeted_in_the_polls/|url-status=live}}</ref> driven in part by his frequent out-of-state travel.<ref name="mason-polls" /><ref name="aap08-790">Barone and Cohen, ''Almanac of American Politics 2008'', p. 790.</ref> It stood at 34 percent in November 2006, ranking 48th of the 50 U.S. governors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Approval Ratings for All 50 Governors as of 11/20/06|url=http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/Approval50StateGovernor061120.htm|access-date=May 25, 2012|publisher=]|archive-date=May 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521162108/http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/Approval50StateGovernor061120.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In the ], Democratic nominee ] beat Romney's lieutenant governor, ], by 20 points, with the win partially due to dissatisfaction with Romney's administration and the weak condition of the state Republican party.<ref name="aap08-790" /><ref name="healeypoll">{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Patrick has a Big Lead in New Poll|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/09/30/patrick_has_a_big_lead_in_new_poll/ |url-status=live |newspaper=]|date=September 30, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115110810/http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/09/30/patrick_has_a_big_lead_in_new_poll/|archive-date=November 15, 2006}}</ref> | |||
| In 2005, Romney revealed ], moving from the "unequivocal" ] position expressed during his 2002 campaign to a ] one in opposition to '']''.<ref name="bgseries7"/> He subsequently vetoed a bill on pro-life grounds that would expand access to ] in hospitals and pharmacies (the veto was overridden by the legislature).<ref>{{cite news | newspaper = The Boston Globe | last = Greenberger | first = Scott S. | date = September 16, 2005 | title = Lawmakers override governor's contraception veto: Move will ease morning-after pill's availability | url = http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/women/articles/2005/09/16/lawmakers_override_governors_contraception_veto/ }}</ref> | |||
| Romney filed to register a presidential campaign committee with the ] on his penultimate day in office as governor. His term ended on January 4, 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/us/politics/04romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012152957/http://nytimes.com/2007/01/04/us/politics/04romney.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Romney Takes Step Toward an '08 Run|newspaper=]|date=January 4, 2007}}</ref> | |||
| Romney generally used the ] approach towards promoting his agenda, staging well-organized ]s to appeal directly to the public rather than pushing his proposals in behind-doors sessions with the state legislature.<ref name="bgseries7"/> He dealt with a public crisis of confidence in Boston's ] project – that followed a ] – by wresting control of the project from the ].<ref name="bgseries7"/> After two years of negotiating the state's participation in the landmark ] that instituted a ] arrangement for power plant emissions in the Northeast, Romney pulled Massachusetts out of it shortly before its signing in December 2005, citing a lack of cost limits for industry.<ref>{{cite news | last=Greenberger | first=Scott S. | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/21/7_states_sign_emissions_pact/ |title=7 states sign emissions pact|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date= December 21, 2005}}</ref> | |||
| ==2008 presidential campaign== | |||
| During 2004, Romney spent considerable effort trying to bolster the state Republican Party, but it failed to gain any seats in the state legislative elections that year.<ref name="bgseries6"/><ref name="aap06-809">Barone and Cohen, ''The Almanac of American Politics 2006'', p. 809.</ref> He was given a prime-time appearance at the ], and was already being discussed as a potential 2008 presidential candidate.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5831818 | title=Is Romney ready for the big time?: Mass. Gov. gets plum prime-time speaking spot during convention | author=Bradley, Nina | publisher=] | date=August 29, 2004| unused_data=<!-- accessdate=January 1, 2008 -->}}</ref> Midway through his term, Romney decided that he wanted to stage a full-time run for president,<ref name="battle-238">Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 238.</ref> and on December 14, 2005, announced that he would not seek re-election for a second term.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aaFxZpr2FrSk&refer=us |title=Romney Says He Won't Seek Second Term as Governor |first=Heidi |last=Przybyla |publisher=] |date=December 14, 2005}}</ref> As chair of the ], Romney traveled around the country, meeting prominent Republicans and building a national political network;<ref name="battle-238"/> he spent part or all of more than 200 days out of state during 2006, preparing for his run.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=nightlife&sc=&sc2=photoalbum&id=30744 | agency=Associated Press | publisher=EdgeBoston.com | date=December 26, 2006 | title=Romney out of state 212 days so far in 2006}}</ref> | |||
| {{Main|Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign}} | |||
| {{See also|2008 Republican Party presidential primaries}} | |||
| Romney formally announced his candidacy for the 2008 Republican nomination for president on February 13, 2007, in ].<ref name="bg-ann">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/02/14/on_big_day_mass_gets_little_note/|title=On big day, Mass. gets little note|author=Helman, Scott|author2=Ryan, Andrew|newspaper=]|date=February 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325234431/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/02/14/on_big_day_mass_gets_little_note/|archive-date=March 25, 2007}}</ref> Again casting himself as a political outsider,<ref name="battle-239">Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 239.</ref> his speech frequently invoked his father and his family, and stressed experiences in the private, public, and voluntary sectors that had brought him to this point.<ref name="bg-ann" /><ref name="dn-ann">{{Cite news |url=https://www.deseret.com/2007/2/13/20001820/romney-officially-enters-presidential-race |title=Romney officially enters presidential race |last=Struglinski |first=Suzanne |newspaper=] Morning News |location=Salt Lake City |date=February 13, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402072141/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1%2C5143%2C660195186%2C00.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015 }}</ref> | |||
| The governor had a 61 percent job approval rating in public polls after his initial fiscal actions in 2003, but it began to sink after that.<ref name="mason-polls">{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Edward|last2=Mashberg|first2=Tom|title=Mitt has Always Plummeted in the Polls|magazine=Salon.com|date=December 9, 2011|url=http://www.salon.com/2011/12/09/mitt_has_always_plummeted_in_the_polls/}}</ref> The frequent out-of-state travel contributed to a decline in Romney's approval rating towards the end of his term;<ref name="mason-polls"/><ref name="aap08-790">Barone and Cohen, ''Almanac of American Politics 2008'', p. 790.</ref> at 34 percent in November 2006, his rating level ranked 48th of the 50 U.S. governors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Approval Ratings for All 50 Governors as of 11/20/06|url=http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/Approval50StateGovernor061120.htm|accessdate=May 25, 2012|publisher=]}}</ref> Dissatisfaction with Romney's administration and the weak condition of the Republican state party were among several factors that led to Democrat ]'s lopsided win over Republican ], Romney's Lieutenant Governor, in the ].<ref name="aap08-790"/><ref name=healeypoll>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Patrick has a Big Lead in New Poll|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/09/30/patrick_has_a_big_lead_in_new_poll/?page=full|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=September 30, 2006}}</ref> | |||
| ], ], in May 2007]] | |||
| Romney filed to register a presidential campaign committee with the ] on his penultimate day in office as governor.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/us/politics/04romney.html | title=Romney Takes Step Toward an '08 Run | newspaper=The New York Times | date=January 4, 2007| unused_data=<!-- accessdate=2008-01-01 -->}}</ref> His term ended January 4, 2007. | |||
| The campaign emphasized Romney's highly profitable career in the business world and his stewardship of the 2002 Olympics.<ref name="battle-238" /><ref name="gc-293" />{{#tag:ref|American political opinion periodically looked towards industry for business managers who it was thought could straighten out what was held to be wrong in the nation's capital. The track record of such efforts was at best mixed, with ] declining to run, Romney's father George and ] failing to get far in the primaries, and ] staging one of the more successful third-party runs in American history.<ref>{{Cite book|first1=Barry|last1=Libert|author-link=Barry Libert|title=Barack, Inc.: Winning Business Lessons of the Obama Campaign|first2=Rick|last2=Faulk|publisher=]|location=Upper Saddle River, New Jersey|year=2009|isbn=978-0-13-702207-6|page=7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2012/0222/Does-America-need-a-CEO-in-the-Oval-Office|title=Does America need a CEO in the Oval Office?|first=Alan M.|last=Webber|newspaper=]|date=February 22, 2012|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207133652/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2012/0222/Does-America-need-a-CEO-in-the-Oval-Office|url-status=live}}</ref>|group="nb"}} He also had political experience as a governor, together with a political pedigree courtesy of his father (as well as many biographical parallels with him).{{#tag:ref|Biographical parallels between George and Mitt Romney include: Both served as Mormon missionaries in Europe and considered the experiences formative. Both pursued high school sweethearts single-mindedly until the women agreed to marry them several years later, then had families with four or five children. Both had very successful careers in business and became known for turning around failing companies or organizations. Both presided over a stake in the LDS Church. Both achieved their first elected position at age 55, as Republican governor of a Democratic-leaning state. The two bear a close physical resemblance at similar ages and both have been said to "look like a president". Both staged their first presidential run in the year they turned 60. Both were considered suspect by ideological conservatives within the Republican Party.<ref name="time-prof-2007" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2008/01/romney-plays-nostalgia-card-in-michigan-007848 |title=Romney plays nostalgia card in Michigan |last=Glass |first=Andrew |newspaper=] |date=January 13, 2008 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207133653/https://www.politico.com/story/2008/01/romney-plays-nostalgia-card-in-michigan-007848 |url-status=live }}</ref> Neither protested publicly against the LDS Church policy that ], although the elder Romney hoped the church leadership would revise the policy,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OegmAAAAIBAJ&pg=717,1492483|title=Romney Insists His Mormon Faith Won't Mar His Liberal Stand|first=Louis|last=Cassels|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=March 11, 1967|page=4|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224170417/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OegmAAAAIBAJ&pg=717,1492483|url-status=live}}</ref> and his son has said that he was greatly relieved when the church did so in 1978.<ref name="nyt-searching" /><ref name=Horowitz /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22273924|access-date=February 7, 2020|title='Meet the Press' transcript for Dec. 16, 2007|work=Meet the Press|publisher=]|date=December 16, 2007|archive-date=December 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229022519/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22273924/|url-status=live}}</ref> There are also obvious differences in their paths, including that George had a hardscrabble upbringing while Mitt's was affluent, and that Mitt far exceeded George's accomplishments in formal education. Another is that Mitt's personality is more reserved, private, and controlled than his father's was, traits he got from his mother Lenore,<ref name="nyt-lessons">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/us/politics/political-lessons-from-a-mothers-losing-run.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224085100/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/us/politics/political-lessons-from-a-mothers-losing-run.html |archive-date=February 24, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Political Lessons, From a Mother's Losing Run|first=Sheryl Gay|last=Stolberg|newspaper=]|date=February 23, 2012|page=1}}</ref> and his political personality is also shaped at least as much by Lenore as by George.<ref name="time-dreams" /> And while George was willing to defy political trends, Mitt has been much more willing to adapt to them.<ref name="time-prof-2007" /><ref name="time-dreams" /><ref name="tnr-cohn" />|group="nb"}} Ann Romney, who had become an advocate for those with multiple sclerosis,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/09/13/ann_romney_tackles_multiple_sclerosis_head_on/|title=Ann Romney tackles multiple sclerosis head-on|author=Melanson, Mike|newspaper=]|date=September 13, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030919050413/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/09/13/ann_romney_tackles_multiple_sclerosis_head_on/|archive-date=September 19, 2003}}</ref> was in remission and was an active participant in his campaign,<ref name="lat112407">{{Cite news|author=Fiore, Fay|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-24-na-perfect24-story.html|access-date=February 7, 2020|title=Working to break his own storybook spell|newspaper=]|date=November 24, 2007|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207133655/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-24-na-perfect24-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> helping to soften his political personality.<ref name="GQ-draper" /> Media stories called the {{convert|6|ft|2|in|m|adj=on}} Romney handsome;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/caveman-politics-point-mitt-romney-presidential-winner-study/story?id=14755562|title=Caveman Politics: Americans Like Their Presidents Tall|first=Susan Donaldson|last=James|work=]|date=October 18, 2011|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083408/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/caveman-politics-point-mitt-romney-presidential-winner-study/story?id=14755562|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/02/25/governor-romney-meet-governor-romney.html|title=Governor Romney, Meet Governor Romney|first1=Jonathan|last1=Darman|first2=Evan|last2=Thomas|author-link2=Evan Thomas|magazine=]|date=February 25, 2007|access-date=February 24, 2013|archive-date=March 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309183406/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/02/25/governor-romney-meet-governor-romney.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17152644 |title='Hardball with Chris Matthews' for Feb. 13|work=]|publisher=]|date=February 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=]|url=https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/obama-on-language/|title=Obama on Language|first=Mark|last=Leibovich|date=December 30, 2007|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083808/https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/obama-on-language/|url-status=live}}</ref> a number of commentators noted that with his square jaw and ample hair graying at the temples, he matched a common image of what a president should look like.<ref name="atl-pappu" /><ref name="econ-prof-2007">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9441455|title=Mr Smooth of Massachusetts|magazine=]|date=July 5, 2007|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-date=June 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610201456/http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9441455|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/02/is-romney-too-good-to-be-true-002737|title=Is Romney Too Good To Be True?|last=Simon|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Simon (journalist)|newspaper=]|date=February 13, 2007|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083515/https://www.politico.com/story/2007/02/is-romney-too-good-to-be-true-002737|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/03/gb.01.html|access-date=February 7, 2020|title=Transcript: Glenn Beck, January 3, 2007: "Are We Ready for Another Attack?; 2008 Elections Gearing Up"|work=]|publisher=]|date=January 3, 2007|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804232145/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/03/gb.01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ==2008 presidential campaign== | |||
| {{Main|Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2008}} | |||
| {{See also|Republican Party presidential primaries, 2008}} | |||
| <!-- Note: | |||
| Additions to this section without a footnoted citation | |||
| to a reliable published source are subject to removal. | |||
| Also, additions to this section that fail be a general summary | |||
| surveying the campaign are subject to being moved to the page | |||
| detailing issues and activity in the campaign, namely: | |||
| ] | |||
| end note --> | |||
| ], ], in May 2007]] | |||
| ] at the 2007 Republican Convention]] | |||
| ], in mid-January 2008]] | |||
| Romney formally announced his candidacy for the 2008 Republican nomination for president on February 13, 2007, in ], Michigan.<ref name="bg-ann">{{Cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/02/romney_formally_2.html | title=Romney formally announces run for president | author=Helman, Scott | author2=Ryan, Andrew | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date= February 13, 2007}}</ref> Again casting himself as a political outsider,<ref name="battle-239">Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 239.</ref> his speech frequently invoked his father and his own family, and stressed experiences in the private, public, and voluntary sectors that had brought him to this point.<ref name="bg-ann"/><ref name="dn-ann">{{Cite news| url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,660195186,00.html | title=Romney officially enters presidential race | author=Struglinski, Suzanne | newspaper=Deseret Morning News | location=Salt Lake City | date=February 13, 2007}}</ref> | |||
| Romney's liabilities included having run for senator and serving as governor in one of the nation's most liberal states and having taken positions in opposition to the party's conservative base during that time.<ref name="battle-238" /><ref name="gc-293" /><ref name="lat112407" /> Late during his term as governor, he had shifted positions and emphases to better align with ].<ref name="battle-238" /><ref name="gc-293" /><ref name="lat112407" /> Skeptics, including some Republicans, charged Romney with opportunism and a lack of core principles.<ref name="slate-ceo" /><ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="gc-295" /> As a Mormon, he faced suspicion and skepticism by some in the ] wing of the party.<ref name="gc-295">Heilemann and Halperin, ''Game Change'', pp. 294–295.</ref> | |||
| Romney's campaign emphasized his résumé of a highly profitable career in the business world and his stewardship of the Olympics.<ref name="battle-238"/><ref name="gc-293"/>{{#tag:ref|American political opinion periodically looked towards industry for business managers who it was thought could straighten out what was held to be wrong in the nation's capital. The track record of such efforts was at best mixed, with ] declining to run, Romney's father George and ] failing to get far in the primaries, and ] staging one of the more successful third-party runs in American history.<ref>{{Cite book| first=Barry | last=Libert | authorlink=Barry Libert | title=Barack, Inc.: Winning Business Lessons of the Obama Campaign | first2=Rick | last2=Faulk | publisher=] | location=Upper Saddle River, New Jersey | year=2009 | isbn=978-0-13-702207-6 | page=7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2012/0222/Does-America-need-a-CEO-in-the-Oval-Office | title=Does America need a CEO in the Oval Office? | first=Alan M. | last=Webber | newspaper=] | date=February 22, 2012}}</ref>|group="nb"}} He also had political experience as governor, together with a political pedigree courtesy of his father (as well as many biographical parallels with him).{{#tag:ref|Biographical parallels between George and Mitt Romney include: Both served as Mormon missionaries in Europe and considered the experiences formative. Both pursued high school sweethearts singlemindedly until the women agreed to marry them several years later, then had families with four or five children. Both had very successful careers in business and became known for turning around failing companies or organizations. Both presided over a stake in the LDS Church. Both achieved their first elected position at age 55, as Republican governor of a Democratic-leaning state. The two bear a close physical resemblance at similar ages and both have been said to "look like a president". Both staged their first presidential run in the year they turned 60. Both were considered suspect by ideological conservatives within the Republican Party.<ref name="time-prof-2007"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7848.html | title=Romney plays nostalgia card in Michigan | author=Glass, Andrew | newspaper=Politico | date=January 13, 2008}}</ref> There are also obvious differences in their paths, including that George had a hardscrabble upbringing while Mitt's was affluent, and that Mitt far exceeded George's accomplishments in formal education. Another is that Mitt's personality is more reserved, private, and controlled than his father's was, traits he got from his mother Lenore,<ref name="nyt-lessons">{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/us/politics/political-lessons-from-a-mothers-losing-run.html?pagewanted=all | title=Political Lessons, From a Mother's Losing Run | first=Sheryl Gay | last=Stolberg | newspaper=The New York Times | date=February 23, 2012 | page=1}}</ref> and his political personality is also shaped at least as much by Lenore as by George.<ref name="time-dreams"/> And while George was willing to defy political trends, Mitt has been much more willing to adapt to them.<ref name="time-prof-2007"/><ref name="tnr-cohn"/><ref name="time-dreams"/>|group="nb"}} Ann Romney, who had become an advocate for those with multiple sclerosis,<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/09/13/ann_romney_tackles_multiple_sclerosis_head_on/ | title=Ann Romney tackles multiple sclerosis head-on | author=Melanson, Mike | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=September 13, 2003}}</ref> was in remission and would be an active participant in his campaign,<ref name="lat112407">{{Cite news| author=Fiore, Fay | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/nov/24/nation/na-perfect24 | title=Working to break his own storybook spell | newspaper=] | date=November 24, 2007}}</ref> helping to soften his political personality.<ref name="GQ-draper"/> Moreover, a number of commentators noted that with his square jaw and ample hair graying at the temples, the {{convert|6|ft|2|in|m|adj=on}}<ref>{{cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/Health/caveman-politics-point-mitt-romney-presidential-winner-study/story?id=14755562#.T5qMIfUZun9 | title=Caveman Politics: Americans Like Their Presidents Tall | first=Susan Donaldson | last=James | publisher=ABC News | date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> Romney – referred to as handsome in scores of media stories<ref>An April 2012 . Among those was another presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama.</ref> – physically matched one of the common images of what some believed a president should look like.<ref name="atl-pappu"/><ref name="econ-prof-2007">{{Cite news| url=http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9441455 | title=Mr Smooth of Massachusetts | magazine=] |date=July 5, 2007}}</ref><ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 11.</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://mediamatters.org/research/200702140001 | title=Politico's Simon: Romney "up close ... is almost overpowering. He radiates vigor" | author= | publisher=] | date=February 13, 2007 }}</ref> | |||
| For his campaign, Romney assembled a veteran group of Republican staffers, consultants, and pollsters.<ref name="gc-293">Heilemann and Halperin, ''Game Change'', pp. 293–294.</ref><ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 251–252.</ref> But he was little-known nationally, and hovered around 10% support in ].<ref name="battle-238" /> He proved the most effective fundraiser of any of the Republican candidates and also partly financed his campaign with his own personal fortune.<ref name="gc-293" /><ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 247.</ref> These resources, combined with the mid-year near-collapse of nominal front-runner ]'s campaign, made Romney a threat to win the nomination and the focus of the other candidates' attacks.<ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 261–263.</ref> Romney's staff suffered from internal strife; Romney himself was at times indecisive, often asking for more data before making a decision.<ref name="gc-293" /><ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 276.</ref> | |||
| Romney's liabilities included having run for senator and served as governor in one of the nation's most liberal states and having taken some positions there that were opposed by the party's conservative base.<ref name="battle-238"/><ref name="gc-293"/><ref name="lat112407"/> Late during his term as governor, he had shifted positions and emphases to better align with traditional conservatives on social issues.<ref name="battle-238"/><ref name="gc-293"/><ref name="lat112407"/> Skeptics, including some Republicans, charged Romney with opportunism and having a lack of core principles.<ref name="bgseries7"/><ref name="gc-295"/><ref name="slate-ceo"/> As a Mormon, he was also viewed with suspicion and skepticism by some in the Evangelical portion of the party.<ref name="gc-295">Heilemann and Halperin, ''Game Change'', pp. 294–295.</ref> | |||
| During all his political campaigns, Romney has avoided speaking publicly about Mormon doctrines, referring to ].<ref name="speech">{{Cite news |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1207/p01s03-uspo.html |title=Romney moves to allay Mormon concerns directly |last=Feldmann |first=Linda |newspaper=] |date=December 11, 2007 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207133653/https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1207/p01s03-uspo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> But persistent questions about the role of religion in his life, as well as ] minister and former ] ]'s rise in the polls based on an explicitly Christian-themed campaign, led to Romney's December 6, 2007, ].<ref name="fox120607" /> In it, Romney declared, "I believe in my Mormon faith and endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers. I will be true to them and to my beliefs."<ref name="FaithRise" /> He added that he should be neither elected nor rejected because of his religion,<ref name="msn120607">{{Cite news|url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/06/499942.aspx |title=On the Ground at Romney Speech |author=McPike, Erin |publisher=]|date=December 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208015944/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/06/499942.aspx |archive-date=December 8, 2007}}</ref> and echoed Senator ]'s famous speech during ] in saying, "I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law."<ref name="fox120607">{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/mitt-romney-pledges-to-serve-no-one-religion-in-faith-speech |title=Mitt Romney Pledges to Serve No One Religion in Faith Speech|publisher=]|date=December 6, 2007|access-date=April 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204103902/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,315486,00.html|archive-date=February 4, 2011|url-status=live }}</ref> Instead of discussing the specific tenets of his faith, he said he would be informed by it, saying: "Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone."<ref name="fox120607" /><ref name="msn120607" /> Academics later studied the role religion played in the campaign.{{#tag:ref|Regarding the role of Romney's religion in the 2008 campaign, one academic study, based upon research conducted throughout the 2008 primaries, showed that a negative perception of ] was widespread during the election, and that perception was often resistant to factual information that would correct mistaken notions about the religion or Romney's relationship to it.<ref name="campbell-green-monson">{{cite conference|author=Campbell, David |author2=Green, John Green |author3=Monson, J. Quin |year=2009 |title=Framing Faith: How Voters Responded to Candidates' Religions in the 2008 Presidential Campaign |conference=Annual meeting of the ] |location=Toronto |url=http://americandemocracy.nd.edu/assets/16823/campbellmonsongreen_apsa2009_final.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611060049/http://americandemocracy.nd.edu/assets/16823/campbellmonsongreen_apsa2009_final.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2010 }}</ref> The authors concluded that, "For Romney ... religion ''is'' the central story."<ref name="campbell-green-monson" /> Another study, analyzing a survey conducted during January 2008 (when an African American, a woman, and a Mormon all had realistic chances of becoming the first president from that group), found that voters had internally accepted the notion of black equality, paving the way for ]'s election; had partially established but not fully internalized the notion of gender equality, making ]'s task somewhat more difficult; but had only selectively internalized the notion of religious equality, and in particular not extended it to Mormons, thus making Romney's run significantly more difficult.<ref name="monson-riding">{{cite conference|author=Monson, J. Quin |author2=Riding, Scott|year=2009|title=Social Equality Norms for Race, Gender and Religion in the American Public During the 2008 Presidential Primaries|conference=The Transformative Election of 2008|location=Mershon Center for International Security Studies, Ohio State University|url=http://polisci.osu.edu/conferences/2008election/papers/Monson.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720024339/http://polisci.osu.edu/conferences/2008election/papers/Monson.pdf|archive-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref> Those authors concluded that, "for a Mormon candidate, the road to the presidency remains very rough ... The bias against a Mormon candidate is substantial."<ref name="monson-riding" /> |group="nb"}} | |||
| Romney assembled for his campaign a veteran group of Republican staffers, consultants, and pollsters.<ref name="gc-293">Heilemann and Halperin, ''Game Change'', pp. 293–294.</ref><ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 251–252.</ref> He was little-known nationally, though, and stayed around the 10 percent range in ].<ref name="battle-238"/> He proved the most effective fundraiser of any of the Republican candidates and also partly financed his campaign with his own personal fortune.<ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 247.</ref><ref name="gc-293"/> These resources, combined with the mid-year near-collapse of nominal front-runner ]'s campaign, made Romney a threat to win the nomination and the focus of the other candidates' attacks.<ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 261–263.</ref> Romney's staff suffered from internal strife and the candidate himself was indecisive at times, constantly asking for more data before making a decision.<ref name="gc-293"/><ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 276.</ref> | |||
| ], September 2007]] | |||
| The campaign's strategy called for winning the initial two contests – the January 3, 2008, ] and the January 8 ] – to propel Romney nationally.<ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 251.</ref> But he took second place in both, losing Iowa to Huckabee, who received more than twice the evangelical Christian votes,<ref name="battle-280">Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 280–281.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/03/iowa.caucuses/index.html |first1=Mark |last1=Preston |first2=Peter |last2=Hamby |first3=Dana |last3=Bash |first4=Candy |last4=Crowley |title=Huckabee, Obama have huge night in Iowa |publisher=] |date=January 4, 2008 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=January 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083358/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/03/iowa.caucuses/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and New Hampshire to the resurgent McCain.<ref name="battle-280" /> Huckabee and McCain criticized Romney's image as a ]<ref name="battle-280" /> and this label stuck to Romney through the campaign<ref name="gc-293" /> (one that Romney rejected as unfair and inaccurate, except for his acknowledged change of mind on abortion).<ref name="GQ-draper">{{cite news|url=https://www.gq.com/story/almost-human|title=Almost Human|author=Draper, Robert|magazine=]|date=February 1, 2008|author-link=Robert Draper|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207133655/https://www.gq.com/story/almost-human|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bg-mag" /> Romney seemed to approach the campaign as a management consulting exercise, and showed a lack of personal warmth and political feel; journalist ] wrote that Romney "came off as a phony, even when he was perfectly sincere".<ref name="GQ-draper" /><ref>Thomas, ''"A Long Time Coming"'', p. 45.</ref> The fervor with which Romney adopted his new stances and attitudes contributed to the perception of inauthenticity that hampered the campaign.<ref name="nykr2007" /><ref name="nyt030511" /> His staff concluded that competing as a candidate of social conservatism and ideological purity rather than of pragmatic competence had been a mistake.<ref name="GQ-draper" /> | |||
| McCain's win ] and Romney's ] set up a pivotal battle in the January 29 ].<ref name="battle-284">Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 283–285.</ref><ref name="gc-313">Heilemann and Halperin, ''Game Change'', pp. 312–313.</ref> Romney campaigned intensively on economic issues and the burgeoning ], while McCain attacked Romney on Iraq policy and benefited from endorsements from Florida officeholders.<ref name="battle-284" /><ref name="gc-313" /> McCain won by five points.<ref name="battle-284" /><ref name="gc-313" /> Although many Republican officials were now lining up behind McCain,<ref name="gc-313" /> Romney persisted through the nationwide ] contests on February 5. There he won primaries or caucuses in several states, but McCain won in more and in larger-population ones.<ref name="cnn020708">{{Cite news |title=Romney suspends presidential campaign |publisher=] |date=February 7, 2008 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/07/romney.campaign/index.html |access-date=February 7, 2008 |archive-date=September 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902191057/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/07/romney.campaign/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Trailing McCain in delegates by a more than two-to-one margin, Romney announced the end of his campaign on February 7.<ref name="cnn020708" /> | |||
| During all of his political campaigns, Romney has generally avoided speaking publicly about specific Mormon doctrines, referring to ].<ref name="speech">{{Cite news| url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1207/p01s03-uspo.html | title=Romney moves to allay Mormon concerns directly | author=Feldmann, Linda | newspaper=] | date=December 11, 2007}}</ref> But persistent questions about the role of religion in Romney's life, as well as ] minister and former ] ]'s rise in the polls based upon an explicitly Christian-themed campaign, led to the December 6, 2007, ].<ref name="fox120607"/> Romney said that he should neither be elected nor rejected based upon his religion,<ref name="msn120607">{{Cite news| url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/06/499942.aspx | title=On the Ground at Romney Speech | author=McPike, Erin | publisher=msnbc.com | date=December 6, 2007}}</ref> and echoed Senator ]'s famous speech during ] in saying, "I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law."<ref name="fox120607">{{Cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,315486,00.html | title=Mitt Romney Pledges to Serve No One Religion in Faith Speech | publisher=] | date=December 6, 2007}}</ref> Instead of discussing the specific tenets of his faith, he said that he would be informed by it and that, "Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone."<ref name="fox120607"/><ref name="msn120607"/> Academics would later study the role religion had played in the campaign.{{#tag:ref|Regarding the role of Romney's religion in the 2008 campaign, one academic study, based upon research conducted throughout the 2008 primaries, showed that a negative perception of ] was widespread during the election, and that perception was often resistant to factual information that would correct mistaken notions about the religion or Romney's relationship to it.<ref name="campbell-green-monson">{{cite conference | author=Campbell, David | coauthors=Green, John Green; Monson, J. Quin | year= 2009 | title=Framing Faith: How Voters Responded to Candidates' Religions in the 2008 Presidential Campaign | conference= Annual meeting of the ] | location= Toronto | url=http://americandemocracy.nd.edu/assets/16823/campbellmonsongreen_apsa2009_final.pdf }}</ref> The authors concluded that, "For Romney ... religion ''is'' the central story."<ref name="campbell-green-monson"/> Another study, analyzing a survey conducted during January 2008 (when an African American, a woman, and a Mormon all had realistic chances of becoming the first president from that group), found that voters had internally accepted the notion of black equality, paving the way for ]'s election; had partially established but not fully internalized the notion of gender equality, making ]'s task somewhat more difficult; but had only selectively internalized the notion of religious equality, and in particular not extended it to Mormons, thus making Romney's run significantly more difficult.<ref name="monson-riding">{{cite conference | author=Monson, J. Quin | coauthor=Riding, Scott | year=2009 | title=Social Equality Norms for Race, Gender and Religion in the American Public During the 2008 Presidential Primaries | conference=The Transformative Election of 2008 | location=], ] | url=http://polisci.osu.edu/conferences/2008election/papers/Monson.pdf }}</ref> Those authors concluded that, "for a Mormon candidate, the road to the presidency remains very rough ... The bias against a Mormon candidate is substantial."<ref name="monson-riding"/> |group="nb"}} | |||
| Altogether, Romney had won 11 primaries and caucuses,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#R|title=Election Center 2008: Delegate Scorecard|publisher=]|access-date=April 11, 2010|archive-date=June 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604022436/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#R|url-status=live}}</ref> receiving about 4.7 million votes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/republican_vote_count.html|title=2008 Republican Popular Vote|publisher=]|access-date=April 13, 2010|archive-date=June 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617010429/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/republican_vote_count.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and garnering about 280 delegates.<ref name="AP-Sidoti-2008-02-14"/> He spent $110 million during the campaign, including $45 million of his own money.<ref name="bg071708">{{Cite news|author=Kranish, Michael|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/07/17/romney_not_getting_his_45m_back/ |title=Romney not getting his $45m back: Says he won't seek gifts to repay campaign loans|newspaper=]|date=July 17, 2008|author-link=Michael Kranish|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103161144/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/07/17/romney_not_getting_his_45m_back/?page=1|archive-date=January 3, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| Romney's strategy was to win the initial two contests, the January 3, 2008, ] and the adjacent-to-his-home-state January 8 ], and propel himself nationally.<ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 251.</ref> But he took second in both, losing Iowa to a vastly outspent Huckabee, who gained much more of the evangelical Christian vote,<ref name="battle-280">Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 280–281.</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/03/iowa.caucuses/index.html | title=Huckabee, Obama have huge night in Iowa | publisher=CNN | date=January 4, 2008}}</ref> and losing New Hampshire to the resurgent McCain.<ref name="battle-280"/> Both Huckabee and McCain criticized Romney's image as a ]<ref name="battle-280"/> and this label would stick to Romney through the campaign<ref name="gc-293"/> (but was one that Romney rejected as unfair and inaccurate, except for his acknowledged change of mind on abortion).<ref name="GQ-draper">{{cite news | url=http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2008/02/almost-human.html | title=Almost Human | author=Draper, Robert | magazine=] | date=February 1, 2008 | authorlink=Robert Draper}}</ref><ref name="bg-mag"/> Romney seemed to approach the campaign as a management consulting exercise, and showed a lack of personal warmth and political feel; journalist ] wrote that Romney "came off as a phony, even when he was perfectly sincere."<ref name="GQ-draper"/><ref>Thomas, ''"A Long Time Coming"'', p. 45.</ref> The fervor with which Romney adopted his new stances and attitudes contributed to the perception of inauthenticity which hampered the campaign.<ref name="nykr2007"/><ref name="nyt030511"/> Romney's staff would conclude that competing as a candidate of social conservatism and ideological purity rather than of pragmatic competence had been a mistake.<ref name="GQ-draper"/> | |||
| Romney endorsed McCain for president a week later,<ref name="AP-Sidoti-2008-02-14"> | |||
| A win by McCain over Huckabee ], and by Romney over McCain ], set up a climactic battle in the ].<ref name="battle-284">Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 283–285.</ref><ref name="gc-313">Heilemann and Halperin, ''Game Change'', pp. 312–313.</ref> Romney campaigned intensively on economic issues and the burgeoning ], while McCain attacked Romney regarding Iraq policy and benefited from endorsements from Florida officeholders.<ref name="battle-284"/><ref name="gc-313"/> McCain won a 5 percentage point victory on January 29.<ref name="battle-284"/><ref name="gc-313"/> Although many Republican officials were now lining up behind McCain,<ref name="gc-313"/> Romney persisted through the nationwide ] contests on February 5. There he won primaries or caucuses in several states, but McCain won more and larger states.<ref name="cnn020708">{{Cite news|title=Romney suspends presidential campaign |publisher=CNN |date=February 7, 2008 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/07/romney.campaign/index.html <!-- accessdate=February 7, 2008 -->}}</ref> Trailing McCain in delegates by a more than two-to-one margin, Romney announced the end of his campaign on February 7.<ref name="cnn020708"/> | |||
| {{cite news|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MCCAIN_ROMNEY?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT|title=Ex-GOP candidate Romney endorses McCain|last=Sidoti|first=Liz|agency=]|date=February 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215084205/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MCCAIN_ROMNEY?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT|archive-date=February 15, 2008}}</ref> and McCain had Romney on a ] for running mate, where his business experience would have balanced one of McCain's weaknesses.<ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 328, 331.</ref> Behind in the polls, McCain opted instead for a high-risk, high-reward "game changer", ] ].<ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 334–335.</ref> McCain lost the election to Democratic senator ]. | |||
| ==Activity between presidential campaigns== | |||
| Altogether, Romney had won 11 primaries and caucuses,<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#R | title=Election Center 2008: Delegate Scorecard | publisher=CNN | accessdate=April 11, 2010}}</ref> received about 4.7 million total votes,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/republican_vote_count.html | title=2008 Republican Popular Vote | publisher=] | accessdate=April 13, 2010}}</ref> and garnered about 280 delegates.<ref name='AP-Sidoti-2008-02-14' /> He spent $110 million during the campaign, including $45 million of his own money.<ref name="bg071708">{{Cite news| author=Kranish, Michael | url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/07/17/romney_not_getting_his_45m_back/ | title=Romney not getting his $45m back: Says he won't seek gifts to repay campaign loans | newspaper=The Boston Globe| date= July 17, 2008| authorlink= Michael Kranish}}</ref> | |||
| Romney supported the Bush administration's ] in response to the ], later saying that it prevented the U.S. financial system from collapsing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Memoli|first=Michael A.|title=Romney: It was Bush, not Obama, who averted second Depression|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-mar-21-la-pn-romney-bush-tarp-defense-20120321-story.html|newspaper=]|date=March 21, 2012|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207135814/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-mar-21-la-pn-romney-bush-tarp-defense-20120321-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mitt Romney changes position on TARP, DNC says |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2011/nov/30/democratic-national-committee/mitt-romney-changes-position-tarp-dnc/ |first=Molly |last=Moorhead |access-date=February 7, 2020 |publisher=PolitiFact.com |date=November 28, 2011 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207135812/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2011/nov/30/democratic-national-committee/mitt-romney-changes-position-tarp-dnc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the ], he opposed a bailout of the industry in the form of direct government intervention, and argued that a managed bankruptcy of struggling automobile companies should instead be accompanied by ] for post-bankruptcy financing from the private sector.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mitt Romney |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207054757/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Let Detroit Go Bankrupt |work=] |date=November 18, 2008 }} Note that the title of this op-ed was written by the newspaper; Romney originally submitted it as "The Way Forward for the Auto Industry". See May 8, 2012, ''New York Times'' Ashley Parker blog entry {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902082153/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/having-opposed-auto-bailout-romney-now-takes-credit-for-rebound/ |date=September 2, 2012 }}.</ref> | |||
| After the 2008 election, Romney laid the groundwork for a ] by using his Free and Strong America ] (PAC) to raise money for other Republican candidates and pay his existing political staff's salaries and consulting fees.<ref name="bg120808">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/12/08/romney_paves_way_for_possible_12_run/|title=Romney paves way for possible '12 run|author=Phillips, Frank|newspaper=]|date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212001549/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/12/08/romney_paves_way_for_possible_12_run/?page=full|archive-date=December 12, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/corbin-hiar/money-for-love-romney-cam_b_1321624.html|title=Money for Love? Romney Campaign Gives Over $1.7 Million to Republicans|first=Corbin|last=Hiar|agency=]|work=]|date=March 5, 2012|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022113235/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/corbin-hiar/money-for-love-romney-cam_b_1321624.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A network of former staff and supporters around the nation were eager for him to run again.<ref name="pol062909">{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/mitt-romneys-team-awaits-2012-024316 |title=Mitt Romney's team awaits 2012 |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |newspaper=] |date=June 29, 2009 |access-date=June 29, 2009 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923172417/http://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/mitt-romneys-team-awaits-2012-024316 |url-status=live }}</ref> He continued to give speeches and raise funds for Republicans,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/02/meet-the-new-mitt-romney-same-as-the-old-mitt/|title=Mitt's Makeover: Channeling Reagan for 2012 Run|last=Cannon|first=Carl M.|author-link=Carl M. Cannon|work=]|date=June 2, 2009|access-date=July 2, 2009|archive-date=June 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605183914/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/02/meet-the-new-mitt-romney-same-as-the-old-mitt/|url-status=dead}}</ref> but fearing overexposure, turned down many potential media appearances.<ref name="bg-mag" /> He also spoke before business, educational, and motivational groups.<ref>{{cite news |title=Romney's Assets Top $190 Million |author=Confessore, Nicholas|newspaper=]|date=August 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083649/https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/romneys-assets-top-190-million/ |author-link=Nicholas Confessore |url=https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/romneys-assets-top-190-million/ |archive-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref> From 2009 to 2011, he served on the board of directors of ], founded by his namesake J. Willard Marriott.<ref name="ap-mi">{{Cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2011/1/13/20166918/mitt-romney-stepping-down-from-marriott-board-again|title=Mitt Romney stepping down from Marriott board, again|agency=]|newspaper=]|location=Salt Lake City|date=January 13, 2011|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207135811/https://www.deseret.com/2011/1/13/20166918/mitt-romney-stepping-down-from-marriott-board-again|url-status=live}}</ref> He had previously served on it from 1993 to 2002.<ref name="ap-mi" />{{#tag:ref|During most of Romney's first stint on the Marriott board, he was a member of, and for six years chair of, the board's ].<ref name="bn-mi">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-22/romney-as-auditing-chairman-saw-marriott-son-of-boss-tax-shelter-defy-irs.html|title=Romney as Audit Chair Saw Marriott Son of BOSS Shelter Defy IRS|first=Jesse|last=Drucker|publisher=]|date=February 23, 2012|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=January 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125055411/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-22/romney-as-auditing-chairman-saw-marriott-son-of-boss-tax-shelter-defy-irs.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1994, during Romney's time as chair, Marriott implemented the ] tax shelter, which resulted in the company claiming $71 million in losses. In 2008 and 2009, federal courts ruled this use of the shelter illegal and said those losses never existed. ] calls a 2012 claim that Romney personally approved the shelter as "Half True".<ref name="bn-mi" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2012/aug/13/barack-obama/obama-links-romney-infamous-tax-shelter/ |first=Jon |last=Greenberg |title=Barack Obama links Mitt Romney to infamous tax shelter 'Son of Boss' |publisher=PolitiFact.com |date=August 9, 2012 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207135812/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2012/aug/13/barack-obama/obama-links-romney-infamous-tax-shelter/ |url-status=live }}</ref>|group="nb"}} | |||
| Romney endorsed McCain for president a week later.<ref name='AP-Sidoti-2008-02-14' > | |||
| {{Cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Feb14/0,4670,McCainRomney,00.html | title=Ex-GOP Candidate Romney Endorses McCain | last=Sidoti | first=Liz | agency=Associated Press | publisher=Fox News | date=February 14, 2008}}</ref> He was on the nominee's short list for the vice presidential running mate slot, where his business experience would have balanced one of McCain's weaknesses.<ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 328, 331.</ref> McCain, behind in the polls, opted instead for a high-risk, high-reward "game changer", and selected ] ].<ref>Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', pp. 334–335.</ref> McCain lost the election to Democratic Senator ]. | |||
| ]'' for service members at ] in March 2010]] | |||
| ==Activity between presidential campaigns== | |||
| ] (''pictured'') spoke at the ] in 2011]] | |||
| Following the election, Romney paved the way for a possible ] by using his Free and Strong America ] (PAC) to raise money for other Republican candidates and to pay his existing political staff's salaries and consulting fees.<ref name="bg120808">{{Cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/12/08/romney_paves_way_for_possible_12_run/ | title=Romney paves way for possible '12 run | author=Phillips, Frank | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=December 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/corbin-hiar/money-for-love-romney-cam_b_1321624.html | title=Money for Love? Romney Campaign Gives Over $1.7 Million to Republicans | first=Corbin | last=Hiar | agency=] | publisher=] | date=March 5, 2012}}</ref> An informal network of former staff and supporters around the nation were eager for him to run again.<ref name="pol062909">{{Cite news| url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24316.html | title=Mitt Romney's team awaits 2012 | author=Martin, Jonathan | newspaper=] | date=June 29, 2009| unused_data=<!-- accessdate=June 29, 2009 -->}}</ref> | |||
| He continued to give speeches and raise funds for Republicans,<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/02/meet-the-new-mitt-romney-same-as-the-old-mitt/ | title=Mitt's Makeover: Channeling Reagan for 2012 Run | author=Cannon, Carl M. | publisher=] | date=June 2, 2009}}</ref> but turned down many potential media appearances, fearing overexposure.<ref name="bg-mag"/> He also spoke before business, educational, and motivational groups.<ref>{{cite news | title=Romney Reports Net Assets Of as Much as $264 Million | author=Confessore, Nicholas | newspaper=The New York Times | date=August 12, 2011 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E7D61030F930A2575BC0A9679D8B63 | authorlink = Nicholas Confessore }}</ref> He served on the board of directors of ] from 2009 to 2011 (having earlier served on it from 1993 to 2002).<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700100480/Mitt-Romney-stepping-down-from-Marriott-board-again.html | title=Mitt Romney stepping down from Marriott board, again | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=Deseret News | location=Salt Lake City | date=January 13, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| In 2009, the Romneys sold their primary residence in Belmont and their ski chalet in Utah, leaving them an estate along ] in ], and an oceanfront home in the ] district of ], which they had bought the year before.<ref name="bg-mag">{{Cite news| |
In 2009, the Romneys sold their primary residence in Belmont and their ski chalet in Utah, leaving them an estate along ] in ], and an oceanfront home in the ] district of ], which they had bought the year before.<ref name="bg-mag">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2009/08/30/the_long_distance_runner/|title=The Long-Distance Runner|author=Issenberg, Sasha|newspaper=]|date=August 30, 2009|author-link=Sasha Issenberg|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175558/http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2009/08/30/the_long_distance_runner/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hl050609">{{Cite news|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2009/05/a_granite_state.php |title=A Granite State Home Base For Romney? |author=McPike, Erin |author2=Barnes, James A. |newspaper=] |date=May 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509071954/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2009/05/a_granite_state.php |archive-date=May 9, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/17/2_romney_estates_hit_the_market/|title=2 Romney estates hit the market|author=Abel, David|newspaper=]|date=February 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412153930/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/17/2_romney_estates_hit_the_market/|archive-date=April 12, 2010}}</ref> The La Jolla home proved beneficial in location and climate for Ann Romney's multiple sclerosis therapies and for recovering from her late 2008 diagnosis of ] ] and subsequent lumpectomy.<ref name="hl050609" /><ref name="ap-sd" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/12/06/ann_romney_has_surgery_to_remove_precancerous_lump/|title=Ann Romney has surgery to remove precancerous lump|author=Levenson, Michael|newspaper=]|date=December 6, 2008|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063628/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/12/06/ann_romney_has_surgery_to_remove_precancerous_lump/|url-status=live}}</ref> Both it and the New Hampshire estate were near some of their grandchildren.<ref name="hl050609" /> Romney maintained his voting registration in Massachusetts, however, and bought a smaller condominium in Belmont during 2010.<ref name="ap-sd">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/19/gops_romney_takes_to_life_in_new_california_home/|title=GOP's Romney takes to life in new California home|author=Johnson, Glen|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=April 19, 2010|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305035117/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/19/gops_romney_takes_to_life_in_new_california_home/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/08/24/romney_road_trip_may_set_stage_for_white_house_bid/|title=A 25-state midterm swing for Romney|author=Issenberg, Sasha|newspaper=]|date=August 24, 2010|author-link=Sasha Issenberg|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304234648/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/08/24/romney_road_trip_may_set_stage_for_white_house_bid/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2010, Romney had a minor altercation with ] member ], known as Sky Blu, on an airplane flight.{{#tag:ref|After having attended the ], Romney and wife were on board an ] plane waiting to take off on a flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles when he got into a physical altercation with Sky Blu, sitting in front of him, over Sky Blu's seat not being in the upright position. Romney said that Sky Blu became physically violent and that he did not retaliate, while Sky Blu said that Romney gave him a "]" first and that he responded physically to that. Sky Blu was escorted off the aircraft by Canadian police but Romney did not press charges and Sky Blu was released.<ref>{{cite news |title=Romney Assaulted on Flight Leaving Olympics |first=Jake |last=Gibson |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-assaulted-on-flight-leaving-olympics/ |publisher=] |date=February 16, 2010 |access-date=February 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219231455/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/15/report-romney-threatened-flight-vancouver/ |archive-date=February 19, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/02/19/is-vulcan-grip-rapper-sky-blu-who-tussled-with-mitt-romney-the-nerdiest-hip-hop-artist-ever/ |title=Is 'Vulcan Grip' Rapper Sky Blu, Who Tussled With Mitt Romney, the Nerdiest Hip-Hop Artist Ever? |date=February 19, 2010 |newspaper=] |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304054700/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/02/19/is-vulcan-grip-rapper-sky-blu-who-tussled-with-mitt-romney-the-nerdiest-hip-hop-artist-ever/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sky Blu of LMFAO claims Mitt Romney got physical first on flight from Vancouver |first=Joe |last=Tacopino |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-02-19/news/27056768_1_romney-spokesman-eric-fehrnstrom-mitt-romney-claims |newspaper=Daily News |date=February 19, 2010 |access-date=October 26, 2012 |archive-date=February 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209024046/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-02-19/news/27056768_1_romney-spokesman-eric-fehrnstrom-mitt-romney-claims |url-status=dead }}</ref>|group="nb"}} | ||
| Romney was an early supporter of ], the successful Republican candidate in that race. Some of Romney's former aides were used by Brown's campaign and Romney raised funds for Brown.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2009/10/31/news/6359328.txt | title=Romney goes to bat for Brown | author=Hand, Jim | newspaper=] | location=Attleboro, Massachusetts | date=October 31, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/arlington/news/x1851493018/Brown-launches-Senate-bid | title=Brown launches Senate bid | author=Dumcius, Gintautas | agency=] | newspaper=] | date=September 14, 2009 | accessdate=December 13, 2010}}</ref>|group="nb"}} | |||
| In February 2010, Romney had a minor altercation with ] member Skyler Gordy, known as Sky Blu, on an airplane flight.{{#tag:ref|After having attended the ], Romney and wife were on board an ] plane waiting to take off on a flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles when he got into a physical altercation with Sky Blu, sitting in front of him, over Sky Blu's seat not being in the upright position. Romney said that Sky Blu became physically violent and that he did not retaliate, while Sky Blu said that Romney gave him a "]" first and that he responded physically to that. Sky Blu was escorted off the aircraft by Canadian police but Romney did not press charges and Sky Blu was released.<ref>, Fox News, February 16, 2010</ref><ref>, '']'', February 19, 2010</ref><ref>, '']'', February 19, 2010.</ref>|group="nb"}} | |||
| Romney |
Romney released his book, '']'', in March 2010, and undertook an 18-state book tour to promote it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31133.html|title=Mitt Romney headed to Iowa|author=Barr, Andy|newspaper=]|date=January 4, 2010|access-date=January 7, 2010|archive-date=January 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108010825/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31133.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the book, he writes of his belief in ],<ref name="time-no-rev" /> and presents his economic and geopolitical views rather than anecdotes about his personal or political life.<ref name="time-no-rev">{{cite news|last=Altman |first=Alex |url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1969266,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306065159/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1969266,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 6, 2010 |title=The Skimmer: Mitt Romney's 'No Apology' |magazine=]|date=March 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/03/02/mitt_romneys_no_apology_is_not_light_reading/ |title=In book, Romney styles himself wonk, not warrior |newspaper=] |date=March 2, 2010 |author=Issenberg, Sasha |author-link=Sasha Issenberg |access-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212241/http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/03/02/mitt_romneys_no_apology_is_not_light_reading/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It debuted atop ].<ref name="best">{{cite news |last=Zimmermann |first=Eric |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/63982-romney-tops-bestseller-list-but-with-an-asterisk/ |title=Romney tops bestseller list, but with an asterisk |newspaper=] |date=March 13, 2010 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207135811/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/86573-romney-tops-bestseler-list-but-with-an-asterisk |url-status=live }}</ref> Romney donated his earnings from the book to charity.<ref name="bg-discl-2011">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2011/08/13/romney_worth_between_190m_and_250m_campaign_says/|title=Romney worth between $190m and $250m, campaign says|author=Viser, Matt|date=August 13, 2011|newspaper=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407083817/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2011/08/13/romney_worth_between_190m_and_250m_campaign_says/|archive-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref> | ||
| Immediately |
Immediately after the March 2010 passage of the ], Romney attacked the landmark legislation as "an unconscionable abuse of power" and said it should be repealed.<ref name="ap032610">{{Cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/3/27/20104871/romneycare-may-come-back-to-haunt-mitt-on-health-issue|title=Romneycare may come back to haunt Mitt on health issue|author=Johnson, Glen|agency=]|newspaper=]|location=Salt Lake City|date=March 26, 2010|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207135813/https://www.deseret.com/2010/3/27/20104871/romneycare-may-come-back-to-haunt-mitt-on-health-issue|url-status=live}}</ref> The antipathy Republicans felt for it created a potential problem for Romney, since the new federal law was in many ways similar to the Massachusetts health care reform passed during his gubernatorial tenure; as one ] article stated, "Obamacare ... looks a lot like Romneycare."<ref name="ap032610" /> While acknowledging that his plan was an imperfect work in progress, Romney did not back away from it. He defended the state-level health insurance mandate that underpinned it, calling the bill the right answer to Massachusetts's problems at the time.<ref name="ap032610" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=12405439|url-status=dead|title=Health Mandate Cases to Loom Over 2012 Romney Run|author=Johnson, Glen|agency=]|work=]|date=December 15, 2010|access-date=July 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628200536/http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=12405439|archive-date=June 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/03/30/romney_defends_massachusetts_health_care_law/|title=Romney defends Mass. health care law|author=Issenberg, Sasha|newspaper=]|date=March 30, 2010|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304211817/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/03/30/romney_defends_massachusetts_health_care_law/|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
| In ], Romney led or placed in the top three with Palin and Huckabee.<!-- that WP article has all the cites that support this statement --> A January 2010 '']'' survey of political insiders found that a majority of Republican insiders and a plurality of Democratic insiders predicted Romney would be the party's 2012 nominee.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/01/gop_insiders_so.php|title=GOP Insiders Sour On Palin|work=]|date=January 7, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109234539/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/01/gop_insiders_so.php|archive-date=January 9, 2010}}</ref> Romney campaigned heavily for Republican candidates in the ],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/10/romney-plan-go-big-go-everywhere-043566 |title=Mitt Romney's plan: Go big, go everywhere |author=Burns, Alexander |newspaper=] |date=October 13, 2010 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207135812/https://www.politico.com/story/2010/10/romney-plan-go-big-go-everywhere-043566 |url-status=live }}</ref> raising more money than the other prospective 2012 Republican presidential candidates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/10/romneys-17-million-tops-field-043607|title=Romney's $1.7 million tops field|author=Vogel, Kenneth P.|newspaper=]|date=October 14, 2010|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207141320/https://www.politico.com/story/2010/10/romneys-17-million-tops-field-043607|url-status=live}}</ref> Beginning in early 2011, he presented a more relaxed image, including more casual attire.<ref name="nyt030511">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/us/politics/06romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307172137/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/us/politics/06romney.html |archive-date=March 7, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=To Quiet Critics, Romney Puts 2012 Focus on Jobs|author=Zeleny, Jeff|newspaper=]|date=March 5, 2011}}</ref><ref name="pol-5chal" /> | |||
| In ], Romney led or placed in the top three with Palin and Huckabee.<!-- that WP article has all the cites that support this statement --> | |||
| A January 2010 '']'' survey of political insiders found that a majority of Republican insiders, and a plurality of Democratic insiders, predicted Romney would be the party's 2012 nominee.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/01/gop_insiders_so.php | title=GOP Insiders Sour On Palin | work=] | date=January 7, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| Romney campaigned heavily for Republican candidates in the ],<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43566.html | title=Mitt Romney's plan: Go big, go everywhere | author=Burns, Alexander | newspaper=Politico| date=October 13, 2010}}</ref> raising more money than the other prospective 2012 Republican presidential candidates.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43607.html | title=Romney's $1.7 million tops field | author=Vogel, Kenneth P. | newspaper=Politico | date=October 14, 2010}}</ref> Beginning in early 2011, Romney presented a more relaxed visual image, including rarely wearing a necktie.<ref name="nyt030511">{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/us/politics/06romney.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all | title=To Quiet Critics, Romney Puts 2012 Focus on Jobs | author=Zeleny, Jeff | newspaper=The New York Times | date=March 5, 2011}}</ref><ref name="pol-5chal"/> | |||
| ==2012 presidential campaign== | ==2012 presidential campaign== | ||
| {{ |
{{Main|Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign}} | ||
| {{ |
{{Further|2012 Republican Party presidential primaries|2012 United States presidential election}} | ||
| ===Primary election=== | |||
| ], days after his June 2011 formal campaign announcement]] | |||
| ]]] | |||
| On April 11, 2011, Romney announced, in a video taped outdoors at the ], that he had formed an ] for a run for the Republican presidential nomination.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/romney-forms-presidential-exploratory-committee/ |first1=Paul |last1=Steinhauser |first2=Robert |last2=Yoon |title=Romney forms presidential exploratory committee |publisher=] |date=April 11, 2011 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303061152/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/romney-forms-presidential-exploratory-committee/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="bg-ann-12" /> ] political science professor Scott McLean said, "We all knew that he was going to run. He's really been running for president ever since the day after the 2008 election."<ref name="bg-ann-12">{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2011/04/12/romney_takes_next_big_step_toward_run_for_president/|title=Romney takes next big step toward run for president|author=Viser, Matt|newspaper=]|date=April 12, 2011|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=December 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203115218/http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2011/04/12/romney_takes_next_big_step_toward_run_for_president/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| Romney stood to benefit from the Republican electorate's tendency to nominate candidates who had previously run for president, and thus appeared to be next in line to be chosen.<ref name="pol062909" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/10/20/palin-or-romney-republicans-weigh-passion-vs-principle/|title=Palin or Romney: Republicans Weigh Passion vs. Principle|author=Lewis, Matt|work=]|date=October 20, 2009|author-link=Matt Lewis (political blogger)|access-date=December 29, 2010|archive-date=November 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124134103/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/10/20/palin-or-romney-republicans-weigh-passion-vs-principle/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt060211" /> The early stages of the race found him as the apparent front-runner in a weak field, especially in terms of fundraising prowess and organization.<ref name="pol-x">{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/05/x-factor-5-questions-for-the-gop-race-055095|title=X factor: 5 questions for the GOP race|author=Burns, Alexander|newspaper=]|date=May 17, 2011|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206124353/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/05/x-factor-5-questions-for-the-gop-race-055095|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/05/the-do-nothing-frontrunner/238376/|title=The Do-Nothing Frontrunner|author=Green, Joshua|magazine=]|date=May 5, 2011|author-link=Joshua Green (journalist)|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=November 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119075612/http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/05/the-do-nothing-frontrunner/238376/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="pol-newopts" /> Perhaps his greatest hurdle in gaining the Republican nomination was party opposition to the ] law that he had shepherded five years earlier.<ref name="pol-5chal">{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/04/5-challenges-for-front-runner-romney-052981|title=5 challenges for front-runner Mitt Romney|author=Martin, Jonathan|author2=Burns, Alexander|newspaper=]|date=April 12, 2011|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206124348/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/04/5-challenges-for-front-runner-romney-052981|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bg-ann-12" /><ref name="nyt060211" /> As many potential Republican candidates with star power and fundraising ability decided not to run (including ], ], ], ], and ]), Republican party figures searched for plausible alternatives to Romney.<ref name="pol-x" /><ref name="pol-newopts">{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/05/with-daniels-out-gop-hopes-for-new-options-055425|title=With Mitch Daniels out, GOP looking for new 2012 option|author=Martin, Jonathan|newspaper=]|date=May 22, 2011|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206124350/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/05/with-daniels-out-gop-hopes-for-new-options-055425|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| On April 11, 2011, Romney announced in a video taped outdoors at the ] that he had formed an ] for a run for the Republican presidential nomination.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/romney-forms-presidential-exploratory-committee/ | title=Romney forms presidential exploratory committee | publisher=CNN | date=April 11, 2011}}</ref><ref name="bg-ann-12"/> A ] political science professor stated, "We all knew that he was going to run. He's really been running for president ever since the day after the 2008 election."<ref name="bg-ann-12">{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2011/04/12/romney_takes_next_big_step_toward_run_for_president/?page=all | title=Romney takes next big step toward run for president | author=Viser, Matt | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=April 12, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| On June 2, 2011, Romney formally announced the start of his campaign. Speaking on a farm in ], he focused on the economy and criticized Obama's handling of it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/romney-launches-presidential-bid-with-obama-misery-index-attack/ |title=Romney launches presidential bid with Obama 'misery index' attack|author=Condon, Stephanie|work=]|date=June 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605055025/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20068348-503544.html|archive-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref> He said, "In the campaign to come, the American ideals of economic freedom and opportunity need a clear and unapologetic defense, and I intend to make it – because I have lived it."<ref name="nyt060211">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/us/politics/03romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606081039/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/us/politics/03romney.html |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Romney, Opening Race, Presents Himself as the Candidate to Face Obama|author=Shear, Michael D.|newspaper=]|date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| Romney stood to gain from the Republican electorate's tendency to nominate candidates who had previously run for president and appeared to be "next in line" to be chosen.<ref name="pol062909"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/10/20/palin-or-romney-republicans-weigh-passion-vs-principle/ | title=Palin or Romney: Republicans Weigh Passion vs. Principle | author=Lewis, Matt | publisher=] | date=October 20, 2009 | authorlink=Matt Lewis (political blogger)}}</ref><ref name="nyt060211"/> The early stages of the race found him as the apparent front-runner in a weak field, especially in terms of fundraising prowess and organization.<ref name="pol-x">{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55095.html | title=X factor: 5 questions for the GOP race | author=Burns, Alexander | newspaper=Politico | date=May 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/05/the-do-nothing-frontrunner/238376/ | title=The Do-Nothing Frontrunner | author=Green, Joshua | magazine=] | date=May 5, 2011 | authorlink=Joshua Green}}</ref><ref name="pol-newopts"/> Perhaps his greatest hurdle in gaining the Republican nomination was party opposition to the ] law that he had shepherded five years earlier.<ref name="pol-5chal">{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52981.html | title=5 challenges for front-runner Mitt Romney | author=Martin, Jonathan | author2=Burns, Alexander | newspaper=Politico | date=April 12, 2011}}</ref><ref name="bg-ann-12"/><ref name="nyt060211"/> As many potential Republican candidates decided not to run (including ], ], ], Mike Huckabee, and ]), Republican party figures searched for plausible alternatives to Romney.<ref name="pol-x"/><ref name="pol-newopts">{{cite news | url= http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55425.html | title= With Mitch Daniels out, GOP looking for new 2012 option | author=Martin, Jonathan | newspaper=Politico | date=May 22, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| Romney raised $56 million in 2011, more than double the amount raised by any of his Republican opponents,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/us/politics/obama-raised-42-million-in-last-quarter-of-11.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113070326/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/us/politics/obama-raised-42-million-in-last-quarter-of-11.html |archive-date=January 13, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Obama Raised $42 Million in Last Quarter of '11 |last=Shear |first=Michael D. |newspaper=] |date=January 13, 2012}}</ref> and refrained from spending his own money on the campaign.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Viser, Matt|title=Romney raises $14.2m last quarter, but trails Perry|url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2011/10/15/mitt_romney_raised_142_million_in_quarter/|date=October 15, 2011|newspaper=]}}</ref> He initially pursued a low-key, low-profile strategy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/08/romneys-low-profile-strategy-060444 |title=Mitt Romney's low-profile strategy|author=Smith, Ben|newspaper=]|date=August 1, 2011}}</ref> ] staged a brief surge in polls, which preceded a poll surge in September 2011 by ], who had entered the race the month before.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/accelerating-gop-race-poised-to-test-perrys-staying-power-romneys-obama-strategy |title=Accelerating GOP Race Poised to Test Perry's Staying Power, Romney's Obama Strategy|publisher=]|date=September 3, 2011}}</ref> Perry and Romney exchanged sharp criticisms of each other during a series of debates among the Republican candidates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-09-25/GOP-presidential-race-Romney-Perry-debates/50547872/1|title=GOP debates signal a race between Romney and Perry|author=Kucinich, Jackie|newspaper=]|date=September 25, 2011}}</ref> The October 2011 decisions of Palin and ] not to run effectively settled the field of candidates.<ref name="ap-field" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2011/1111/Newt-Gingrich-Will-his-mini-surge-in-the-polls-last |title=Newt Gingrich: Will his mini-surge in the polls last? |last=Tulumello |first=Jennifer Skalka |newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor|date=November 11, 2011}}</ref> Perry faded after poor performances in those debates, while ]'s "long-shot" bid gained popularity until allegations of sexual misconduct derailed it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cain-and-gingrich-benefit-from-perry-swoon |first=Chris |last=Stirewalt |title=Cain and Gingrich Benefit from Perry Swoon|publisher=]|date=September 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cain-suspends-presidential-campaign-cites-hurt-caused-by-false-allegations |title=Cain Suspends Presidential Campaign, Cites 'Hurt' Caused by 'False' Allegations|publisher=]|date=December 3, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| On June 2, 2011, he formally announced the start of his campaign. Speaking on a farm in ], he focused on the economy and criticized President Obama's handling of it.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20068348-503544.html?tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea | title=Romney launches presidential bid with Obama "misery index" attack | author=Condon, Stephanie | publisher=] | date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> He said, "In the campaign to come, the American ideals of economic freedom and opportunity need a clear and unapologetic defense, and I intend to make it – because I have lived it."<ref name="nyt060211">{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/us/politics/03romney.html | title=Romney, Opening Race, Presents Himself as the Candidate to Face Obama | author=Shear, Michael D. | newspaper=The New York Times | date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| ] ]] | |||
| Romney continued to seek support from a wary Republican electorate; at this point in the race, his poll numbers were relatively flat and at a historically low level for a Republican front-runner.<ref name="ap-field">{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2016416269_apuscampaign2012reset.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114032852/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2016416269_apuscampaign2012reset.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 14, 2012|title=With GOP Field Set, Romney Woos The Unconvinced|agency=]|author=Babington, Charles|newspaper=]|date=October 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Lydia |last=Saad |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/149990/Cain-Surges-Nearly-Ties-Romney-Lead-GOP-Preferences.aspx |publisher=]|title=Cain Surges, Nearly Ties Romney for Lead in GOP Preferences|date=October 10, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://swampland.time.com/2011/12/01/mitt-romney-why-dont-they-like-him/ |title=Why Don't They Like Mitt?|last=Klein |first=Joe |magazine=]|date=December 1, 2011|author-link=Joe Klein}}</ref> After the charges of ] that marked his 2008 campaign began to accumulate again, Romney said in November 2011: "I've been as consistent as human beings can be."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2011/10/09/romney_rivals_may_go_after_him_for_flip_flops/ |title=Romney rivals may go after him for flip-flops|author=Elliot, Philip|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=October 9, 2011}}</ref><ref name="cbs-shifting">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitt-romneys-shifting-views-on-climate-change/ |title=Mitt Romney's shifting views on climate change|first=Coral |last=Davenport |work=]|date=October 28, 2011}}</ref><ref name="wapo-ff">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/romney-says-hes-been-consistent/2011/11/03/gIQAbfJejM_blog.html|title=Romney says he's been consistent|author=Wallsten, Peter|newspaper=]|date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> In the month before voting began, ] experienced a significant surge – taking a solid lead in national polls and most of the early caucus and primary states<ref name="pol-nfr">{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/12/romney-newts-the-front-runner-070298 |title=Mitt Romney on Newt Gingrich: He's the front-runner|author=Allen, Mike|newspaper=]|date=December 12, 2011}}</ref> – before settling back into parity or worse with Romney following a barrage of negative ads from ], a pro-Romney ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-newt-gingrichs-lead-over-romney-is-gone/ |title=Poll: Newt Gingrich's lead over Romney is gone|author=Montopoli, Brian|work=]|date=December 19, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| In the initial contest, the ] of January 3, election officials announced Romney as ahead with 25% of the vote, edging out a late-gaining ] by eight votes (] finished third).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/03/politics/iowa-caucus/index.html|title=Romney defeats Santorum by 8 votes in Iowa|work=]|date=January 4, 2012 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> Sixteen days later, however, they certified Santorum as the winner by 34 votes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/the-semantics-and-statistics-of-santorums-win-in-iowa/ |title=The Semantics and Statistics of Santorum's Win in Iowa|author=Silver, Nate|work=], The New York Times|date=January 19, 2012|author-link=Nate Silver}}</ref> A week after the Iowa caucuses, Romney earned a decisive win in ] with 39% of the vote; Paul finished second and ] third.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=] |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-secures-front-runner-status-with-new-hampshire-win-looks-to-take-momentum-into-south-carolina |title=Romney secures front-runner status with New Hampshire win, looks to take momentum into South Carolina|date=January 11, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Romney raised $56 million during 2011, far more than any of his Republican opponents,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=892875&f=77 | title=Obama Raised $42 Million in Last Quarter of '11 | author=Shear, Michael D. | newspaper=The New York Times | date=January 13, 2012}}</ref> and refrained from spending any of his own money on his campaign.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Viser, Matt|title=Romney expects to raise much less money this quarter|url=http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/09/romney-expects-raise-much-less-money-this-quarter/gOgGPHq6sp8zUl8toWr54L/index.html|date=September 27, 2011|newspaper=The Boston Globe}}<!-- Accessed October 18, 2011 --></ref> He initially ran a low-key, low-profile campaign.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60444.html | title=Mitt Romney's low-profile strategy | author=Smith, Ben | newspaper=Politico | date=August 1, 2011}}</ref> ] staged a brief surge in polls, then by September 2011, Romney's chief rival in polls was a recent entrant, Texas Governor ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/03/accelerating-gop-race-poised-to-test-perrys-staying-power-romneys-obama/ | title=Accelerating GOP Race Poised to Test Perry’s Staying Power, Romney’s Obama Strategy | publisher=Fox News | date=September 3, 2011}}</ref> Perry and Romney exchanged sharp criticisms of each other during a series of debates among the Republican candidates.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-09-25/GOP-presidential-race-Romney-Perry-debates/50547872/1 | title=GOP debates signal a race between Romney and Perry | author=Kucinich, Jackie | newspaper=] | date=September 25, 2011}}</ref> The October 2011 decisions of ] and Sarah Palin not to run finally settled the field.<ref name="ap-field"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2011/1111/Newt-Gingrich-Will-his-mini-surge-in-the-polls-last | title=Newt Gingrich: Will his mini-surge in the polls last? | author=Tulumello, Jennifer Skalka | newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor | date=November 11, 2011}}</ref> Perry faded after poor performances in those debates, while ]'s long-shot bid gained popularity until allegations of sexual misconduct derailed him.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/29/cain-and-gingrich-benefit-from-perry-swoon/ | title=Cain and Gingrich Benefit from Perry Swoon | publisher=Fox News | date=September 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/03/cain-prepares-to-discuss-campaigns-future-after-damage-assessment/ | title=Cain Suspends Presidential Campaign, Cites 'Hurt' Caused by 'False' Allegations | publisher=Fox News | date=December 3, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| In the run-up to the ], Gingrich launched ads criticizing Romney for causing job losses while at Bain Capital, Perry referred to Romney's role there as "]", and Palin pressed Romney to prove his claim that he created 100,000 jobs during that time.<ref name="fox011312">{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-gingrich-tangle-over-ads-in-south-carolina |title=Romney, Gingrich tangle over ads in South Carolina|publisher=]|date=January 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/palin-mitt-needs-bain-show-tell-071364 |title=Sarah Palin: Mitt Romney needs Bain show & tell|newspaper=]|author=Lee, MJ|date=January 12, 2012}}</ref> Romney also faced accusations of ].<ref>Kantrow, Yvette. (January 23, 2012). . '']''.</ref><ref>]. (January 10, 2012). . '']''.</ref><ref>Porritt, Richard. (April 13, 2012). . '']''.</ref> Many conservatives rallied in defense of Romney, rejecting what they took to be criticism of free-market capitalism.<ref name="fox011312" /> During two debates in the state, Romney fumbled questions about releasing his income tax returns, while Gingrich gained support with audience-rousing attacks on the debate moderators.<ref name="mcc-sc" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2012/01/south-carolina-debate-gingrich-nails-open-marriage-question-bests-a-flustered-romney.html |title=The Brawl |last=Dickerson |first=John |magazine=] |date=January 20, 2012 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> Romney's double-digit lead in state polls evaporated; he lost the January 21 primary to Gingrich by 13 points.<ref name="mcc-sc" /> Combined with the delayed loss in Iowa, Romney's poor week represented a lost chance to end the race early, and he quickly decided to release two years of his tax returns.<ref name="mcc-sc">{{cite news |first1=Steven |last1=Thomma |first2=David |last2=Lightman |first3=Gina |last3=Smith |url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24722665.html |title=Gingrich wins huge come-from-behind victory in South Carolina|agency=]|date=January 21, 2012|access-date=April 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021234414/https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24722665.html |archive-date=October 21, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.masslive.com/news/2012/01/mitt_romney_will_release_tax_r.html |first=Steve |last=Peoples |title=Mitt Romney will release tax returns Tuesday; rival Newt Gingrich calls himself most electable GOP candidate |agency=] |work=] |date=January 22, 2012}}</ref> The race turned to the ], where in debates, appearances, and advertisements, Romney launched a sustained barrage against Gingrich's record, associations and electability.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/florida-is-armageddon-071862 |title=Florida Republican primary is 'Armageddon'|author=Burns, Alexander|author2=Bravender, Robin|newspaper=]|date=January 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/us/politics/the-calculations-that-led-romney-to-the-warpath.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129211323/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/us/politics/the-calculations-that-led-romney-to-the-warpath.html |archive-date=January 29, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The Calculations That Led Romney to the Warpath|author=Rutenberg, Jim|author2=Zeleny, Jeff|newspaper=]|date=January 28, 2012}}</ref> Romney enjoyed a large spending advantage from both his campaign and his aligned Super PAC, and after a record-breaking rate of negative ads from both sides, Romney won Florida on January 31, with 46% of the vote to Gingrich's 32%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/31/politics/florida-primary/index.html|title=Romney claims victory in Florida, builds new momentum |first1=Tom |last1=Cohen |first2=Paul |last2=Steinhauser |publisher=]|date=February 1, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Romney continued to seek support from a wary Republican electorate; at this point in the race, his poll numbers were relatively flat and at a historically low level for a Republican frontrunner.<ref name="ap-field">{{cite news | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2016416269_apuscampaign2012reset.html | title=With GOP Field Set, Romney Woos The Unconvinced | agency=Associated Press | author=Babington, Charles | newspaper=The Seattle Times | date=October 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/149990/Cain-Surges-Nearly-Ties-Romney-Lead-GOP-Preferences.aspx | publisher=] | title=Cain Surges, Nearly Ties Romney for Lead in GOP Preferences | date=October 10, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://swampland.time.com/2011/12/01/mitt-romney-why-dont-they-like-him/ | title=Why Don't They Like Mitt? | author=] | magazine=Time | date=December 1, 2011}}</ref> After the charges of ] that marked his 2008 campaign began to accumulate again, Romney declared in November 2011 that "I've been as consistent as human beings can be."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2011/10/09/romney_rivals_may_go_after_him_for_flip_flops/ | title=Romney rivals may go after him for flip-flops | author=Elliot, Philip | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=October 9, 2011}}</ref><ref name="cbs-shifting">{{cite news | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20127273-503544/mitt-romneys-shifting-views-on-climate-change/ | title=Mitt Romney's shifting views on climate change | author= Coral Davenport | publisher=CBS News | date=October 28, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="wapo-ff">{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/romney-says-hes-been-consistent/2011/11/03/gIQAbfJejM_blog.html | title=Romney says he's been consistent | author=Wallsten, Peter | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> In the final month before voting began, ] enjoyed a major surge, taking a solid lead in national polls and in most of the early caucus and primary states,<ref name="pol-nfr">{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70298_Page2.html | title=Mitt Romney on Newt Gingrich: He's the front-runner | author=Allen, Mike | newspaper=Politico | date=December 12, 2011}}</ref> before settling back into parity or worse with Romney following a barrage of negative ads from ], a pro-Romney ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57345145-503544/poll-newt-gingrichs-lead-over-romney-is-gone/ | title=Poll: Newt Gingrich's lead over Romney is gone | author=Montopoli, Brian | publisher=CBS News | date=December 19, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| ] in ], during the vice presidential selection announcement on August 11, 2012]] | |||
| In the initial ] of January 3, Romney was announced as the victor on election night with 25 percent of the vote, edging out a late-gaining ] by eight votes (with an also-strong Ron Paul finishing third),<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/03/politics/iowa-caucus/index.html | title=Romney defeats Santorum by 8 votes in Iowa | publisher=CNN | date=January 4, 2012}}</ref> but sixteen days later, Santorum was certified as the winner by a 34-vote margin.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/the-semantics-and-statistics-of-santorums-win-in-iowa/ | title=The Semantics and Statistics of Santorum's Win in Iowa | author=] | work=] | newspaper=The New York Times | date=January 19, 2012}}</ref> Romney decidedly won ] the following week with a total of 39 percent; Paul finished second and ] third.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=] |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/10/new-hampshire-republican-primary/ | title=Romney secures front-runner status with New Hampshire win, looks to take momentum into South Carolina|date=January 11, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Several caucuses and primaries took place during February, and Santorum won three in a single night early in the month, propelling him into the lead in national and some state polls and positioning him as Romney's chief rival.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/14/polls-all-tied-up-between-romney-and-santorum/ |first=Paul |last=Steinhauser |title=Polls: All tied up between Romney and Santorum |publisher=] |date=February 14, 2012 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206124352/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/14/polls-all-tied-up-between-romney-and-santorum/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Days later, Romney told the ] that he had been a "severely conservative governor"<ref>{{cite news|last=Fahrenthold|first=David A.|title=Mitt Romney was 'severely conservative', he tells CPAC|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-was-severely-conservative-governor-he-tells-cpac/2012/02/10/gIQABoNT4Q_story.html|newspaper=]|date=February 10, 2012}}</ref> (while in 2005 he had maintained that his positions were moderate and characterized reports that he was shifting to the right to attract conservative votes as a media distortion<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips |first=Frank |title=Romney says media distort his views: insists positions moderate in US, except in Mass |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/22/romney_says_media_distort_his_views/ |newspaper=] |date=December 22, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627072700/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/22/romney_says_media_distort_his_views?page=full%2F |archive-date=June 27, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>). He sought Donald Trump's endorsement, and received it in February 2012, with a speech by Trump and Romney in which Romney joked that he had spent his "life in the ], not quite as successful as this guy but successful nonetheless".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Silverleib |first=Mark Preston,Alan |date=2012-02-02 |title=Trump endorses Romney |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/02/02/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html |access-date=August 10, 2024 |website=CNN }}</ref> Romney won the other five February contests, including a ] at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/28/election/2012/primaries/index.html |first=Tom |last=Cohen |title=Romney wins Michigan and Arizona|publisher=]|date=February 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/mitt-romney-wins-wyoming-caucuses/2012/02/29/gIQAj2yRjR_blog.html|title=Mitt Romney wins Wyoming caucuses|newspaper=]|date=February 29, 2012|first=Aaron|last=Blake}}</ref> In the ], Romney won six of ten contests, including a ] over a vastly outspent Santorum. Although his victories were not enough to end the race, they were enough to establish a two-to-one delegate lead over Santorum.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-builds-delegate-lead-with-super-tuesday-wins |title=Romney builds delegate lead with Super Tuesday wins|publisher=]|date=March 7, 2012}}</ref> Romney maintained his delegate margin through subsequent contests,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-sweeps-3-primary-contests-eyes-general-election-battle |title=Romney sweeps 3 primary contests, eyes general election battle|publisher=]|date=April 4, 2012}}</ref> and Santorum suspended his campaign on April 10.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/04/10/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html |title=Santorum suspends campaign, clearing Romney's path|first=Tom|last=Cohen|publisher=]|date=April 10, 2012}}</ref> Following a sweep of five more contests on April 24, the ] put its resources to work for Romney as the party's ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-apr-25-la-pn-rnc-officially-names-mitt-romney-the-partys-presumptive-nominee-20120425-story.html |title=RNC officially names Mitt Romney the party's 'presumptive nominee'|newspaper=]|date=April 25, 2012|first=Michael A.|last=Memoli}}</ref> | |||
| In the run-up to the ], Gingrich launched ads criticizing Romney for causing job losses while at Bain Capital, Perry referred to Romney's role there as "]", and Sarah Palin questioned whether Romney could prove his claim that 100,000 jobs were created during that time.<ref name="fox011312">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/13/conservatives-rally-against-criticism-romneys-bain-record/|title=Romney, Gingrich tangle over ads in South Carolina | publisher=Fox News | date=January 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71364.html|title=Sarah Palin: Mitt Romney needs Bain show & tell|newspaper=Politico|author=Lee, MJ|date=January 12, 2012}}</ref> Many conservatives rallied in defense of Romney, rejecting what they inferred as criticism of free-market capitalism.<ref name="fox011312"/> During two debates, Romney fumbled questions about releasing his income tax returns, while Gingrich gained support with audience-rousing attacks on the debate moderators.<ref name="mcc-sc"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/01/south_carolina_debate_gingrich_nails_open_marriage_question_bests_a_flustered_romney_.html | title=The Brawl | author=Dickerson, John | magazine=] | date=January 20, 2012}}</ref> Romney's double-digit lead in state polls evaporated and he lost to Gingrich by 13 points in the January 21 primary.<ref name="mcc-sc"/> Combined with the delayed loss in Iowa, Romney's admitted bad week represented a lost chance to end the race early, and he decided to release two years of his tax returns quickly.<ref name="mcc-sc">{{cite news | url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/01/21/136532/gingrich-appears-to-be-headed.html | title=Gingrich wins huge come-from-behind victory in South Carolina | agency=] | date=January 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/mitt_romney_will_release_tax_r.html | title=Mitt Romney will release tax returns Tuesday; rival Newt Gingrich calls himself most electable GOP candidate | agency=Associated Press | publisher=] | date=January 22, 2012}}</ref> The race turned to the ], where in debates, appearances, and advertisements, Romney unleashed a concerted, unrelenting attack on Gingrich's past record and associations and current electability.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71862.html | title=Florida Republican primary is 'Armageddon' | author=Burns, Alexander | author2=Bravender, Robin | newspaper=Politico | date=January 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/us/politics/the-calculations-that-led-romney-to-the-warpath.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all | title=The Calculations That Led Romney to the Warpath | author=Rutenberg, Jim | author2=Zeleny, Jeff | newspaper=The New York Times | date=January 28, 2012}}</ref> Romney enjoyed a big spending advantage from both his campaign and his aligned Super PAC, and after a record-breaking rate of negative ads from both sides, Romney won Florida on January 31, gaining 46 percent of the vote to Gingrich's 32 percent.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/31/politics/florida-primary/index.html | title=Romney claims victory in Florida, builds new momentum |first=Tom |last=Cohen |first2=Paul |last2=Steinhauser |publisher=CNN |date=February 1, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ===General election=== | |||
| ] in Norfolk, Virginia, on August 11, 2012.]] | |||
| ] a tight race for the November general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/07/7-points-that-could-tip-the-election-078105 |title=7 points that could tip the election|last=Haberman |first=Maggie |newspaper=]|date=July 5, 2012}}</ref> Negative ads from both sides dominated the campaign, with Obama's proclaiming that Romney shipped jobs overseas while at Bain Capital and kept money in offshore tax havens and ].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/us/politics/negative-ads-hit-at-identity-to-shape-race.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726071207/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/us/politics/negative-ads-hit-at-identity-to-shape-race.html |archive-date=July 26, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Negative Ads Hit at Identity to Shape Race for Presidency|first=Jeremy W.|last=Peters|newspaper=]|date=July 25, 2012|page=A1}}</ref> A related issue dealt with Romney's purported responsibility for actions at Bain Capital after taking the Olympics post.<ref name="bg-paid" /><ref name="ap-exit" /> Romney faced demands from Democrats to ], an action a number of Republicans also felt would be wise; after being adamant that he would not do that, he released summaries of them in late September.<ref name="pol-taxes11">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/09/romney-releases-2011-tax-returns-081528 |title=Mitt Romney releases 2011 tax returns|last=Gibson|first=Ginger|date=September 21, 2012|newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/us/politics/romney-steadfast-against-release-of-more-tax-returns.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719140130/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/us/politics/romney-steadfast-against-release-of-more-tax-returns.html |archive-date=July 19, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Romney Steadfast in the Face of Growing Calls to Release More Tax Returns|first1=Michael D.|last1=Shear|first2=Trip|last2=Gabriel|newspaper=]|date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> During May and June, the Obama campaign spent heavily and was able to paint a negative image of Romney in voters' minds before the Romney campaign could construct a positive one.<ref name="bg-retro"/> | |||
| In July 2012, Romney visited the ], ], and ], meeting leaders in an effort to raise his credibility as a world statesman.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/10363621|title=Romney hails US-Polish ties during visit to Warsaw |agency=]|newspaper=]|date=July 31, 2012|first=Kasie|last=Hunt}}</ref> Comments he made about the readiness of the ] were perceived as undiplomatic by the British press.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/british-papers-blast-mitt-romney/ |title=British papers blast Mitt Romney|work=]|date=July 26, 2012 |last=Condon|first=Stephanie}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/26/mitt-romney-olympics-blunder |title=Mitt Romney's Olympics blunder stuns No 10 and hands gift to Obama|newspaper=]|date=July 27, 2012 |first1=Nicholas |last1=Watt |first2=Hélène |last2=Mulholland |first3=Owen |last3=Gibson}}</ref> Israeli Prime Minister (and former BCG colleague) ] embraced Romney, though some Palestinians criticized him for suggesting that Israel's culture led to their greater economic success.<ref name="wt-trip">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/31/romney-touts-poland-economic-success-story/ |title=Romney's trip a bumpy ride |first=Seth |last=McLaughlin |newspaper=The Washington Times|date=July 31, 2012 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> | |||
| There were several caucuses and primaries during February, and Santorum won three in a single night early in the month, propelling him into the lead in national and some state polls and positioning him as Romney's main rival.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/14/polls-all-tied-up-between-romney-and-santorum/ | title=Polls: All tied up between Romney and Santorum | publisher=CNN | date=February 14, 2012}}</ref> Romney won the other five, including a ] at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/28/election/2012/primaries/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 | title=Romney wins Michigan and Arizona | publisher=CNN | date=February 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/mitt-romney-wins-wyoming-caucuses/2012/02/29/gIQAj2yRjR_blog.html | title=Mitt Romney wins Wyoming caucuses | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=February 29, 2012}}</ref> In the ], Romney won six of ten contests, including a ] over a greatly outspent Santorum, and although he failed to win decisively enough to end the race, still held a more than two-to-one edge over Santorum in delegates.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/03/07/romney-builds-delegate-lead-with-super-tuesday-wins/ | title=Romney builds delegate lead with Super Tuesday wins | publisher=] | date=March 7, 2012}}</ref> Romney maintained his delegate margin through subsequent contests,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/03/romney-looks-for-big-night-and-beyond-in-wisconsin/ | title=Romney sweeps 3 primary contests, eyes general election battle | publisher=Fox News | date=April 4, 2012}}</ref> and Santorum suspended his campaign on April 10.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/10/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 | title=Santorum suspends campaign, clearing Romney's path | first=Tom | last=Cohen | publisher=CNN | date=April 10, 2012}}</ref> Following a sweep of five more contests on April 24, the ] put its resources behind Romney as the party's ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-rnc-officially-names-mitt-romney-the-partys-presumptive-nominee-20120425,0,790798.story|title=RNC officially names Mitt Romney the party's 'presumptive nominee'|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=April 25, 2012}}</ref> Romney clinched a majority of the delegates with a win in the ] on May 29. | |||
| On August 11, 2012, the Romney campaign announced Representative ] of Wisconsin as his running mate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hunt |first=Kasie |title=It's Paul Ryan: Romney picks Wis. Rep. for No. 2 |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-sources-romney-intends-name-ryan-his-no-2 |agency=] |access-date=April 26, 2014 |date=August 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813212644/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-sources-romney-intends-name-ryan-his-no-2 |archive-date=August 13, 2012 }}</ref> On August 28, 2012, the ] in ], officially nominated Romney for president.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republican-delegates-nominate-mitt-romney/ |title=Republican delegates nominate Mitt Romney |work=] |date=August 28, 2012 |last=Caldwell |first=Leigh Ann |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> Romney became the first LDS Church member to be a major-party presidential nominee.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://azstarnet.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/romney-s-nomination-seen-as-positive-for-mormons/article_5d7c8599-576d-524f-8a6b-df6cbe25b158.html|title=Romney's nomination seen as positive for Mormons|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=September 3, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ] a generally tight race for the November general election.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78105.html | title=7 points that could tip the election | author=Haberman, Maggie | newspaper=Politico | date=July 5, 2012}}</ref> The campaign has been dominated by negative ads from both sides, with Obama ads proclaiming that Romney shipped jobs overseas while at Bain Capital and has kept his own money in offshore tax havens and Swiss bank accounts.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/us/politics/negative-ads-hit-at-identity-to-shape-race.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all | title=Negative Ads Hit at Identity to Shape Race for Presidency | first=Jeremy W. | last=Peters | newspaper=The New York Times | date=July 25, 2012 | page=A1}}</ref> A related issue has been whether Romney was responsible for actions at Bain Capital after taking the Olympics post.<ref name="bg-paid"/><ref name="ap-exit"/> Romney has faced demands from Democrats to release additional years of his tax returns, an action a number of Republicans also think would be wise, but has been adamant that he will not.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/us/politics/romney-steadfast-against-release-of-more-tax-returns.html | title=Romney Steadfast in the Face of Growing Calls to Release More Tax Returns | first=Michael D. | last=Shear | first2=Trip | last2=Gabriel | newspaper=The New York Times | date=July 18, 2012 }}</ref> | |||
| In mid-September, a video surfaced of Romney speaking before a group of supporters in which he said that 47% of the nation pays no income tax, are dependent on the federal government, see themselves as victims, and will support Obama unconditionally. He went on to say, "And so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/18/mitt-romney-secret-video|title=Mitt Romney under fire after comments caught on video|first=Ewan|last=MacAskill|newspaper=]|date=September 17, 2012}}</ref><ref name="wapo-47">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/romneys-47-percent-comments-arent-going-away/2012/10/01/17604654-0be5-11e2-a310-2363842b7057_story.html|title=Romney's '47 percent' comments aren't going away, and they're taking a toll|first=Philip|last=Rucker|newspaper=]|date=October 1, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/njvoices/2012/09/mitt_romney_and_the_47_percent.html |title=Mitt Romney and the 47 percent: Looking at the facts|newspaper=]|location=Newark|date=September 18, 2012}}</ref> After facing criticism about the tone and accuracy of these comments, he at first characterized them as "inelegantly stated", then a couple of weeks later commented: "I said something that's just completely wrong."<ref name="nyt-deb1" /> Exit polls published following the election showed that voters never saw Romney as someone who cared about people like them.<ref name="bg-retro"/> | |||
| On August 11, 2012, the Romney campaign announced the selection of Representative ] of Wisconsin as his vice-presidential running mate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/14422867-418/romney-and-ryan-in-manassas-we-are-going-to-win.html | title=Romney picks Ryan as his veep mate | last=Sweet | first=Lynn | accessdate=August 12, 2012 | date=August 11, 2012 | work=]}}</ref> | |||
| In an interview on ] with ], Romney called Russia "our number one geopolitical foe".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitt-romney-russia-geopolitical-foe_n_1380801|title=Mitt Romney: Russia Is 'Our Number One Geopolitical Foe'|first=Luke|last=Johnson|date=March 26, 2012|website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/mitt-romney-says-russia-is-no-1-geopolitical-foe|title=Mitt Romney Says Russia Is No. 1 Geopolitical Foe|website=]|first=Emily|last=Friedman|date=March 26, 2012}}</ref> At the time an innocuous response to a foreign policy question, it became a focal point for Democratic attacks on Romney during the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/02/biden-democratic-attacks-romney-convention|title=Joe Biden leads Democratic attacks on Romney before Charlotte convention|first=Matt|last=Williams|date=September 2, 2012|website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/03/29/romneys_russia_comments_reflect_long-held_distrust_113652.html|title=Romney's Russia Comments Reflect Long-Held Distrust|website=RealClearPolitics|first=Scott|last=Conroy|date=March 29, 2012|access-date=November 22, 2024}}</ref><ref name="mediaite.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/rothman-msnbcs-most-embarrassing-mockery-of-romneys-russia-warnings/|title=Rothman: MSNBC's Most Embarrassing Mockery of Romney's Russia Warnings|work=Mediaite|first=Noah|last=Rothman|date=March 3, 2014|access-date=November 22, 2024}}</ref> Hillary Clinton, then secretary of state, called Romney's position "dated" and said Russia had been an ally in solving problems,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/04/hillary-clinton-calls-romneys-russia-comments-dated-updated-119292|title=Hillary Clinton calls Romney's Russia comments 'dated' (Updated)|first=Maggie|last=Haberman|website=]|date=April 2012 }}</ref> while Joe Biden, then vice president, accused Romney of having a "Cold War mentality" and being "uninformed" on foreign policy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 1, 2012|title=Biden and Clinton hit Romney for 'dated' comments on Russia|url=https://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/biden-and-clinton-hit-romney-for-dated-comments-on-russia/news-story/663701e4c6e6037ee3b78150a4c342e1|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=NewsComAu|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Biden, Clinton hit back at Romney|url=https://torontosun.com/2012/04/01/biden-clinton-hit-back-at-romney|website=Toronto Sun|agency=Reuters|access-date=November 22, 2024|language=en-CA}}</ref> John Kerry, then a senator, called Romney's comments "breathtakingly off target"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/news/kerry-calls-romneys-russia-position-breathtakingly-off-target-111700259.html|title=Kerry Calls Romney's Russia Position 'Breathtakingly Off Target'|website=news.yahoo.com|date=May 25, 2012 }}</ref> and reiterated that position at the Democratic National Convention, saying, "He's even blurted out the preposterous notion that Russia is our number one political geopolitical foe."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Video: John Kerry Aims International Zingers at Mitt Romney|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/john-kerry-aims-international-zingers-mitt-romney-17177781|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=]|language=en}}</ref> Romney defended his remarks, saying, "The nation which consistently opposes our actions at the United Nations has been Russia{{nbsp}}... Russia is a geopolitical foe in that regard",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/news/romney-keeps-attacks-russia-110836427.html|title=Romney Keeps Up Attacks on Russia|website=news.yahoo.com|first=Matthew|last=Shelly|date=June 19, 2012}}</ref> and continued to defend his position in the presidential debates.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2012/1023/In-debate-Romney-reiterates-Russia-is-geopolitical-foe-of-US|title=In debate, Romney reiterates Russia is 'geopolitical foe' of US|date=October 23, 2012|journal=The Christian Science Monitor}}</ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| The first of three ] took place on October 3, in Denver. Media figures and political analysts widely viewed Romney as having delivered a stronger and more focused presentation than Obama.<ref name="nyt-deb1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/us/politics/for-obama-and-romney-campaign-gains-new-intensity-in-debates-wake.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005053248/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/us/politics/for-obama-and-romney-campaign-gains-new-intensity-in-debates-wake.html |archive-date=October 5, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Campaign Gains a New Intensity in Debate's Wake|first1=Jim|last1=Rutenberg|first2=Peter|last2=Baker|newspaper=]|date=October 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2012/10/romneys_debate_performance_was.html |title=Romney's debate performance was presidential game changer, analysts say|newspaper=]|location=Newark|date=October 5, 2012}}</ref> That debate overshadowed Obama's improved presentation in the next two debates later in October, and Romney maintained a small advantage in the debates when seen as a whole.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/25/usa-today-gallup-poll-debates/1657145/|title=Poll: An Obama comeback, but a Romney edge on debates|first=Susan|last=Page|newspaper=]|date=October 25, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| The election took place on November 6, and Obama was projected the winner at about 11:14 pm ].<ref name="whio">{{cite news|url=http://www.whiotv.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/latest-presidential-vice-presidential-race-coverag/nSyhJ/|title=Latest: Obama, Biden declared winners|first=Mandy|last=Gambrell|publisher=]|date=November 7, 2012|access-date=November 7, 2012|archive-date=November 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110054850/http://www.whiotv.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/latest-presidential-vice-presidential-race-coverag/nSyhJ/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He won 332 electoral votes to Romney's 206. Romney lost all but one of nine ]s and received 47% of the popular vote to Obama's 51%.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/06/obama-defeats-romney-to-win-second-term-fox-news-projects/|title=Obama defeats Romney to win second term, vows he has 'more work to do'|publisher=]|date=November 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-biden-officially-win-second-term-20130104,0,5932518.story|title=It's official: Obama, Biden win second term|author=Memoli, Michael A.|newspaper=]|date=January 4, 2013}}</ref> Media accounts described Romney as "shellshocked" by the result.<ref name="cbs-end">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/adviser-romney-shellshocked-by-loss/|title=Adviser: Romney 'shellshocked' by loss|first=Jan|last=Crawford|author-link=Jan Crawford|work=]|date=November 8, 2012}}</ref> He and his senior campaign staff had disbelieved public polls showing Obama narrowly ahead and had thought they were going to win until the vote tallies began to be reported on election night.<ref name="cbs-end"/> But Romney's ] operation had been inferior to Obama's, both in person-to-person organization and in voter modeling and outreach technology<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-obama-campaign-won-the-race-for-voter-data/2013/07/28/ad32c7b4-ee4e-11e2-a1f9-ea873b7e0424_story.html|title=How the Obama campaign won the race for voter data|first=Dan|last=Balz|author-link=Dan Balz|newspaper=]|date=July 28, 2013}}</ref> (the latter exemplified by the failure of the ] application).<ref name="bg-retro">{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2012/12/23/the-story-behind-mitt-romney-loss-presidential-campaign-president-obama/OeZRabbooIw0z7QYAOyFFP/story.html|title=Mitt Romney was hesitant to reveal himself|first=Michael|last=Kranish|author-link=Michael Kranish|newspaper=]|date=December 23, 2012}}</ref> In his concession speech to his supporters, he said, "Like so many of you, Paul and I have left everything on the field. We have given our all to this campaign. I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead this country in a different direction, but the nation chose another leader."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/06/14976592-victorious-obama-more-determined-in-face-of-challenges |title=Victorious Obama 'more determined' in face of challenges|first=Michael|last=O'Brien|work=]|date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> Reflecting on his defeat during a conference call to hundreds of fundraisers and donors a week after the election, Romney attributed the outcome to Obama's having secured the votes of specific interest groups, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, young people, and women, by offering them what Romney called "extraordinary financial gifts".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Santucci|first1=John|last2=Good|first2=Chris|last3=Walshe|first3=Shushannah|title=Everything Romney said to explain away loss|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/obamas-gifts-small-campaign-bill-clintons-thoughtsromneys-parting/story?id=17727179 |work=]|date=November 15, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Ashley|title=Romney blames loss on Obama's 'gifts' to minorities and young voters|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/romney-blames-loss-on-obamas-gifts-to-minorities-and-young-voters/|newspaper=]|date=November 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Reston|first=Maeve|title=Romney attributes loss to 'gifts' Obama gave minorities|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-romney-donors-20121115,0,1719033.story|newspaper=]|date=November 15, 2012}}</ref> The remark drew heavy criticism from prominent members of the Republican party.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wallace|first=Gregory|title=Gingrich: Romney 'gifts' comment 'nuts'|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/18/gingrich-romney-gifts-comment-nuts/|publisher=]|date=November 18, 2012|access-date=November 18, 2012|archive-date=November 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121121161852/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/18/gingrich-romney-gifts-comment-nuts/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Falcone|first=Michael|title=Republicans Mourning for Mitt Romney? Not So Much|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/republicans-mourning-mitt-romney/story?id=17742687 |work=]|date=November 17, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ==Subsequent activities== | |||
| ] with ] in 2015]] | |||
| During the first year after his defeat, Romney generally kept a low profile,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-detached-romney-tends-wounds-in-seclusion-after-failed-white-house-bid/2012/12/01/4305079a-38a9-11e2-8a97-363b0f9a0ab3_story.html |access-date=February 6, 2020 |title=A detached Romney tends wounds in seclusion after failed White House bid|date=December 1, 2012|last=Rucker|first=Phillip |newspaper=]}}</ref> with his ordinary daily activities around ] captured via social media glimpses.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hall: Stop taking pictures of Mitt in La Jolla |last=Hall |first=Matthew T. |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-hall-stop-taking-pictures-of-mitt-in-la-jolla-2012dec12-story.html |access-date=February 6, 2020 |newspaper=] |date=December 12, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021193900/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/dec/12/mitt-romneys-political-career-sunsets-in-la-jolla/ |archive-date=October 21, 2013 }}</ref> In December 2012, he joined the board of Marriott International for a third stint as a director.<ref name="ap-mbd-3">{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/mitt-romney-rejoins-marriott-board-200634290--finance.html |access-date=February 6, 2020 |title=Mitt Romney rejoins Marriott board|date=December 3, 2012|agency=]|last=Bomkamp|first=Samantha|publisher=]}}</ref> In March 2013, Romney gave a reflective interview on '']'', saying, "It kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House doing what needs to be done." He again expressed regret at the "47 percent" remark, saying "There's no question that hurt and did real damage to my campaign."<ref>{{cite news|last=Whitesides|first=John|title=A reflective Romney emerges from seclusion, rips Obama|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-romney/a-reflective-romney-emerges-from-seclusion-rips-obama-idUSBRE9220DG20130303 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |work=]|date=March 3, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Miller |first=Jake |title=Mitt Romney: 'It kills me' to not be in the White House|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitt-romney-it-kills-me-to-not-be-in-the-white-house/ |access-date=February 6, 2020 |work=]|date=March 3, 2013}}</ref> (He echoed both those sentiments a year later.<ref name="nyt-noquit"/>) Romney began working as executive partner group chairman for Solamere Capital, a private capital firm in Boston owned by his son Tagg.<ref name="bg-year-later"/> He was also involved in supporting several charitable causes.<ref name="bg-year-later"/> | |||
| The Romneys bought a home in the ] area of ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/trulia/2013/10/08/mitt-romney-buys-park-city-utah-home/|title=Mitt Romney Buys Massive Park City, Utah Mansion|magazine=]|date=October 8, 2013}}</ref><ref name="slt-vreg"/> and a property in ], where they planned to tear down an existing house and build a new one.<ref name="bg-year-later">{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2013/11/04/year-after-defeat-mitt-romney-seeks-reemerge-public-voice/06CtD7uSjcFQjccl7S86eM/story.html |access-date=February 6, 2020 |title=Mitt Romney carefully looks to raise public voice|first1=Matt|last1=Viser|first2=Michael|last2=Kranish|newspaper=]|date=November 4, 2013}}</ref> They also gained long-sought permission to replace their La Jolla home with a much bigger one, including a car elevator that had brought some derision during the 2012 campaign.<ref name="bg-year-later"/><ref name="slt-rooms"/> Romney and his siblings continued to own a cottage in a ] called ] south of ], which has been in the family for more than 60 years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Humphreys|first=Adrian|date=November 3, 2012|title=Mitt Romney's Canadian 'white house': Family has vacationed at cottage in private, gated Ontario community for 60 years |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/mitt-romneys-canadian-white-house-family-has-vacationed-at-cottage-in-private-gated-ontario-community-for-60-years |newspaper=]|location=Toronto |access-date=February 6, 2020}}</ref> With the new acquisitions the couple briefly had five homes, near each of their five sons and their families, and the couple continued to spend considerable time with their grandchildren, who by 2013 numbered 22.<ref name="bg-year-later"/><ref name="slt-rooms">{{cite news|url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=57030430&itype=CMSID |title=The hidden room inside Mitt Romney's new Utah house|first1=Matt|last1=Canham|first2=Thomas|last2=Burr|newspaper=]|date=October 26, 2013 |access-date=February 6, 2020}}</ref> They then sold the condominium in Belmont and decided to make their main residence in Utah,<ref name="nyt-noquit">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/magazine/mitt-isnt-ready-to-call-it-quits-just-yet.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930185319/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/magazine/mitt-isnt-ready-to-call-it-quits-just-yet.html |archive-date=September 30, 2014 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2020 |title=Mitt Isn't Ready to Call It Quits|first=Mark|last=Leibovich|magazine=] Magazine|date=September 30, 2014}}</ref> switching their voter registration.<ref name="slt-vreg">{{cite news|url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/58481404-90/address-driver-lake-license.html.csp |access-date=February 6, 2020 |title=Despite voter-registration snafu Mitt Romney not shunning GOP |first=Thomas|last=Burr|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> The 2014 documentary film '']'' showed a behind-the-scenes, family-based perspective on both of Romney's presidential campaigns and received positive reviews for humanizing Romney and illustrating the toll campaigning takes.<ref name="nyt-noquit"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-netflix-documentary-review-2014-1 |title=The New Mitt Romney Documentary Is Fantastic, and It Exposes the Fundamental Flaw in a Lot of Campaigns|first=Brett|last=Logiurato |work=] |date=January 25, 2014 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref><ref name="bg-2016-run">{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2014/02/15/some-mitt-romney-supporters-suggesting-consider-running-for-president/1v0HwrHNm9fQgEI1YlIc3J/story.html |access-date=February 6, 2020 |title=No, no, not again, Mitt Romney says|first=Matt|last=Viser|newspaper=]|date=February 15, 2014}}</ref> | |||
| Romney thought he might be branded a "loser for life" and fade into an obscurity like his fellow former Massachusetts governor ]<ref name="nyt-noquit"/> (a similar figure with no obvious base of political support who had lost what his party considered a winnable presidential election)<ref name="db-cb">{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/mitt-romney-hes-back |title=Mitt Romney on the 2016 Comeback Trail |first=Eleanor |last=Clift |work=] |date=February 7, 2014 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> but, to the surprise of many political observers, that did not happen.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://theweek.com/articles/444110/amazing-resurrection-mitt-romney |title=The amazing resurrection of Mitt Romney |first=Ryu |last=Spaeth |magazine=] |date=August 29, 2014 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> Romney reemerged onto the political scene in the run-up to the ], endorsing, campaigning, and fundraising for a number of Republican candidates, especially ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Costa|first=Robert|title=Mitt Romney returns to political stage as Republicans prepare for midterms|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-returns-to-political-stage-as-republicans-prepare-for-midterms/2014/04/18/551c4b22-c634-11e3-bf7a-be01a9b69cf1_story.html|newspaper=]|date=April 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cant-quit-mitt-friends-say-romney-feels-nudge-to-consider-a-2016-presidential-run/2014/10/13/2cb19d12-52ee-11e4-892e-602188e70e9c_story.html |access-date=February 6, 2020 |title=Can't quit Mitt: Friends say Romney feels nudge to consider a 2016 presidential run |first1=Philip |last1=Rucker |first2=Robert |last2=Costa |author-link2=Robert Costa (journalist)|newspaper=] |date=October 13, 2014}}</ref> | |||
| Romney was treated for ] in summer 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/01/08/mitt-romney-was-treated-successfully-for-prostate-cancer/|title=Mitt Romney was 'treated successfully' for prostate cancer|first=Philip|last=Rucker|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=January 9, 2018|via=WashingtonPost.com}}</ref> | |||
| ===2016 presidential election=== | |||
| {{external media|width=210px|float=right|headerimage=] | |||
| |video1=, 17:49, see 2;40–10:00, ]<ref name="pbs1">{{cite news |first=Judy |last=Woodruff |title=Romney reappears to lead GOP charge against 'phony' Trump|publisher=]|date=March 3, 2016 |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/romney-reappears-to-lead-gop-charge-against-phony-trump/|access-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref> | |||
| |video2=, 43:25, see 7:50–10:00, ] | |||
| }} | |||
| By early 2014, the lack of a clear mainstream Republican candidate for the ] led some supporters, donors, and pollsters to suggest that Romney stage a third run.<ref name="bg-2016-run"/> Regarding such a possibility, Romney at first refused.<ref name="bg-2016-run"/> Nevertheless, speculation continued: Obama's declining popularity led to remorse among some voters; the ] made Romney's "number one geopolitical foe" remark look prescient; and an August 2014 poll of Iowa Republicans showed Romney with a large lead there over other potential 2016 candidates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-redux-is-the-media-chorus-for-another-mitt-campaign-just-a-fantasy |title=Romney Redux: Is the media chorus for another Mitt campaign just a fantasy? |first=Howard |last=Kurtz |author-link=Howard Kurtz |work=] |date=September 3, 2014 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> A July 2014 CNN poll showed Romney with a 53% to 44% lead over Obama in a hypothetical election "redo".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/449247/americans-really-wish-elected-mitt-romney-instead-obama |first=Jon |last=Terbush |title=Americans really wish they had elected Mitt Romney instead of Obama |publisher=Theweek.com |date=July 27, 2014 |access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Noah |last=Rothman |url=https://hotair.com/archives/noah-rothman/2014/07/27/if-voters-had-it-to-do-over-romney-in-a-landslide/ |title=If voters had it to do over, Romney in a landslide |work=] |date=July 27, 2014 |access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref> | |||
| By early 2015, Romney was considering the idea and contacting his network of supporters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/romney-tells-donors-he-is-considering-2016-white-house-bid-1420839312 |title=Romney Tells Donors He Is Considering 2016 White House Bid|first1=Patrick|last1=O'Connor|first2=Beth|last2=Reinhard|newspaper=]|date=January 9, 2015}}</ref><ref name="wapo-3-2016">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-moves-to-reassemble-campaign-apparatus-for-2016/2015/01/12/d968592e-9a88-11e4-96cc-e858eba91ced_story.html |title=Romney moves to reassemble campaign team for 'almost certain' 2016 bid|first1=Robert|last1=Costa|first2=Philip|last2=Rucker|first3=Karen|last3=Tumulty|newspaper=]|date=January 12, 2015}}</ref> In doing so he was positioning himself in the ] – the preliminary jockeying for the backing of party leaders, donors, and political operatives – against former Florida governor ], who had already set a likely campaign in motion and would be a rival to Romney for establishment Republican support.<ref name="wapo-3-2016" /><ref name="NYT4915">{{cite news|first=Nate |last=Cohn|title=The G.O.P. Presidential Field Looks Chaotic. It's Not|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/upshot/-2015-04-10-2016-elections-upshot-the-gop-presidential-field-looks-chaotic-its-nothtml.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409192806/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/upshot/-2015-04-10-2016-elections-upshot-the-gop-presidential-field-looks-chaotic-its-nothtml.html |archive-date=April 9, 2015 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=] |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> Despite support in some quarters for a third bid for the presidency, there was a backlash from conservatives who wanted a fresher face without a history of presidential losses,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/mitt-romney-backlash-2016-elections-114275 |title=Mitt Romney backlash intensifies |first=Katie |last=Glueck |newspaper=]|date=January 15, 2015 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> and many of Romney's past donors were not willing to commit to him again.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/31/us/mitt-romney-2016-presidential-election.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130170120/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/31/us/mitt-romney-2016-presidential-election.html |archive-date=January 30, 2015 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Support Waning, Romney Decides Against 2016 Bid |first1=Ashley |last1=Parker |first2=Jonathan |last2=Martin |newspaper=] |date=January 30, 2015 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> On January 30, 2015, Romney announced that he would not run for president in 2016, saying that while he thought he could win the nomination, "one of our next generation of Republican leaders" would be better positioned to win the general election.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-announces-he-will-not-run-for-president-in-2016/|title=Romney announces he will not run for president in 2016 |work=] |date=January 30, 2015|access-date=January 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130153813/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/01/30/2016-scramble-former-romney-backers-strategist-shifting-to-bush/ |first=Serafin |last=Gomez |archive-date=January 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/01/30/text-of-romneys-statement-on-decision-not-to-run-in-2016/ |access-date=February 6, 2020 |title=Text of Romney's Statement on Decision Not to Run in 2016 |newspaper=] |date=January 30, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| ===Relationship with Donald Trump=== | |||
| As the presidential election went into primary season, Romney had not endorsed anyone but was one of the Republican establishment figures who were becoming increasingly concerned about the front-runner status of New York businessman ].<ref name="nyt-desperate">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227143425/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party.html |archive-date=February 27, 2016 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |first1=Alexander |last1=Burns |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author-link2=Maggie Haberman |first3=Jonathan |last3=Martin |title=Inside the Republican Party's Desperate Mission to Stop Donald Trump |newspaper=] |date=February 27, 2016}}</ref> Romney publicly criticized Trump for not releasing his taxes, saying there might be a "bombshell" in them.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-stands-by-trump-tax-criticism-though-offers-no-proof |title=Romney stands by Trump tax criticism, though offers no proof |first=Kelly |last=Vlahos |publisher=]|date=February 25, 2016}}</ref> Trump responded by calling Romney "one of the dumbest and worst candidates in the history of Republican politics".<ref name="nyt-desperate" /> In a ] speech at the ], Romney made a scathing attack on Trump's personal behavior, business performance, and domestic and foreign policy stances. He called him a "con man" who relied on ] loans<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-03-03 |title=Transcript of Mitt Romney's Speech on Donald Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/04/us/politics/mitt-romney-speech.html |access-date=August 10, 2024 |work=The New York Times }}</ref> and "a phony, a fraud", adding: "He's playing members of the American public for suckers. If we Republicans choose Donald Trump as our nominee, the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mitt-romney-frying-donald-trump-163100449.html|title=Mitt Romney fried Donald Trump in an epic speech|agency=]|publisher=]|date=March 3, 2016|first=Allan|last=Smith|access-date=February 6, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Romneyslam">{{cite news|last1=O'Keefe|first1=Ed|title=Mitt Romney slams 'phony' Trump: He's playing 'the American public for suckers'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/03/mitt-romney-trump-is-a-phony-a-fraud-who-is-playing-the-american-public-for-suckers/|newspaper=]|date=March 3, 2016|access-date=February 6, 2020}}</ref> In response, Trump called Romney a "choke artist".<ref name="Romneyslam" /> Romney's speech represented an unprecedented attack by a major U.S. party's most recent presidential nominee against the party's current front-runner for the nomination.<ref name="Romneyslam" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/04/politics/donald-trump-mitt-romney-republican-party/ |title=GOP at war with itself |first=Stephen |last=Collinson |work=]|date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Benen |author-link=Steve Benen |url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/mitt-romney-picks-side-sort |title=Mitt Romney picks a side (sort of)|website=]|access-date=March 28, 2016 |date=March 21, 2016}}</ref> | |||
| ] ] during a White House listening session on the youth vaping and electronic cigarette epidemic in 2019.]] | |||
| Romney encouraged Republicans to engage in ], by supporting whichever of the remaining rivals had the best chance to beat Trump in any given state.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-idUKKCN0W50FF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105612/http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-idUKKCN0W50FF |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=Republican Romney calls Trump 'a fraud,' creates pathway to contested convention |first=Steve |last=Holland |work=]|date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> As such, Romney announced he was voting for, although not endorsing, ] for president in the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/18/politics/mitt-romney-ted-cruz-utah/ |title=Mitt Romney to vote for Ted Cruz in Utah |first=Theodore |last=Schleifer |work=]|date=March 19, 2016}}</ref> As the race went on, there was some evidence that tactical voting was occurring, and some partial arrangements were formed among candidates,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/4255838/donald-trump-marco-rubio-john-kasich/ |access-date=February 7, 2020 |title=Marco Rubio Says Ohio Should Vote Kasich to Stop Trump|first=Alex|last=Altman|magazine=]|date=March 11, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/04/25/475607754/the-cruz-kasich-deal-will-their-alliance-against-trump-work |access-date=February 7, 2020 |title=The Cruz-Kasich Deal: Will Their Alliance Against Trump Work? |first=Scott |last=Detrow |work=] |date=April 25, 2016}}</ref> but by May 3, Trump had defeated all his opponents and became the party's presumptive nominee. Romney announced that he would not support Trump in the general election, saying, "I am dismayed at where we are now. I wish we had better choices."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/mitt-romney-donald-trump-222881 |title=Romney says he won't back Trump |first=Hanna |last=Trudo |work=] |date=May 6, 2016 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> | |||
| In June, Romney said that he would not vote for Democratic nominee ], saying: "It's a matter of personal conscience. I can't vote for either of those two people." He suggested that he might vote for a third-party candidate, or ] his wife's name, saying she would be "an ideal president". When pressed on which of Trump and Clinton was more qualified to be president, Romney quoted ]: "Hillary Clinton is wrong on every issue, but she's wrong within the normal parameters."<ref name="consciencewont">{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/mitt-romney-my-conscience-wont-allow-me-to-vote-for-donald-trump-or-hillary-clinton/489473/|title=Mitt Romney: My Conscience Won't Allow Me to Vote for Trump or Clinton|author=Conor Friedersdorf|publisher=]|date=June 29, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016}}</ref> | |||
| Romney considered voting for the Libertarian ticket of former Republican governors ] and ] (the latter, like Romney, also a former governor of Massachusetts), saying that he would "get to know Gary Johnson better and see if he's someone who I could end up voting for", adding that "if Bill Weld were at the top of the ticket, it would be very easy for me to vote for Bill Weld for president."<ref name=trickledown/> In September, he called for Johnson to be included in the ]<ref name=trickledown>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/10/politics/mitt-romney-donald-trump-racism/ |title=Mitt Romney says Donald Trump will change America with 'trickle-down racism'|first=Theodore |last=Schleifer |work=]|date=June 11, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016}}</ref> and in October it emerged that Independent candidate ] was using an email list of 2.5 million Romney supporters to raise money.<ref name="evanusing">{{cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2016/10/3/20597461/independent-presidential-candidate-evan-mcmullin-using-mitt-romney-email-list-to-raise-money |title=Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin using Mitt Romney email list to raise money |first=Lisa Riley |last=Roche |work=]|date=October 3, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016}}</ref> McMullin's chief strategist said that it was purchased from Romney for President and that "we'll let other folks discuss what that may mean and certainly never speak for ."<ref name="evanusing" /> A spokeswoman for Romney said that the list had been "rented by several political candidates in the presidential primary, and by countless other political and commercial users in the time since the 2012 campaign"<ref name="evanusing" /> and Romney made no public comment on McMullin's candidacy.<ref name="romneycast">{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-has-cast-his-ballot-but-hasnt-revealed-whom-he-voted-for-2016-11 |title=Mitt Romney has cast his ballot – but hasn't revealed whom he voted for|author=Mark Abadi|publisher=] UK|date=November 2, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016}}</ref> Romney and his wife cast early ballots in Utah, but he declined to say who he voted for.<ref name="romneycast" /> In May 2018, Romney revealed that he had cast a write-in vote for his wife Ann.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900020076/mitt-romney-reveals-his-2016-presidential-vote.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531190819/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900020076/mitt-romney-reveals-his-2016-presidential-vote.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 31, 2018|title=Mitt Romney reveals his 2016 presidential vote|author=Dennis Romboy|publisher=]|date=May 30, 2018|access-date=February 24, 2019}}</ref> | |||
| After Trump won the election, Romney congratulated him by phone and on Twitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2016/11/13/mitt-romney-called-to-congratulate-donald-trump-on-his-election-night-win|title=Mitt Romney called to congratulate Donald Trump on his election night win|author=Nik DeCosta-Klipa|publisher=Boston.com|date=November 13, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016}}</ref> On November 19, Romney met with him at the ] in ], reportedly to discuss the position of ],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-romney-meet-for-far-reaching-conversation-after-lobbing-shots-during-campaign |title=Trump meets with Romney, secretary of state job to potentially be discussed|date=November 19, 2016|newspaper=]|language=en-US|access-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/us/politics/donald-trump-mitt-romney-secretary-state.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120001231/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/us/politics/donald-trump-mitt-romney-secretary-state.html |archive-date=November 20, 2016 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=February 7, 2020 |title=Trump Meets with Romney as He Starts to Look Outside His Inner Circle |newspaper=] |date=November 19, 2016 |author1=Michael S. Schmidt |author2=Julie Hirschfeld|author1-link=Michael S. Schmidt }}</ref> which ultimately went to ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/12/us/politics/rex-tillerson-secretary-of-state-trump.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213033742/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/12/us/politics/rex-tillerson-secretary-of-state-trump.html |archive-date=December 13, 2016 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Rex Tillerson, Exxon C.E.O., Chosen as Secretary of State|author1=Michael D. Shear |author2=Maggie Haberman|work=]|date=December 12, 2016|access-date=January 2, 2017}}</ref> In February 2017, Romney said that Trump was "off to a very strong start" in fulfilling his campaign promises, although he had "no regrets" about his anti-Trump speech.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chasmar|first1=Jessica|title=Mitt Romney: Donald Trump 'off to a very strong start' |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/6/mitt-romney-trump-off-to-a-very-strong-start/ |access-date=February 6, 2017|work=The Washington Times|date=February 6, 2017}}</ref> The next year, Trump endorsed Romney's 2018 senate campaign.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Watkins|first1=Eli|title=Trump endorses Mitt Romney for Senate|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/19/politics/mitt-romney-donald-trump-utah/index.html|access-date=February 20, 2018|work=]|date=February 19, 2018}}</ref> | |||
| ===2018 United States Senate campaign in Utah=== | |||
| {{Main|2018 United States Senate election in Utah}} | |||
| ]]] | |||
| September and October 2017 press reports said that should U.S. Senator ] retire, Romney would run for that seat in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2017/09/11/poll-mitt-romney-would-handily-win-utahs-senate-seat-if-hatch-doesnt-run/ |title=Mitt Romney is considering a Senate run if Orrin Hatch retires, and a new poll shows he'd likely win – The Salt Lake Tribune |publisher=Sltrib.com |date=March 15, 2013 |access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/10/hatch-romney/544211/ |title=Orrin Hatch Tells Friends He Plans to Retire |publisher=] |date=October 27, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> On January 2, 2018, after Hatch announced that he would retire, Romney changed his Twitter location from Massachusetts to ], contributing to speculation that he was considering a Senate campaign.<ref>{{cite news|title=Romney Changes Location on Twitter as Utah Senate Seat Opens|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-02/romney-changes-location-on-twitter-as-utah-senate-seat-opens|author=Kapur, Sahil|date=January 2, 2018|publisher=]|access-date=January 2, 2018}}</ref> On February 16, 2018, Romney formally launched his campaign with a video message posted on Facebook and Twitter.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Reston|first1=Maeve|title=Romney announces US Senate run|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/16/politics/mitt-romney-senate-utah/index.html|website=]|date=February 16, 2018 |access-date=February 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/02/16/mitt-romney-officially-running-u-s-senate/344415002/|title=Mitt Romney is officially running for U.S. Senate|author=Rossman, Sean|work=]|date=December 11, 2019|access-date=September 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2018/02/16/mitt-romney-former-presidential-nominee-announces-his-bid-for-utahs-us-senate-seat/|title=Mitt Romney outlines policies to cap his first day of campaigning for Utah's soon-to-be-open U.S. Senate seat|website=The Salt Lake Tribune}}</ref> | |||
| At the state Republican nominating convention held on April 21, 2018, Romney received 1,585 delegate votes (49.1%), finishing second to ] ], with 1,642 delegate votes (50.9%). Since neither Romney nor Kennedy garnered the 60% of delegate votes necessary to claim the endorsement, they competed in a June 26 primary election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/21/politics/romney-utah-gop-convention/index.html|title=Mitt Romney fails to secure Utah GOP nomination, will face primary|last=Reston|first=Maeve|website=]|date=April 21, 2018|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> In the primary, Romney defeated Kennedy, 71.7–28.3%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/26/us/elections/results-utah-primary-elections-ul.html|title=Utah Primary Election Results|work=]|date=June 26, 2018|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> | |||
| Romney was ] U.S. Senator from Utah on November 6, defeating Democratic nominee ], 62.6% to 30.9%.<ref>{{Citation|last=Romboy|first=Dennis|title=What can Utah, U.S. expect from Mitt Romney in the Senate?|newspaper=]|date=November 7, 2018|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900040899/what-can-utah-us-expect-from-mitt-romney-in-the-senate.html|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108012133/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900040899/what-can-utah-us-expect-from-mitt-romney-in-the-senate.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| With his election, Romney became the third person to have served as governor of one state and senator from another state.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2017/09/14/mitt-romney-prepares-for-unusual-us-senate-bid/|title=Mitt Romney Prepares for Unusual US Senate Bid {{!}} Smart Politics|website=editions.lib.umn.edu|language=en-CA|access-date=April 1, 2018|date=September 14, 2017}}</ref> (The other two were ], who served as a ] and then the first ], and ], who was the sixth ] before becoming a ].)<ref name=":0" /> | |||
| ==U.S. Senate (2019–2025)== | |||
| ===Tenure=== | |||
| ] ] to discuss COVID-19 relief in February 2021.]] | |||
| Shortly before assuming office, Romney wrote a '']'' editorial strongly criticizing Trump's character.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46734423|title=Trump caused worldwide dismay – Romney|date=January 2, 2019|work=]|access-date=January 2, 2019}}</ref> ], Romney's niece and the chair of the ], called his comments "disappointing and unproductive", while Trump wrote that he "ould much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/423477-rnc-chair-slams-her-uncle-mitt-romney-for-trump-criticism/|last=Wise|first=Justin|title=RNC chair slams her uncle Mitt Romney for Trump criticism|date=January 2, 2019|work=]|access-date=January 2, 2019}}</ref> By November 9, 2019, Romney was just one of three Republican senators, along with ] of Maine and ] of Alaska, who declined to co-sponsor a resolution opposing the impeachment inquiry process into Trump.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/467842-murkowski-collins-say-they-wont-co-sponsor-grahams-impeachment-resolution/|title=Murkowski, Collins say they won't co-sponsor Graham's impeachment resolution|last=Carney|first=Jordain|date=October 28, 2019|website=]|language=en|access-date=November 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/only-3-senate-republicans-aren-t-defending-trump-impeachment-inquiry-n1078906|title=Only 3 Senate Republicans aren't defending Trump from the impeachment inquiry. Here's why.|website=]|last=Edelman|first=Adam|date=November 9, 2019|language=en|access-date=November 10, 2019}}</ref> He was one of two Republicans (with Collins) who joined all Democrats voting to allow impeachment witnesses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/31/murkowski-to-vote-against-calling-witnesses-in-impeachment-trial-109997|title=Republicans defeat Democratic bid to hear witnesses in Trump trial|website=]|date=January 31, 2020 |language=en|access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> | |||
| Romney condemned the ], saying: "As we celebrate the miracle of Easter, we hold in our hearts the victims of the senseless violence in Sri Lanka and their loved ones."<ref>{{cite news |title=Utah faith, political leaders mourn deadly toll in Sri Lankan bombings |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900066934/utah-faith-political-leaders-mourn-deadly-toll-in-sri-lankan-bombings.html |work=] |author=Knox, Annie |date=April 21, 2019 |access-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425103317/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900066934/utah-faith-political-leaders-mourn-deadly-toll-in-sri-lankan-bombings.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
| After many called for Representative ] to step down after being investigated by the ], Romney confronted Santos during President Biden's ], saying he "shouldn't be in Congress".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64572021|title=Romney to Santos: 'You don't belong here'|website=]|date=February 8, 2023 |language=en|access-date=February 8, 2023}}</ref> | |||
| ===={{anchor|Pierre Delecto}}Social media==== | |||
| In the October 2019 issue of '']'', Romney revealed that he used a secret Twitter account to keep tabs on political conversation there, saying, "What do they call me, a ]?"<ref name="Coppins">{{cite news |last=Coppins |first=Mckay |author-link=McKay Coppins|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/10/mitt-romney-middle-impeachment-fight/600373/ |title=The Liberation of Mitt Romney |work=] |date=October 20, 2019 |access-date=October 21, 2019 }}</ref> Shortly thereafter, ] found a Twitter account with the name Pierre Delecto. The account was registered in July 2011, followed about 700 people, and had eight followers at the time it was discovered. It had tweeted 10 times, always in reply to other tweets. The next day, Romney confirmed ownership of the account.<ref>{{cite news |last=Feinberg |first=Ashley|author-link=Ashley Feinberg |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/10/mitt-romney-has-a-secret-twitter-account-and-it-sure-looks-like-its-this-one.html|title=This Sure Looks Like Mitt Romney's Secret Twitter Account (Update: It Is) |work=] |date=October 20, 2019 |access-date=October 21, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Domenico |last=Montanaro |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/10/21/771873287/mitt-romney-pierre-delecto-and-the-strategy-of-anonymously-criticizing-trump |title=Mitt Romney, 'Pierre Delecto' and the Strategy of Anonymously Criticizing Trump |date=October 21, 2019 |publisher=]|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> | |||
| ====First impeachment of Donald Trump (2019–2020)==== | |||
| ] | |||
| On February 5, 2020, after Romney read a prepared text on the Senate floor decrying "corrupting an election to keep oneself in office" as "perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one's oath of office that I can imagine",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/with-his-vote-to-convict-trump-on-abuse-of-power-romney-will-break-with-his-party--and-awaits-the-consequences/2020/02/05/a76dce74-4841-11ea-ab15-b5df3261b710_story.html|title=Romney to vote to convict Trump on impeachment charge of abuse of power, becoming the first Republican to break ranks|last=Balz|first=Dan|newspaper=]|date=February 5, 2020|access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/02/romney-impeach-trump/606127/|title=How Mitt Romney Decided Trump Is Guilty|last=Coppins|first=McKay|author-link=McKay Coppins|website=]|date=February 5, 2020|access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref> he broke ranks with the Republican majority as the sole Republican senator to vote to convict Trump in his ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/us/politics/impeachment-vote.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205161013/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/us/politics/impeachment-vote.html |archive-date=February 5, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Trump Impeachment Trial |work=] |date=February 5, 2020}}</ref> thereby becoming, according to press reports, the first U.S. senator in ] to vote to convict a president of the same political party.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/us/politics/trump-acquitted-impeachment.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205214033/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/us/politics/trump-acquitted-impeachment.html |archive-date=February 5, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title = Trump Acquitted of Two Impeachment Charges in Near Party-Line Vote|newspaper = The New York Times|date = February 5, 2020|last1 = Fandos|first1 = Nicholas}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-expected-to-vote-to-acquit-trump-on-impeachment-11580908525 |title = Senate Acquits Trump on Both Impeachment Articles|work=]|first1=Rebecca|first2=Natalie|last1=Ballhaus|last2=Andrews|date=February 5, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/05/senate-impeachment-trial-mitt-romney-votes-remove-president-trump/4669734002/|title='Appalling abuse': Sen. Mitt Romney votes to convict President Trump on abuse of power charge|first1=Ledyard|first2=Maureen|first3=Nicholas|last1=King|last2=Groppe|last3=Wu|website=]}}</ref> | |||
| Fallout from the vote included Romney's being formally censured by various Republican organizations outside of Utah; in comparison, anger against Romney among Republicans within Utah was more muted, and his impeachment vote, according to opinion polling, was supported by Utah Democrats.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Romboy|first=Dennis|date=February 11, 2020|title=New poll shows most Utahns pleased with Mitt Romney's vote, but 60% of GOP has negative reaction|url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/2/11/21133232/mitt-romney-donald-trump-mitt-impeachment-split-deseret-news-hinckley-poll-convict-divided|access-date=June 4, 2020|website=]|language=en}}</ref> Jason Perry, director of the ]'s ], said, "Democrats in Utah were more excited about Mitt Romney's vote than Republicans were disappointed."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Can a Republican take on Trump and survive? Mitt Romney is proving it's possible.|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/can-a-republican-take-on-trump-and-survive-mitt-romney-is-proving-it-s-possible/ar-BB105SAq|access-date=June 4, 2020|website=www.msn.com}}</ref> ] ran various ads thanking Romney.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Martin|date=February 7, 2020|title=New ad campaign by GOP group: Thank you, Romney|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/481997-new-campaign-by-gop-group-thank-you-sen-romney/|access-date=June 4, 2020|website=]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article240206057.html|title='We stand with Mitt.' Crowdfunded Utah billboard backs Romney's Trump impeachment vote|author=Gilmour, Jared|website=McClatchyDC|date=February 11, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Forgie|first=Adam|date=February 11, 2020|title='We Stand with Mitt': Student Republicans of Utah crowdfund billboard|url=https://kutv.com/news/local/we-stand-with-mitt-student-republicans-of-utah-crowdfund-billboard|access-date=June 4, 2020|website=KUTV}}</ref> | |||
| ==== March with Black Lives Matter ==== | |||
| On June 7, 2020, in response to the ] and the ] against police brutality, Romney became the first Republican senator to participate in a protest alongside ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitt-romney-marches-black-lives-matter-protest-washington-dc/|title= Mitt Romney marches with Black Lives Matter protesters, becoming first GOP senator to join them|author=Brito, Cristopher|date=June 8, 2020|website= ]|access-date= June 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/06/08/president-trump-mocks/|title= President Trump mocks Utah Sen. Mitt Romney for marching with Black Lives Matter protesters|website= ]|access-date= June 8, 2020}}</ref> He said, "We need many voices against racism and against brutality, and we need to make sure that people understand that Black Lives Matter."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/mitt-romney-black-lives-matter/612808/|title= Why Romney Marched|author=Coppins, McKay|author-link=McKay Coppins|date=June 8, 2020|website= ]|access-date= June 8, 2020}}</ref> This act drew praise and admiration from the left and right, with some Republicans questioning why other congressional Republicans were not showing support for the movement. On Twitter, Senator ] praised Romney's actions, saying, "We need more of this."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/mitt-romney-black-lives-matter-march-washington|title= 'Black Lives Matter,' Tweets Mitt Romney as He Joins a Protest March in Washington|author=Emmrich, Stuart|date=June 8, 2020|website= ]|access-date= June 8, 2020}}</ref> Trump mocked Romney, saying, "Tremendous sincerity, what a guy. Hard to believe, with this kind of political talent, his numbers would 'tank' so badly in Utah!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-trump-mitt-romney-george-floyd-protest-20200608-4xw6rxvtibaefmqge4a23uomhm-story.html|title= Trump sarcastically cheers 'what a guy' Mitt Romney for joining George Floyd protest march|author=Goldiner, Dave|date=June 8, 2020|website= ]|access-date= June 8, 2020}}</ref> | |||
| ====2020 presidential election==== | |||
| {{Main|2020 United States presidential election}} | |||
| Romney did not endorse Trump's ] and told reporters that he did not vote for him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/21/politics/mitt-romney-trump-vote/index.html|title= Mitt Romney says he did not vote for Trump in the 2020 election|author=Raju, Manu|author2=LeBlanc, Paul|author-link=Manu Raju|date=June 8, 2020|website= ]|access-date= October 21, 2020}}</ref> In a '']'' op-ed, Romney wrote that Trump "has not risen to the mantle of the office".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/01/us/politics/romney-trump-oped.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102043353/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/01/us/politics/romney-trump-oped.html |archive-date=January 2, 2019 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= Mitt Romney Says Trump 'Has Not Risen to the Mantle of the Office'|author=Mervosh, Sarah|date=January 1, 2019|website= ]|access-date= October 21, 2020}}</ref> After the victory of ] and his running mate, Kamala Harris, Romney was the first Republican senator to extend his congratulations to them.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=MittRomney |number=1325142815354064896 |date = November 7, 2020|title=Ann and I extend our congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. We know both of them as people of good will and admirable character. We pray that God may bless them in the days and years ahead.}}</ref> | |||
| ====2021 U.S. Capitol attack==== | |||
| {{Main|January 6 United States Capitol attack}} | |||
| ].]] | |||
| On the morning of January 5, 2021, Romney was heckled and harassed at ] on his way to ], to certify ] in the Senate. Cellphone footage of the incident showed Trump supporters accusing Romney of not supporting Trump's baseless claims of election fraud, and chanting "Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!" as Romney boarded his flight.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trump supporters accost Mitt Romney on a plane and call him a 'traitor' for refusing to back the president's efforts to overturn the election |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-supporters-accost-romney-airport-plane-fraud-claims-video-2021-1 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-01-06/romney-heckled-in-airport-in-another-show-of-gop-divisions|title= Romney Heckled in Airport in Another Show of GOP Divisions|website=]|access-date= January 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/01/romney-harass-heckle-airport-salt-lake-city-flight-electoral-college-certification.html|title= Trump Supporters Heckle Mitt Romney on Flight to D.C. for Electoral College Certification|website= Slate.com|access-date= January 8, 2021}}</ref> | |||
| On the morning of January 6, protesters assembled at the ] on ], where Trump, ], ], and several members of Congress addressed the crowd fueling the conspiracy theories about election fraud.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/seeks-prevent-certification-election-trump-plans-attend-dc/story?id=75042176 | title=As he seeks to prevent certification of election, Trump plans to attend DC rally | publisher=ABA News | first1=Katherine| last1=Faulders|first2=John |last2=Santucci | date=January 5, 2021 | access-date=January 7, 2021 | archive-date=January 7, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107164258/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/seeks-prevent-certification-election-trump-plans-attend-dc/story?id=75042176 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/photos-trump-rallies-crowds-of-supporters-in-nations-capital/2531368/ | title=Trump Supporters Gather, President Incites Chaos in DC | publisher=NBC | first=Anisa |last=Holmes | date=January 6, 2021 | access-date=January 7, 2021 | archive-date=January 7, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107164256/https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/photos-trump-rallies-crowds-of-supporters-in-nations-capital/2531368/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>President ], {{YouTube|tRKRW-4Dt3s|ABC News Prime: Call for Trump's removal, Capitol Hill security failure, Global reaction to riots}}, ], January 8, 2021, minutes 10:55–11:06.</ref> Trump said, "We will never give up, we will never concede. You don't concede when there's theft", and encouraged his supporters to "fight like hell" to "take back our country" and to march to the Capitol.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/jan/06/georgia-election-latest-news-senate-ossoff-warnock-democrats-republicans-trump-biden |title=Schumer calls pro-Trump mob 'domestic terrorists' as Senate resumes election certification – live |last1=McCarthy |first1=Tom |last2=Ho |first2=Vivian |last3=Greve |first3=Joan E.|date=January 7, 2021 |work=]|access-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106230506/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/jan/06/georgia-election-latest-news-senate-ossoff-warnock-democrats-republicans-trump-biden|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that day, while the Senate was in session certifying the ] within the ], hundreds of Trump supporters violently ], where they looted senators' offices and broke into the ]. Police evacuated the senators and ] to an undisclosed area. As they were evacuating Romney, he yelled at ] and other Republican congressmen, "This is what you've gotten, guys!"<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/01/trump-supporters-storm-the-us-capitol-washington-dc|title= Trump supporters storm the US Capitol|magazine=]|access-date= January 7, 2021}}</ref> According to '']'' reporter ], Romney told him with "fury in his voice", "{{em|This}} is what the president has caused today, this insurrection!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/532955-romney-trump-caused-this-insurrection/|title= Romney: Trump caused 'this insurrection'|website=]|access-date= January 7, 2021}}</ref> Romney fully rebuked Trump and condemned the actions of the attackers. Later that night, when Congress had reconvened, Romney said on the Senate floor: | |||
| {{blockquote|We gather today due to a selfish man's injured pride and the outrage of his supporters whom he has deliberately misinformed for the past two months and stirred to action this very morning{{nbsp}}... Those who choose to continue to support his dangerous gambit by objecting to the results of a legitimate, democratic election will forever be seen as being complicit in an unprecedented attack against our democracy{{nbsp}}... They will be remembered for their role in this shameful episode in American history. That will be their legacy…The best way we can show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the ''truth''! That is the burden, and the duty, of leadership. The truth is that President-elect Biden won the election. President Trump lost. I've had that experience myself. It's no fun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/mitt-romney-rips-pro-trump-insurrection-condemns-colleagues-attempts-overturn-election-1559518|title= Mitt Romney Rips Pro-Trump 'Insurrection,' Condemns Colleagues' Attempts to Overturn Election|website=]|access-date= January 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/01/07/mitt-romney-riot-violence-reaction-capitol-certification-sot-vpx.cnn|title= Sen. Romney: This was 'an insurrection incited by the President'|website=]|access-date= January 7, 2020}}</ref>}}On February 10, 2021, new video was released during ] that showed capitol police officer ] saving Romney from running into the Capitol rioters.<ref>{{cite news |last=McLeod |first=Paul |date=February 10, 2021 |title=New Impeachment Video Shows Officer Eugene Goodman Saving Mitt Romney From Running Into Capitol Rioters |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/impeachment-video-eugene-goodman-mitt-romney-pence |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> During a break in the hearing, Romney said, "It was very troubling seeing the great violence the capitol police were subjected to. It tears at your heart and brings tears to your eyes. It was overwhelmingly distressing and emotional." Romney also said he didn't know how close he was and didn't know it had been Goodman who diverted him away from the rioters, but that he looked forward to thanking Goodman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Live: Day 2 of the Second Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVJnqRvCj90 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211005226/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVJnqRvCj90 |archive-date=February 11, 2021 |access-date=February 10, 2021 |website=]}}</ref> | |||
| On May 27, 2021, along with five other Republicans and all present Democrats, Romney voted to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 attack. The vote failed for lack of 60 required "yes" votes.<ref>, '']'', Chris Marquette, May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> | |||
| ====Second impeachment of Donald Trump (2021)==== | |||
| {{main|Second impeachment of Donald Trump}} | |||
| On January 13, 2021, the House voted to ] for incitement of insurrection.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fandos|first1=Nicholas|author-link=Nicholas Fandos|title=Trump Impeached for Inciting Insurrection|website=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/us/politics/trump-impeached.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/us/politics/trump-impeached.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited|access-date=January 29, 2021|date=January 13, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On January 26, Republican senator ] of ] introduced a motion to dismiss the impeachment charge. The objection was defeated on a 55–45 vote; Romney was one of the five Republicans to vote against it, along with ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|first=Nicholas|last=Fandos|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/26/us/biden-trump-impeachment#impeachment-charge-senate|title=Republicans vote en masse against trying Trump, signaling he is likely to be acquitted of the impeachment charge|work=]|date=January 26, 2021|access-date=January 29, 2021}}</ref> | |||
| On February 13, 2021, Romney and five other Republican senators voted to allow other witnesses in the impeachment trial. Republican senator and Trump ally ], who was "visibly upset", got in a heated exchange with Romney for his vote, saying, "We never should've had this impeachment trial."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/johnson-romney-impeachment-witnesses-468991|title='Blame you': Johnson and Romney get heated after vote for impeachment witnesses|website=]|first=Ben|last=Leonard|date=February 13, 2021| access-date= February 13, 2021}}</ref> Later that day Romney voted to convict Trump for the second time along with six of his Republican colleagues. The final vote was 57 to convict and 43 to acquit. He wrote a statement that read in part: | |||
| {{blockquote|President Trump attempted to corrupt the election by pressuring the ] to falsify the election results in his state. President Trump incited the ] by using the power of his office to summon his supporters to Washington on January 6th and urging them to march on the Capitol during the counting of electoral votes. He did this despite the obvious and well known threats of violence that day. President Trump also violated his oath of office by failing to protect the ], the ], and others in the Capitol. Each and every one of these conclusions compels me to support conviction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romney.senate.gov/romney-statement-impeachment-vote|title= Romney Statement on Impeachment Vote|website=romney.senate.gov|date= February 13, 2021|access-date= February 13, 2021}}</ref>}} | |||
| ===Committee assignments=== | |||
| ====Current==== | |||
| * ] | |||
| ** ] ''(Ranking Member)'' | |||
| ** Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation | |||
| ** ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ** ] | |||
| ** Subcommittee on Governmental Operations and Border Management | |||
| * ] (2021–present) | |||
| * ] | |||
| ** ] | |||
| ** ] | |||
| Source:<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Senate: Committee Assignments of the 117th Congress|url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htm#RomneyUT|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref> | |||
| ==Political positions== | ==Political positions== | ||
| {{ |
{{Further|Political positions of Mitt Romney}} | ||
| ] after the ].|alt=Romney and Obama shaking hands]] | |||
| {{conservatism US|politicians}} | |||
| In addition to calling for cuts in federal government spending to help reduce the national debt, Romney proposed measures intended to limit the growth of entitlement programs, such as introducing ]ing and gradually raising the eligibility ages for receipt of ] and ].<ref name="detroitecon">{{cite news|last=Jennings|first=Natalie|title=Mitt Romney speaks to Detroit Economic Club|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/mitt-romney-speaks-to-the-detroit-economic-club-live-video/2012/02/24/gIQAX5vxXR_blog.html|newspaper=]|date=February 24, 2012}}</ref> He supported substantial increases in military spending and promised to invest more heavily in military weapons programs while increasing the number of active-duty military personnel.<ref name="cnndefenspend">{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=Defense spending to spike $2.1 trillion under Romney|url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/05/10/news/economy/romney-defense-spending/ |work=]|date=May 10, 2012}}</ref><ref name="milspend">{{cite web|title=Romney to Legion: I will not cut defense|url=https://www.legion.org/news/211310/romney-legion-i-will-not-cut-defense |work=] |date=July 19, 2012 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> He was very supportive of the directions taken by ], though he later proposed his own budget plan.<ref>{{cite news|last=Burns|first=Alexander|title=Romney endorses Ryan budget|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/03/romney-endorses-ryan-budget-118079 |newspaper=] |date=March 20, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Landler|first=Mark|title=Budget author, a Romney ally, turns into campaign focus|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/us/politics/ryan-architect-of-gop-budget-in-election-focus.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405183234/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/us/politics/ryan-architect-of-gop-budget-in-election-focus.html |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=]|date=April 4, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Romney has identified himself as "pro-life" since 2005: having previously favored access to legalized abortion during his Massachusetts runs for the U.S. Senate and governorship, he now opposes access to abortion "except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/26/why_i_vetoed_contraception_bill/ | title=Why I vetoed contraception bill| date=July 26, 2005| newspaper=The Boston Globe | first=Mitt |last=Romney}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2007/09/romney_and_abortion.html|title=The Fact Checker: Romney and Abortion|date=September 21, 2007|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Glenn |last=Kessler}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Romney's cited exceptions regarding abortion are in line with his LDS upbringing.<ref name="nyt-bishop"/> He has also amended his position on ]: having once supported it broadly, he is now against ] of embryos for scientific research, insisting that "surplus embryos" from fertility treatments should be used instead.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/03/06/the_problem_with_the_stem_cell_bill/ | title=The problem with the stem cell bill | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=March 6, 2005 | first=Mitt |last=Romney }}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2007/02/11/romneys_stem_cell_view_may_upset_the_right/ | title=Romney's stem cell view may upset the right | author=Helman, Scott | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=February 11, 2007}}</ref>|group="nb"}} He has promised to nominate Supreme Court justices who would help overturn '']'', allowing states to individually decide on the legality of abortion.<ref>{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Ashley|title=Romney tries to reassure socially conservative audience|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/08/romney-tries-to-reassure-socially-conservative-audience/|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| Romney opposes both ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Barbaro|first=Michael|title=Romney reaffirms opposition to marriage, or civil unions, for gay couples|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/us/politics/romney-reaffirms-opposition-to-marriage-or-similar-for-gay-couples.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> He has signed a pledge promising to support the ], which defines marriage as "the union of one man and one woman."<ref>{{cite news|last=Montopoli|first=Brian|title=Mitt Romney pledges opposition to gay marriage|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20088274-503544.html|publisher=CBS News|date=August 4, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| Romney pledged to lead an effort to repeal the ] ("Obamacare") and replace it with a system that gives states more control over ] and makes health insurance premiums tax-advantaged for individuals in the same way they are for businesses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2012-mar-23-la-pn-romney-healthcare-anniversary-20120323-story.html |title=Romney vows to repeal and replace 'Obamacare' on law's anniversary|first=Alana |last=Semuels |newspaper=]|date=March 23, 2012}}</ref> He favored repeal of the ] and the ] and intended to replace them with what he called a "streamlined, modern regulatory framework".<ref>{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=JPMorgan and the politics of financial reform|url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/05/11/news/economy/politics-jpmorgan-regulation/ |publisher=]|date=May 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lerer|first=Lisa|title=Romney calls for caution on regulations after JPMorgan loss|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-16/romney-says-regulators-must-be-cautious-after-jp-morgan-loss.html|publisher=]|date=May 17, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Romney has called for cutting federal government spending to help reduce the national debt.<ref name=detroitecon>{{cite news|last=Jennings|first=Natalie|title=Mitt Romney speaks to Detroit Economic Club|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/mitt-romney-speaks-to-the-detroit-economic-club-live-video/2012/02/24/gIQAX5vxXR_blog.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 24, 2012}}</ref> He has proposed changes such as gradually raising the eligibility ages for receipt of ], ], and other entitlement programs benefits.<ref name=detroitecon/> He favors substantial increases in military spending, and has promised to invest more heavily in military weapons programs and to increase the number of active-duty military personnel.<ref name=cnndefenspend>{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=Defense spending to spike $2.1 trillion under Romney|url=http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/10/news/economy/romney-defense-spending/|publisher=]|date=May 10, 2012}}</ref><ref name=milspend>{{cite web|title=Romney to Legion: I will not cut defense|url=http://www.legion.org/news/211310/romney-legion-i-will-not-cut-defense|publisher=]|date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> He has been a supporter of the directions of the federal ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Landler|first=Mark|title=Budget author, a Romney ally, turns into campaign focus|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/us/politics/ryan-architect-of-gop-budget-in-election-focus.html?pagewanted=all|newspaper=New York Times|date=April 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79622.html | title=Mitt Romney hugs Paul Ryan, but not budget | first=Alexander | last=Burns | newspaper=Politico | date=August 11, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| He also promised to seek income tax law changes that he said would help to lower federal deficits and would stimulate economic growth. These included reducing individual income tax rates across the board by 20%, maintaining the ] of 15% on investment income from ]s and ]s (and eliminating this tax entirely for those with annual incomes less than $200,000), cutting the top tax rate on corporations from 35% to 25%, and eliminating the ] and the ].<ref name="romneytaxplan">{{cite news|last=Romney|first=Mitt|title=Mitt Romney delivers remarks in Detroit, Michigan|url=http://www.mittromney.com/blogs/mitts-view/2012/02/mitt-romney-delivers-remarks-detroit-michigan|access-date=August 10, 2012|publisher=MittRomney.com|date=February 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224235218/http://mittromney.com/blogs/mitts-view/2012/02/mitt-romney-delivers-remarks-detroit-michigan|archive-date=February 24, 2012}}</ref><ref name="cnnmtaxcut">{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=Mitt Romney's plan to cut your taxes |url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/02/22/news/economy/romney_taxes/index.htm |publisher=]|date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> He promised that the loss of government revenue from these tax cuts would be offset by closing loopholes and placing limits on tax deductions and credits available to taxpayers with the highest incomes,<ref name="cnnmtaxcut" /> but said that that aspect of the plan could not yet be evaluated because details would have to be worked out with Congress.<ref>{{cite news|last=Easley|first=Jonathan|title=Romney says his tax plan 'can't be scored' because it lacks details|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/108001-romney-says-his-tax-plan-cant-be-scored-because-it-lacks-details/ |newspaper=]|date=March 7, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309213220/http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/801-economy/214647-romney-says-his-tax-plan-cant-be-scored-because-it-lacks-details|archive-date=March 9, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Romney supported the Bush administration's ] ("Wall Street bailout") in response to the ], which he has said prevented the U.S. financial system from completely collapsing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Memoli|first=Michael A.|title=Romney: It was Bush, not Obama, who averted second Depression|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-romney-bush-tarp-defense-20120321,0,7867877.story|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mitt Romney changes position on TARP, DNC says|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/nov/30/democratic-national-committee/mitt-romney-changes-position-tarp-dnc/|publisher=PolitiFact.com|date=November 28, 2011}}</ref> During the ], he opposed a bailout of the American automotive industry in the form of direct government loans, and argued instead that struggling automobile companies should be restructured through managed bankruptcy then seek private-sector loans backed by government loan guarantees.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mitt Romney |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html |title=Let Detroit Go Bankrupt |work=] | date=November 18, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| ]'s ] nominee ]]] | |||
| Romney opposed the use of ] on ] to deal with global warming.<ref name="cbs-shifting" /> He stated that he believed climate change is occurring, but that he did not know how much of it could be linked to human activity.<ref name="cbs-shifting" /> He was a proponent of increased domestic oil drilling, ] ("fracking"), building more nuclear power plants, and reducing the regulatory authority of the ].<ref name="romenergy">{{cite news|last1=Mufson|first1=Steven|last2=Eilperin|first2=Juliet|title=Romney energy plan shows candidate's changing views, draws questions on job claims|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/romney-energy-plan-shows-changing-views-draws-questions-about-job-claims/2012/06/08/gJQAnPANOV_story_2.html|newspaper=]|date=June 8, 2012}}</ref><ref name="njfrack">{{cite news|last=Huisenga|first=Sarah|title=Romney goes after Obama on fracking|url-status=dead|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/romney-goes-after-obama-on-fracking-20120405|newspaper=National Journal|date=April 5, 2012|access-date=August 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730094816/http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/romney-goes-after-obama-on-fracking-20120405|archive-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> He believed ] could be achieved by 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/123382-romneys-campaign-seeks-energy-jolt-ahead-of-tampa-gop-convention/ |title=Romney's campaign seeks energy jolt ahead of Tampa GOP convention|newspaper=]|date=August 25, 2012|first=Ben|last=Geman}}</ref> | |||
| Romney called Russia America's "number one geopolitical foe",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/mitt-romney-says-russia-no-1-geopolitical-foe-214249733--abc-news.html|title=Mitt Romney Says Russia Is No. 1 Geopolitical Foe|first=Emily|last=Friedman|work=]|date=March 26, 2012}}</ref> a position many ridiculed him for,<ref name="mediaite.com"/> including former secretary of state ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/election2012/madeleine-albright-dismisses-romney-s-foreign-policy-speech-as-light-on-ideas|title=Madeleine Albright Dismisses Romney's Foreign Policy Speech As Light On Ideas|date=October 8, 2012|website=Talking Points Memo|first=Evan|last=McMorris-Santoro}}</ref> who later publicly apologized to him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/mitt-romney-russia-putin-madeleine-albright-1344831|title=Madeleine Albright apologizes to Mitt Romney for underestimating Putin: "We forget we're dealing with a KGB agent"|date=February 26, 2019|website=]|first=Cristina|last=Maza}}</ref> He has asserted that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capability should be America's "highest national security priority".<ref>{{cite news|first=Joshua |last=Mitnik|title=Romney's Israel speech: Iran will be 'highest national security priority'|newspaper=]|date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> Romney stated his strong support for Israel.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ayhan |last=Simsek |url=https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-watching-us-elections-closely/a-16341914 |title=Turkey watching US elections closely|publisher=]|date=October 30, 2012}}</ref> He planned to formally label China a ] and take associated counteractions unless China changed its trade practices.<ref name="ontheissues.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Mitt_Romney.htm |title=Mitt Romney on the Issues |publisher=Ontheissues.org |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Romney supported the ],<ref name="Patrio">{{cite news|last=Lorentzen|first=Amy|title=Romney backs interrogation, Patriot Act|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2007-07-20-3000222386_x.htm|newspaper=]|date=July 20, 2007}}</ref> the continued operation of the ], and use of ] against suspected terrorists.<ref name="Patrio" /> He described same-sex marriage as a "state issue" while running for Senate in 1994 and opposed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2007/oct/05/romneys-nuances-gay-issues/ |first1=Miranda |last1=Blue |first2=Ryan |last2=Kelly |title=Romney's nuances on gay issues |work=]|access-date=May 22, 2018 |date=October 5, 2007 }}</ref> Romney opposed ] and ]s, but favored domestic partnership legislation that gives certain legal rights to same-sex couples, such as hospital visitation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barbaro|first=Michael|title=Romney reaffirms opposition to marriage, or civil unions, for gay couples|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/us/politics/romney-reaffirms-opposition-to-marriage-or-similar-for-gay-couples.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510010928/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/us/politics/romney-reaffirms-opposition-to-marriage-or-similar-for-gay-couples.html |archive-date=May 10, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=]|date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> In 2011, he signed a pledge promising to seek passage of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.<ref>{{cite news|last=Montopoli|first=Brian|title=Mitt Romney pledges opposition to gay marriage|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitt-romney-pledges-opposition-to-gay-marriage/ |url-status=live |work=] |date=August 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923122857/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20088274-503544.html |archive-date=September 23, 2011}}</ref> In 2022, Romney reversed his previous position on federal marriage, and was one of 12 Republicans voting to advance legislation to codify same-sex marriage into federal law by voting for the ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Trish |title=Historic same-sex marriage bill advances in Senate |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-poised-pass-historic-sex-interracial-marriage-bill/story?id=93293889 |access-date=November 18, 2022 |website=] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LeVine |first=Marianne |title=Same-sex marriage protections clear critical Senate hurdle |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/16/same-sex-marriage-bill-senate-gop-support-00067104 |access-date=November 18, 2022 |website=]|date=November 16, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| Romney pledges to lead an effort to repeal the ] ("Obamacare") and replace it with a system that give states more control over ] and makes health insurance premiums tax-advantaged for individuals in the same way they are for businesses.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/23/news/la-pn-romney-healthcare-anniversary-20120323 | title=Romney vows to repeal and replace 'Obamacare' on law's anniversary | first=Alana |last=Semuels |newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=March 23, 2012}}</ref> He wants to see a repeal of the ], which was passed in response to the financial crisis, and the ], which was enacted to prevent ] such as had occurred ], with plans to eventually replace them with a "streamlined, modern regulatory framework".<ref>{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=JPMorgan and the politics of financial reform|url=http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/11/news/economy/politics-jpmorgan-regulation/|publisher=CNN Money|date=May 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lerer|first=Lisa|title=Romney calls for caution on regulations after JPMorgan loss|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-16/romney-says-regulators-must-be-cautious-after-jp-morgan-loss.html|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=May 17, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ] with Israeli President ] in Tel Aviv during the ] on October 15, 2023]] | |||
| Romney has said he would seek income tax law reforms that he says would help lower federal deficits and would stimulate economic growth. Among the series of tax changes he has proposed are: reducing individual income tax rates across the board by 20 percent, maintaining the ] of 15 percent on investment income from ] and ] (and eliminating this tax entirely for those with annual incomes less than $200,000), cutting the top tax rate on corporations from 35 to 25 percent, and eliminating the ] and the ].<ref name=romneytaxplan>{{cite news|last=Romney|first=Mitt|title=Mitt Romney delivers remarks in Detroit, Michigan|url=http://www.mittromney.com/blogs/mitts-view/2012/02/mitt-romney-delivers-remarks-detroit-michigan|accessdate=August 10, 2012|publisher=MittRomney.com|date=February 24, 2012}}</ref><ref name=cnnmtaxcut>{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=Mitt Romney's plan to cut your taxes|url=http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/22/news/economy/romney_taxes/index.htm|publisher=CNN Money|date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> He has promised that the loss of government revenue from these tax cuts would be offset by closing loopholes and reining in tax deductions and credits available to taxpayers with the highest incomes, so that his tax plan would not raise federal deficits,<ref name=cnnmtaxcut/> but has said that aspect of the plan cannot be evaluated yet due to lack of specific details.<ref>{{cite news|last=Easley|first=Jonathan|title=Romney says his tax plan 'can't be scored' because it lacks details|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/801-economy/214647-romney-says-his-tax-plan-cant-be-scored-because-it-lacks-details|newspaper=The Hill|date=March 7, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Since 2005, Romney has described himself as "pro-life".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2007/09/romney_and_abortion.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724074907/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2007/09/romney_and_abortion.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 24, 2012 |title=The Fact Checker: Romney and Abortion|date=September 21, 2007|newspaper=]|first=Glenn |last=Kessler}}</ref> That year, he wrote: "I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/26/why_i_vetoed_contraception_bill/ |title=Why I vetoed contraception bill|date=July 26, 2005|newspaper=]|first=Mitt |last=Romney}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Romney's cited exceptions regarding abortion are in line with those of the LDS Church,<ref name="nyt-bishop" /> which allows it in cases of rape, incest, when the mother's health is seriously threatened, or when the fetus cannot survive past birth.<ref name="vf-excerpt" /> When Romney was a bishop in the 1980s, there was a case where a woman in his congregation with four children was advised by her doctor to terminate her pregnancy because she had a potentially life-threatening blood clot. Romney strongly advised her not to, but she did anyway.<ref name="vf-excerpt" /><ref name="nyt-bishop" />|name="nb-abor"|group="nb"}}{{#tag:ref|Romney also amended his position on ]: having once supported it broadly, he changed to being against ] of embryos for scientific research, insisting that "surplus embryos" from fertility treatments should be used instead.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/03/06/the_problem_with_the_stem_cell_bill/|title=The problem with the stem cell bill|newspaper=]|date=March 6, 2005|first=Mitt |last=Romney |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318032053/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/03/06/the_problem_with_the_stem_cell_bill/|archive-date=March 18, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2007/02/11/romneys_stem_cell_view_may_upset_the_right/|title=Romney's stem cell view may upset the right|author=Helman, Scott|newspaper=]|date=February 11, 2007}}</ref>|name="nb-stem"|group="nb"}} During his 1994 Senate campaign, Romney had said, "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country", a stance he reiterated during his 2002 campaign for governor.<ref name="cbs-a-views"/><ref name="ft">{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/79246dac-1284-11e2-b9fd-00144feabdc0 |url-status=live |title=Romney says abortion law not on his agenda |newspaper=] |first=Stephanie |last=Kirchgaessner|date=October 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012035527/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/79246dac-1284-11e2-b9fd-00144feabdc0.html|archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> While Romney would prefer to see passage of a constitutional amendment that would outlaw abortion, he did not believe the public would support such an amendment;<ref>{{cite news|last=Rowland|first=Darrel|title=Romney wants states to repeal abortion|url=http://dispatchpolitics.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2012/10/12-october-2012---abortion.html|newspaper=]|date=October 11, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121142711/http://dispatchpolitics.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2012/10/12-october-2012---abortion.html|archive-date=January 21, 2013}}</ref> as an alternative, he promised to nominate Supreme Court justices who would help overturn '']'', allowing each state to decide on the legality of abortion.<ref name="judges">{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Ashley|title=Romney tries to reassure socially conservative audience|url=https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/08/romney-tries-to-reassure-socially-conservative-audience/ |newspaper=]|date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> His earlier ] stance in particular and support for some gay rights and gun restrictions as governor of Massachusetts earned him the criticism of some conservatives; the conservative magazine '']'' labeled him one of the top ten ] in 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://humanevents.com/2005/12/27/top-10-rinos-republicans-in-name-only/ |title=Top 10 RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) |work=Human Events|access-date=May 29, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529203052/http://humanevents.com/2005/12/27/top-10-rinos-republicans-in-name-only/|archive-date=May 29, 2018|url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| Romney said he would appoint federal judges in the mold of ] justices ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Camia |first=Catalina |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2012/10/01/obama-romney-supreme-court-vacancy/1606025/ |title=Who would Romney appoint to Supreme Court? |newspaper=] |date=October 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name="huck-video">{{cite video |url=https://video.foxnews.com/v/1308577783001 |title=Romney Weighs in on Top Campaign Issues |publisher=] |date=December 4, 2011 |time=7:34}}</ref> He advocated ] and ] as judicial philosophies.<ref name="huck-video" /><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Neill |first=Tyler |url=http://nation.foxnews.com/pro-life/2012/07/03/obamacare-ruling-energizes-pro-life-movement |title=Obamacare Ruling Energizes Pro-Life Movement |publisher=] |date=July 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123113118/http://nation.foxnews.com/pro-life/2012/07/03/obamacare-ruling-energizes-pro-life-movement%23ixzz28qLoUlIe |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| Romney opposes mandatory carbon caps known as ] to deal with greenhouse gas emissions.<ref name="cbs-shifting"/> After previously saying human activity is contributing to ], he now says that it is unknown.<ref name="cbs-shifting"/> He favors increased domestic oil drilling, ] ("fracking"), and nuclear plant construction, and he would seek to reduce the regulatory authority of the ].<ref name=romenergy>{{cite news|last=Mufson|first=Steven|last2=Eilperin|first2=Juliet|title=Romney energy plan shows candidate's changing views, draws questions on job claims|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/romney-energy-plan-shows-changing-views-draws-questions-about-job-claims/2012/06/08/gJQAnPANOV_story_2.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 8, 2012}}</ref><ref name=njfrack>{{cite news|last=Huisenga|first=Sarah|title=Romney goes after Obama on fracking|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/romney-goes-after-obama-on-fracking-20120405|newspaper=National Journal|date=April 5, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Romney declared his support for the ] international human rights movement by attending the rally,<ref name="BoorsteinNatanson">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/06/07/romney-protest-black-lives-matter/|title=Mitt Romney, marching with evangelicals, becomes first GOP senator to join George Floyd protests in D.C.|first1=Michelle|last1=Boorstein|first2=Hannah|last2=Natanson|newspaper=]}}</ref> and then joining the ''Faith Works''<ref name="christianitytoday">{{Cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/june/mitt-romney-dc-march-thabiti-anyabwile-christians.html|title=Mitt Romney Joins Evangelical Racial Justice March in DC|first=Jack|last=Jenkins|website=Religion News Service|date=June 7, 2020 |via=christianity today}}</ref> march, on June 7, 2020,<ref name="andrewsolender">{{cite news|first=Andrew |last=Solender |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/06/07/mitt-romney-says-black-lives-matter-at-protest-against-police-violence/#32d791d409e8 |title=Mitt Romney Says 'Black Lives Matter' At Protest Against Police Violence|work=]|date=June 7, 2020}}</ref> from southeast Washington,<ref name="christianitytoday"/> past the ],<ref name="BoorsteinNatanson"/> and ],<ref name="BoorsteinNatanson"/> over the ].<ref name="andrewsolender"/><ref name="BoorsteinNatanson"/><ref name="christianitytoday"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/06/07/mitt-romney-marches-black/|title=Mitt Romney marches in Black Lives Matter protest in Washington |first1=Josh |date=June 7, 2020 |last1=Newman|website=Salt Lake Tribune}}</ref> | |||
| In his 2010 book, '']'', Romney writes of his belief in ].<ref name="time-no-rev"/> He has stated that Russia is America's "number one geopolitical foe",<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.yahoo.com/mitt-romney-says-russia-no-1-geopolitical-foe-214249733--abc-news.html | title=Mitt Romney Says Russia Is No. 1 Geopolitical Foe | first=Emily | last=Friedman | publisher=] | date=March 26, 2012}}</ref> and that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability should be America's "highest national security priority".<ref>{{cite news | first=Joshua |last=Mitnik | title=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2012/0729/Romney-s-Israel-speech-Iran-will-be-highest-national-security-priority | title=Romney's Israel speech: Iran will be 'highest national security priority' | newspaper=] | date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> He plans to label China a ] and take associated counteractions unless that country changes its trade practices.<ref name="ontheissues.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Mitt_Romney.htm |title=Mitt Romney on the Issues |publisher=Ontheissues.org |accessdate=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| Romney supports the ],<ref name=Patrio>{{cite news|last=Lorentzen|first=Amy|title=Romney backs interrogation, Patriot Act|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2007-07-20-3000222386_x.htm|newspaper=USA Today|date=July 20, 2007}}</ref> ] of suspected terrorists without trial,<ref>{{cite news|last=Palazzolo|first=Joe|title=Romney booed for support of indefinite detention|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/01/17/romney-booed-for-support-for-indefinite-detention/|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=January 17, 2012}}</ref> and use of ] for interrogation of suspected terrorists.<ref name=Patrio/> | |||
| In July 2020, Romney, along with ], was one of two Republican U.S. Senators who condemned Trump's decision to commute the sentence of ], which Romney described as "Unprecedented, historic corruption: an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/11/republicans-denounce-roger-stone-commutation-357259|title=Historic corruption': 2 Republican senators denounce Trump's commutation of Stone|first=Andrew|last= Desiderio|publisher=]|date=July 11, 2020|access-date=July 12, 2020}}</ref> | |||
| In September 2020, Romney said the Republicans' decision to ] and confirm ] as an ] before the ] was fair: "the circumstance where a nominee of a president is from a different party than the Senate then, more often than not, the Senate does not confirm. So the ] was consistent with that. On the other hand, when there's a nominee of a party that is in the same party as the Senate, then typically they do confirm."<ref>{{cite news |title=How Republicans Quickly Lined Up to Confirm a Supreme Court Nominee |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/09/how-republicans-quickly-lined-up-to-confirm-a-supreme-court-nominee/ |work=National Review |date=September 26, 2020 |access-date=September 27, 2020 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929003211/https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/09/how-republicans-quickly-lined-up-to-confirm-a-supreme-court-nominee/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sherman |first1=Jake |last2=Palmer |first2=Anna |last3=Ross |first3=Garrett |last4=Okun |first4=Eli |date=2020-09-22 |title=POLITICO Playbook PM: McConnell plows ahead |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-pm/2020/09/22/mcconnell-plows-ahead-490404 |access-date=January 4, 2025 |website=Politico |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250104180254/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-pm/2020/09/22/mcconnell-plows-ahead-490404?__cf_chl_rt_tk=FWGQDm7IypOPla3ADoNxhZKPqJt_BK.c3RacFq.Tr5g-1736013774-1.0.1.1-iL3XMTUQiyxDljU7xyRcE66s6qt_1WXxNP84yPZ07Pc |archive-date=January 4, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| In June 2024, Romney proposed a framework to mitigate the ] along with Senators ], ], and ]. Romney said he would like to see regulation that "would restrict the types of actions that could lead to existential, or health, or other serious consequences".<ref>{{Cite web |last=mshaw |date=2024-06-11 |title=Downplaying AI's existential risks is a fatal error, some say |url=https://rollcall.com/2024/06/11/downplaying-ais-existential-risks-is-a-fatal-error-some-say/ |access-date=June 23, 2024 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| On July 21, 2024, when President Biden ] out of the ], Romney posted a statement reading: "Others will judge his presidency. However, having worked with him these past few years, I respect President Biden. His decision to withdraw from the race was right and is in the best interest of the country." He added, "Ann and I send warm personal wishes to the President and First Lady."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maxfield |first=Dilan |date=2024-07-21 |title=Romney Statement on Biden Announcement |url=https://www.romney.senate.gov/romney-statement-on-biden-announcement/ |access-date=July 22, 2024 |website=Mitt Romney}}</ref> | |||
| == Electoral history == | |||
| ===U.S. senator from Massachusetts=== | |||
| {{hatnote|Note: percentages may not total 100% because of rounding.}} | |||
| {{Election box begin no change | |||
| | title=Massachusetts United States Senate Republican primary, 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/6091/|publisher=]|title=PD43+ >> 1994 U.S. Senate Republican Primary|access-date=July 23, 2018}}</ref>}} | |||
| {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | |||
| | party = Republican Party (United States) | |||
| | candidate = Mitt Romney | |||
| | votes = 188,280 | |||
| | percentage = 82.0% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link no change | |||
| | party = Republican Party (United States) | |||
| | candidate = ] | |||
| | votes = 40,898 | |||
| | percentage = 17.8% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box write-in with party link no change | |||
| | votes = 318 | |||
| | percentage = 0.1% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box total no change | |||
| | votes = 229,496 | |||
| | percentage = 100% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box end}} | |||
| {{Election box begin | |||
| | title=]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/6092/|publisher=]|title=PD43+ >> 1994 U.S. Senate General Election|access-date=July 23, 2018}}</ref>}} | |||
| {{Election box winning candidate with party link | |||
| | party = Democratic Party (United States) | |||
| | candidate = ] (]) | |||
| | votes = 1,266,011 | |||
| | percentage = 58.1% | |||
| | change = –6.9% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | |||
| | party = Republican Party (United States) | |||
| | candidate = Mitt Romney | |||
| | votes = 894,005 | |||
| | percentage = 41.0% | |||
| | change = +7.1% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | |||
| | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | |||
| | candidate = Lauraleigh Dozier | |||
| | votes = 14,484 | |||
| | percentage = 0.7% | |||
| | change = +0.2% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate | |||
| | party = LaRouche Was Right | |||
| | candidate = William A. Ferguson Jr. | |||
| | votes = 4,776 | |||
| | percentage = 0.2% | |||
| | change = +0.2% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box write-in with party link | |||
| | votes = 688 | |||
| | percentage = nil | |||
| | change = N/A | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box total | |||
| | votes = 2,179,964 | |||
| | percentage = 100% | |||
| | change = | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box hold with party link no swing | |||
| | winner = Democratic Party (United States) | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box end}} | |||
| === Governor of Massachusetts === | |||
| {{hatnote|Note: percentages may not total 100% because of rounding.}} | |||
| {{Election box begin | |||
| | title=]}} | |||
| {{Election box winning candidate with party link | |||
| |party = Republican Party (United States) | |||
| |candidate = Mitt Romney (]) | |||
| |votes = 1,091,988 | |||
| |percentage = 49.8% | |||
| |change = –1.0% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | |||
| |party = Democratic Party (United States) | |||
| |candidate = ] (]) | |||
| |votes = 985,981 | |||
| |percentage = 44.9% | |||
| |change = –2.4% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | |||
| |party = Green-Rainbow Party | |||
| |candidate = ] (Tony Lorenzen) | |||
| |votes = 76,530 | |||
| |percentage = 3.5% | |||
| |change = +3.5% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | |||
| |party = Libertarian Party (US) | |||
| |candidate = ] (Rich Aucoin) | |||
| |votes = 23,044 | |||
| |percentage = 1.1% | |||
| |change = –0.6% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | |||
| |party = Independent (politician) | |||
| |candidate = Barbara C. Johnson (Joe Schebel) | |||
| |votes = 15,335 | |||
| |percentage = 0.7% | |||
| |change = +0.7% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box write-in with party link | |||
| |votes = 1,301 | |||
| |percentage = 0.1% | |||
| |change = –0.1% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box total | |||
| |votes = 2,194,179 | |||
| |percentage = 100% | |||
| |change = +4.0% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate | |||
| |party = | |||
| |candidate = Blank | |||
| |votes = 6,122 | |||
| |percentage = | |||
| |change = | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box turnout | |||
| |votes = 2,220,301 | |||
| |percentage = | |||
| |change = | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box majority | |||
| |votes = 106,007 | |||
| |percentage = 4.8% | |||
| |change = | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box hold with party link | |||
| |winner = Republican Party (United States) | |||
| |swing = +1.4% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box end}} | |||
| ===2012 Republican nominee for President of the United States=== | |||
| {{hatnote|Note: percentages may not total 100% because of rounding.}} | |||
| {{Election box begin no change|title=]}} | |||
| {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=] / ] (])|votes=65,915,795|percentage=51.1%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Mitt Romney / ]|votes=60,933,504|percentage=47.2%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=] / ]|votes=1,275,971|percentage=1.0%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Green Party of the United States|candidate=] / ]|votes=469,627|percentage=0.4%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Constitution Party (United States)|candidate=] / James Clymer|votes=122,389|percentage=0.1%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Peace and Freedom Party|candidate=] / ]|votes=67,326|percentage=0.1%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Justice Party (United States)|candidate=] / ]|votes=43,018|percentage=nil}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=American Independent Party|candidate=] / J.D. Ellis|votes=40,628|percentage=nil}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Reform Party of the United States of America|candidate=] / Kenneth Cross|votes=956|percentage=nil}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=N/A|candidate=Other|votes=216,196|percentage=0.2%}}{{Election box total no change|votes=129,085,410|percentage=100%}}{{Election box hold with party link no swing|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}} | |||
| ===U.S. Senator from Utah=== | |||
| {{hatnote|Note: percentages may not total 100% because of rounding.}} | |||
| {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" | |||
| ! colspan="5" {{party shading/Republican}} | Utah State Republican Convention results, 2018 | |||
| |- style="background:#eee; text-align:center;" | |||
| ! scope="col" style="width: 12em" |Candidate | |||
| ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |First ballot | |||
| ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Pct. | |||
| ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Second ballot | |||
| ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Pct. | |||
| |- | |||
| ! scope="row" | '''{{sortname|Mike|Kennedy|dab=politician}}''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''1,354''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''40.7%''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''1,642''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''50.9%''' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| '''{{sortname|Mitt|Romney}}''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''1,539''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''46.2%''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''1,585''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''49.1%''' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| {{sortname|Loy|Brunson|nolink=1}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''4''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''0.1%''' | |||
| | colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| ''{{Sort|00|Eliminated}}'' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| {{sortname|Alicia|Colvin|nolink=1}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''29''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''0.9%''' | |||
| | colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| ''{{Sort|00|Eliminated}}'' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| {{sortname|Stoney|Fonua|nolink=1}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''7''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''0.2%''' | |||
| | colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| ''{{Sort|00|Eliminated}}'' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| {{sortname|Chris|Forbush|nolink=1}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''0''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''N/A''' | |||
| | colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| ''{{Sort|00|Eliminated}}'' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| {{sortname|Timothy|Jiminez|nolink=1}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''100''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''3.0%''' | |||
| | colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| ''{{Sort|00|Eliminated}}'' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| {{sortname|Joshua|Lee|nolink=1}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''2''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''0.1%''' | |||
| | colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| ''{{Sort|00|Eliminated}}'' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| {{sortname|Larry|Meyers|nolink=1}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''163''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''4.9%''' | |||
| | colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| ''{{Sort|00|Eliminated}}'' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| {{sortname|Gayle|Painter|nolink=1}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''0''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''N/A''' | |||
| | colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| ''{{Sort|00|Eliminated}}'' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| {{sortname|Samuel|Parker|nolink=1}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''122''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| '''3.7%''' | |||
| | colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| ''{{Sort|00|Eliminated}}'' | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope="row| '''Total''' | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| {{Sort|00|3,328}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| {{Sort|00|100%}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| {{Sort|00|3,227}} | |||
| | style="text-align:center;"| {{Sort|00|100%}} | |||
| |} | |||
| {{Election box begin no change | |||
| | title = Republican primary results, Utah 2018<ref name="primary election results">{{cite web|title=United States Senate primary election in Utah, 2018|url=https://elections.utah.gov/Media/Default/2018%20Election/2018%20Primary%20Election%20State%20Canvass.pdf|publisher=Office of the Utah Lieutenant Governor|access-date=June 6, 2019}}</ref>}} | |||
| {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | |||
| | candidate = Mitt Romney | |||
| | party = Republican Party (United States) | |||
| | votes = 240,021 | |||
| | percentage = 71.3% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link no change | |||
| | candidate = ] | |||
| | party = Republican Party (United States) | |||
| | votes = 96,771 | |||
| | percentage = 28.7% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box total no change | |||
| | votes = 336,792 | |||
| | percentage = 100% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box end}} | |||
| {{Election box begin | title=]<ref name="general election results">{{cite web|title=United States Senate general election in Utah, 2018|url=https://elections.utah.gov/Media/Default/2018%20Election/2018%20General%20Election%20Canvass.pdf|publisher=Office of the Utah Lieutenant Governor|access-date=June 6, 2019}}</ref>}} | |||
| {{Election box winning candidate with party link | |||
| | party = Republican Party (United States) | |||
| | candidate = Mitt Romney | |||
| | votes = 665,215 | |||
| | percentage = 62.6% | |||
| | change = –2.7% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | |||
| | party = Democratic Party (United States) | |||
| | candidate = ] | |||
| | votes = 328,541 | |||
| | percentage = 30.9% | |||
| | change = +0.9% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | |||
| | party = Constitution Party (United States) | |||
| | candidate = Tim Aalders | |||
| | votes = 28,774 | |||
| | percentage = 2.7% | |||
| | change = –0.5% | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | |||
| | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | |||
| | candidate = Craig Bowden | |||
| | votes = 27,607 | |||
| | percentage = 2.6% | |||
| | change = N/A | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | |||
| | party = Independent American Party | |||
| | candidate = Reed McCandless | |||
| | votes = 12,708 | |||
| | percentage = 1.2% | |||
| | change = N/A | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box write-in with party link | |||
| | votes = 52 | |||
| | percentage = nil | |||
| | change = N/A | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box total | |||
| | votes = 1,062,897 | |||
| | percentage = 100% | |||
| | change = N/A | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box hold with party link no swing | |||
| | winner = Republican Party (United States) | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Election box end}} | |||
| ==Awards and honors== | ==Awards and honors== | ||
| ===Honorary degrees=== | |||
| ] on behalf of ]]] | |||
| {| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;" | |||
| Romney has received five ], including one in Business from the ] in 1999,<ref>{{cite news |author=Egan, Dan | title=SLOC Boss Romney Will Give U. Commencement Address | date= April 9, 1999 |newspaper=] | page=B3}}</ref> in Law from ] in 2002,<ref>{{cite press release | url= http://newsroom.bentley.edu/press-release/mitt-romney-calls-bentley-college-graduates-be-american-heroes-0 | title=Mitt Romney Calls for Bentley College Graduates to 'Be American Heroes' | publisher=] | date=May 1, 2002}}</ref> in Public Administration from ] in 2004,<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.suffolk.edu/16089.html | title=Suffolk University to Award Eight Honorary Degrees | publisher=] | date=May 24, 2004}}</ref> in Public Service from ] in 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hillsdale.edu/images/userImages/cclawson/Page_4889/PC_News_Summer07.pdf |title=Commencement 2007 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=] |accessdate=June 9, 2011}}</ref> and in Humanities from ] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liberty.edu/news/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=55432|title=Commencement 2012: Paying tribute to Liberty’s heritage, God's blessings|last=Bible|first=Mitzi|date=May 12, 2012|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| ! style="width:10%;"| Date | |||
| ! style="width:20%;"| School | |||
| ! style="width:20%;"| Degree | |||
| |- | |||
| | '''1999''' || ] || Doctorate of Business<ref>{{cite news |author=Egan, Dan|title=SLOC Boss Romney Will Give U. Commencement Address|date=April 9, 1999 |newspaper=]|page=B3}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| | '''2002''' || ] || ]<ref>{{cite press release|url-status=dead|url=http://www.bentley.edu/newsroom/latest-headlines/mitt-romney-calls-bentley-college-graduates-be-american-heroes|title=Mitt Romney Calls for Bentley College Graduates to 'Be American Heroes'|publisher=]|date=May 1, 2002|access-date=September 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514064325/http://www.bentley.edu/newsroom/latest-headlines/mitt-romney-calls-bentley-college-graduates-be-american-heroes|archive-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| | '''2004''' || ] || ]<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.suffolk.edu/16089.html |title=Suffolk University to Award Eight Honorary Degrees |publisher=] |date=May 24, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128153246/http://suffolk.edu/16089.html |archive-date=November 28, 2010 }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| | '''2007''' || ] || Doctorate in Public Service<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hillsdale.edu/images/userImages/cclawson/Page_4889/PC_News_Summer07.pdf |title=Commencement 2007 |publisher=] |access-date=June 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528014331/http://www.hillsdale.edu/images/userImages/cclawson/Page_4889/PC_News_Summer07.pdf|archive-date=May 28, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| | '''2012''' || ] || ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liberty.edu/news/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=55432 |title=Commencement 2012: Paying tribute to Liberty's heritage, God's blessings|last=Bible|first=Mitzi|date=May 12, 2012|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| | '''2013''' || ] || Honorary Doctorate<ref>{{cite news|url=https://svu.edu/news/2013/mitt-romney-to-speak-at-commencement-april-27/|title=Mitt Romney to Speak at Commencement April 27|author=King, Hannah|publisher=Southern Virginia University|date=March 22, 2013|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083634/https://svu.edu/news/2013/mitt-romney-to-speak-at-commencement-april-27/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| | '''2015''' || ] || Honorary Doctorate<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-ap-mitt-romney-commencement-speech-jacksonville-university-20150425-story.html|title=Mitt Romney to Jacksonville University graduates: Get a life|author=Farrington, Brendan|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=April 25, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| | '''2015''' || ] || Doctorate of Business<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2015/5/1/20563875/mitt-romney-tells-uvu-grads-to-live-a-large-life |title=Mitt Romney tells UVU grads to 'live a large life'|last=Jacobsen |first=Morgan|newspaper=]|date=April 30, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| | '''2015''' || ] || Honorary Doctorate<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.anselm.edu/News/Mitt-Romney-Urges-Saint-Anselm-Graduates-to-Engage-in-Citizenship.htm|title=Mitt Romney Urges Graduates to Engage in Citizenship|author=Adams, Michelle|publisher=]|date=May 17, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905071346/http://www.anselm.edu/News/Mitt-Romney-Urges-Saint-Anselm-Graduates-to-Engage-in-Citizenship.htm|archive-date=September 5, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| |} | |||
| ===Non-academic awards and honors=== | |||
| '']'' magazine included him in its ] for 2002,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20137022,00.html | title=Mitt Romney: Politician | magazine=] | date=May 13, 2002}}</ref> and in 2004, he received the inaugural Truce Ideal Award for his role in the 2002 Winter Olympics.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/olympics/articles/2006/02/13/romney_looks_ahead_back_in_olympics_visit/?page=all | title=Romney looks ahead, back in Olympics visit | author=Pane, Lisa Marie | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=February 13, 2006}}</ref> The Cranbrook School gave him their Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005.<ref name="wapo-cran"/> In 2008 he shared with his wife Ann, the Canterbury Medal from ], for "refus to compromise their principles and faith" during the presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700224763,00.html | title= Romney honored for 'Defense of Religious Liberty' | author=Roche, Lisa Riley | newspaper=Deseret News | location=Salt Lake City | date=May 10, 2008}}</ref> In 2012 Romney was named to the ] list of the most influential people in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112000,00.html|title=The 100 Most Influential People in the World|last=Mayer|first=Marissa|date=April 18, 2012|publisher=''Time''}}</ref>{{Clear}} | |||
| ] on behalf of ]]] | |||
| '']'' magazine included Romney in its ] for 2002,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/archive/mitt-romney-politician-vol-57-no-18/ |access-date=February 7, 2020 |title=Mitt Romney: Politician|magazine=]|date=May 13, 2002}}</ref> and in 2004, a foundation that promotes the ] gave him its inaugural Truce Ideal Award.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/sports/other_sports/olympics/articles/2006/02/13/romney_looks_ahead_back_in_olympics_visit/ |access-date=February 7, 2020 |title=Romney looks ahead, back in Olympics visit|author=Pane, Lisa Marie|agency=]|newspaper=]|date=February 13, 2006}}</ref> The Cranbrook School gave him its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005.<ref name="wapo-cran" /> In 2008, he shared with his wife Ann the ] from ], for "refus to compromise their principles and faith" during the presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2008/5/10/20251627/romney-honored-for-defense-of-religious-liberty |title=Romney honored for 'Defense of Religious Liberty'|author=Roche, Lisa Riley|newspaper=]|location=Salt Lake City|date=May 10, 2008}}</ref> In 2012, '']'' magazine included Romney in their ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112000,00.html |title=The 100 Most Influential People in the World |last=Bain|first=Bill|date=April 18, 2012|magazine=]}}</ref> | |||
| ==Books== | |||
| In 2021, Romney received the ] for being the only member of his party to vote to convict Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-impeachments-mitt-romney-d77c4e352ce6fce8bd12079252edabff|title=Romney gets Profile in Courage Award for impeachment vote|date=April 20, 2021|website=]}}</ref> | |||
| In 2024, Romney received the annual Legislative Achievement Award from the National Emergency Management Association for his efforts in creating the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission in Utah.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LEGISLATIVE Awards |url=https://nemaweb.org/about/congressional-awards/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=National Emergency Management Association |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Waltz |first=Paige |date=2024-03-21 |title=Romney Receives National Emergency Management Association's Legislative Achievement Award |url=https://www.romney.senate.gov/senator-mitt-romney-r-ut-today-was-presented-with-the-national-emergency-management-associations-annual-legislative-achievement-award-in-recognition-of-his-efforts-in-enac/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Mitt Romney |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| ==Published works== | |||
| {{refbegin}} | {{refbegin}} | ||
| *{{Cite book| title= |
* {{Cite book| title=Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games | publisher=] | location=Washington |first1 = Mitt |last1=Romney |first2= Timothy |last2=Robinson|year = 2004 | isbn=978-0-89526-084-0| title-link=Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games }} | ||
| * {{Cite book| title= |
* {{Cite book| last=Romney| first=Mitt|title=No Apology: The Case for American Greatness | publisher=] | location=New York | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-312-60980-1| title-link=No Apology: The Case for American Greatness}} | ||
| {{refend}} | {{refend}} | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| {{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
| ==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
| {{ |
{{reflist|30em|group="nb"}} | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{ |
{{reflist}} | ||
| ==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
| {{refbegin|30em}} | {{refbegin|30em}} | ||
| * {{Cite book| |
* {{Cite book |last1=Balz |first1=Dan |author-link=Dan Balz |first2=Haynes |last2=Johnson |author-link2=Haynes Johnson |title=The Battle for America, 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election |publisher=] |location=New York |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-670-02111-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/battleforamerica00balz_0 }} | ||
| * {{Cite book |
* {{Cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |author-link=Michael Barone (pundit) |first2=Richard E. |last2=Cohen |author-link2=Richard E. Cohen |year=2004 |title=The Almanac of American Politics 2004 |publisher=] |location=Washington |isbn=978-0-89234-106-1 |type=paperback |title-link=The Almanac of American Politics }} | ||
| * {{Cite book |
* {{Cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |first2=Richard E. |last2=Cohen|year=2006 |title=The Almanac of American Politics 2006 |publisher=] |location=Washington |isbn=978-0-89234-111-5 |title-link=The Almanac of American Politics }} | ||
| * {{Cite book |
* {{Cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |first2=Richard E. |last2=Cohen |year=2008 |title=The Almanac of American Politics 2008 |publisher=] |location=Washington |isbn=978-0-89234-116-0 |type=paperback|title-link=The Almanac of American Politics }} | ||
| * {{Cite book|last=Canellos |first=Peter S. |
* {{Cite book |editor1-last=Canellos |editor1-first=Peter S. |editor2=The Team at ''The Boston Globe'' |year=2009 |title=The Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy |publisher=] |location=New York |isbn=978-1-4391-3817-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/lastlionfallrise00pete }} | ||
| * {{Cite book |
* {{Cite book |last=Clymer |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Clymer |year=1999 |title=Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography |publisher=] |location=New York |isbn=978-0-688-14285-8 |url=https://archive.org/details/edwardmkennedybi00clym_0 }} | ||
| * {{Cite book| |
* {{Cite book |last1=Heilemann |first1=John |author-link=John Heilemann |first2=Mark |last2=Halperin |author-link2=Mark Halperin |title=Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime |title-link=Game Change |publisher=] |location=New York |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-06-173363-5}} | ||
| * {{Cite book |
* {{Cite book |last=Hersh |first=Burton |year=1997 |title=The Shadow President: Ted Kennedy in Opposition |publisher=Steerforth Press |location=South Royalton, Vermont |isbn=978-1-883642-30-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/shadowpresidentt00hers }} | ||
| * {{Cite book| title=A Mormon in the White House?: 10 Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney | |
* {{Cite book |last=Hewitt |first=Hugh |author-link=Hugh Hewitt |title=A Mormon in the White House?: 10 Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney |publisher=] |location=Washington |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-59698-502-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/mormoninwhitehou00hewi }} | ||
| * {{ |
* {{Cite book |last1=Kranish |first1=Michael |author-link=Michael Kranish |first2=Scott |last2=Helman |title=The Real Romney |publisher=] |location=New York |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-06-212327-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/realromney00kran }} | ||
| * {{ |
* {{Cite book |last=Mahoney |first=Tom |title=The Story of George Romney: Builder, Salesman, Crusader |publisher=] |location=New York |year=1960 |oclc=236830 }} | ||
| * {{Cite book|title="A Long Time Coming": The Inspiring, Combative 2008 Campaign and the Historic Election of Barack Obama | |
* {{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Evan |author-link=Evan Thomas |year=2009 |title="A Long Time Coming": The Inspiring, Combative 2008 Campaign and the Historic Election of Barack Obama |url=https://archive.org/details/alongtimecominge00thom |url-access=registration |publisher=] |location=New York |isbn=978-1-58648-607-5 }} | ||
| {{refend}} | {{refend}} | ||
| ==Further reading== | ==Further reading and viewing== | ||
| {{ |
{{Refbegin|30em}} | ||
| * {{Cite book| |
* {{Cite book |last=Coppins |first=McKay |author-link=McKay Coppins |year=2023 |title=] |location=New York |publisher=Scribner |isbn=9781982196202 |oclc=1394141101}} | ||
| * {{ |
* {{Cite book |last=Foster |first=Craig |year=2008 |title=A Different God?: Mitt Romney, the Religious Right, and the Mormon Question |location=Draper, Utah |publisher=Greg Kofford Books |isbn=978-1-58958-117-3}} | ||
| * {{ |
* {{Cite book |last=Hines |first=Phillip |year=2012 |title=Mitt Romney in His Own Words |url=https://archive.org/details/mittromneyinhiso0000romn |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Threshold Editions |isbn=978-1-4516-8780-4}} | ||
| * {{Cite book| title=Mitt Romney: |
* {{Cite book |last=Scott |first=Ronald B. |year=2011 |title=Mitt Romney: An Inside Look at the Man and His Politics |url=https://archive.org/details/mittromneyinhiso0000romn |location=Guilford, Connecticut |publisher=Lyons Press |isbn=978-0-7627-7927-7}} | ||
| * {{Cite book |last1=Turner |first1=Lisa Ray |first2=Kimberly |last2=Field |year=2007 |title=Mitt Romney: The Man, His Values, and His Vision |location=Silverton, Idaho |publisher=Mapletree Publishing |isbn=978-1-60065-109-0}} | |||
| {{refend}} | |||
| * {{Cite video |last=Whiteley |first=Greg |year=2014 |title=] |publisher=] |type=documentary film}} | |||
| {{Refend}} | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * | |||
| {{Sister project links|Mitt Romney}} | |||
| * {{dash}} Official campaign site | |||
| <!-- Note: | |||
| * {{CongLinks | congbio=R000615 | votesmart=21942 | fec=S8UT00176 | congress=mitt-romney/R000615 }} | |||
| External links that are not incorporated into footnoted citations | |||
| * {{C-SPAN|37242}} | |||
| relevant to the article are subject to editing and removal from the article | |||
| * from ] | |||
| End Note --> | |||
| ;Official | |||
| * | |||
| ;Other | |||
| *{{CongLinks|votesmart=|washpo=Mitt_Romney|ontheissues=Mitt_Romney.htm|c-span=wromney|rose=460|imdb=1797713|nyt=r/mitt_romney|wsj=R/mitt-romney/6591|guardian=world/mittromney|worldcat=lccn-nr95-17857|nndb=373/000044241|fec=P80003353|opensecrets=N00000286|followthemoney=|findagrave=}} | |||
| *{{GovLinks | natgov = 6318224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD | followmoney = 3731 }} | |||
| * {{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Government/Elections/President/2008/Candidates/Romney,_Mitt}} | |||
| {{s-start}} | {{s-start}} | ||
| {{s-bus}} | {{s-bus}} | ||
| {{s-new|office}} | {{s-new|office}} | ||
| {{s-ttl|title= |
{{s-ttl|title=Chief Executive Officer of ]|years=1984–2002}} | ||
| {{s- |
{{s-non|reason=Position abolished}} | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| {{s-bef|rows=2|before=]}} | {{s-bef|rows=2|before=]}} | ||
| {{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Chief Executive Officer of ]|years=1991–1992}} | {{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Chief Executive Officer of ]|years=1991–1992}} | ||
| {{s-aft|after=]|as=Worldwide Managing Director}} | {{s-aft|after=]|as=Worldwide Managing Director of Bain and Company}} | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| {{s-aft|after=]|as= |
{{s-aft|after=]|as=Chair of Bain and Company}} | ||
| |- | |||
| {{s-sport}} | |||
| {{s-bef|before=]}} | |||
| {{s-ttl|title=]|years=]}} | |||
| {{s-aft|after=]}} | |||
| {{s-off}} | |||
| {{s-bef|before=]<br><small>Acting</small>}} | |||
| {{s-ttl|title=]| years=2003–2007}} | |||
| {{s-aft|after=]}} | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| {{s-ppo}} | {{s-ppo}} | ||
| {{s-bef|before=]}} | {{s-bef|before=]}} | ||
| {{s-ttl|title=] nominee for ]<br>(])|years=]}} | {{s-ttl|title=] nominee for ] from ]<br />(])|years=]}} | ||
| {{s-aft|after= |
{{s-aft|after=Jack Robinson}} | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| {{s-bef|before=]}} | {{s-bef|before=]}} | ||
| {{s-ttl|title=] nominee for ]|years=]}} | {{s-ttl|title=] nominee for ]|years=]}} | ||
| {{s-aft|after=]}} | {{s-aft|after=]}} | ||
| |- | |||
| {{s-bef|before=]}} | |||
| {{s-ttl|title=Chair of the ]|years=2005–2006}} | |||
| {{s-aft|after=]}} | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| {{s-bef|before=]}} | {{s-bef|before=]}} | ||
| {{s-ttl|title=] ] for ] |
{{s-ttl|title=] ] for ]|years=]}} | ||
| {{s- |
{{s-aft|after=]}} | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| {{s-bef|before=]}} | |||
| {{s-ttl|title=] nominee for ] from ]<br />(])|years=]}} | |||
| {{s-aft|after=]}} | |||
| |- | |||
| {{s-sport}} | |||
| {{s-bef|before=]}} | |||
| {{s-ttl|title=]|years=]}} | |||
| {{s-aft|after=]}} | |||
| |- | |||
| {{s-off}} | |||
| {{s-bef|before=]<br />{{small|Acting}}}} | |||
| {{s-ttl|title=]|years=2003–2007}} | |||
| {{s-aft|after=]}} | |||
| |- | |||
| {{s-par|us-sen}} | |||
| {{s-bef|before=]}} | |||
| {{s-ttl|title=]|years=2019–2025|alongside=]}} | |||
| {{s-aft|after=]}} | |||
| |- | |||
| {{s-prec|usa}} | |||
| {{s-bef|before=]|as=Former US Senator}} | |||
| {{s-ttl|title=]<br>''{{small|as Former US Senator }}''|years=}} | |||
| {{s-aft|after=]|as=Former US Senator}} | |||
| {{s-end}} | {{s-end}} | ||
| {{Mitt Romney}} | {{Mitt Romney}} | ||
| {{Navboxes | |||
| |title= Articles related to Mitt Romney | |||
| |list1= | |||
| {{Romney family |state=collapsed}} | |||
| {{USSenUT}} | |||
| {{Governors of Massachusetts}} | {{Governors of Massachusetts}} | ||
| {{Mitt Romney cabinet}} | |||
| {{Republican Party (United States)}} | {{Republican Party (United States)}} | ||
| {{Unsuccessful major party pres candidates}} | |||
| {{United States presidential election, 2008}} | |||
| {{United States presidential election |
{{2008 United States presidential election}} | ||
| {{2012 United States presidential election}} | |||
| {{Bain Capital}} | |||
| {{Persondata | |||
| |NAME=Romney, Willard Mitt | |||
| |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Romney, Mitt | |||
| |SHORT DESCRIPTION=American politician | |||
| |DATE OF BIRTH=March 12, 1947 | |||
| |PLACE OF BIRTH=Detroit, Michigan, United States | |||
| |DATE OF DEATH= | |||
| |PLACE OF DEATH= | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| {{USCongRep-start |congresses=116th–118th ] |state=]}} | |||
| {{USCongRep/UT/116}} | |||
| {{USCongRep/UT/117}} | |||
| {{USCongRep/UT/118}} | |||
| {{USCongRep-end}} | |||
| {{Subject bar |commons=yes |wikt=yes |n=yes |n-search=Category:Mitt Romney |q=yes |s=yes |s-search=Author:Willard Mitt Romney |b=yes |d=yes |d-search=Q4496}} | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| {{Featured article}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Romney, Mitt}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Romney, Mitt}} | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 18:25, 5 January 2025
American politician and businessman (born 1947) This article is about the American politician. For the football player who went by the same name, see Milton Romney. For the singer with a similar sounding name, see Ritt Momney.
| Mitt Romney | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from Utah | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Orrin Hatch |
| Succeeded by | John Curtis |
| 70th Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 2, 2003 – January 4, 2007 | |
| Lieutenant | Kerry Healey |
| Preceded by | Jane Swift (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Deval Patrick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Willard Mitt Romney (1947-03-12) March 12, 1947 (age 77) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (1993–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (before 1993) |
| Spouse |
Ann Davies (m. 1969) |
| Children | 5, including Tagg |
| Parent(s) | George W. Romney Lenore LaFount |
| Relatives | Romney family |
| Education | |
| Awards | List of honors and awards |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Senate website |
|
Romney's voice
Romney on objections to certifying the electoral results following the January 6 Capitol attack Recorded January 6, 2021 | |
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Governor of Massachusetts Presidential campaigns U.S. Senator from Utah
 |
||
.jpg)
Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American retired politician and businessman who was the 70th governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, the Republican Party's nominee for president of the United States in the 2012 election, and a United States senator from Utah from 2019 to 2025.
Mitt Romney is the son of George W. Romney, a former governor of Michigan. Raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Mitt spent over two years in France as a Mormon missionary. He married Ann Davies in 1969; they have five sons. Active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) throughout his adult life, Romney served as bishop of his ward and later as a stake president for an area covering Boston and many of its suburbs. By 1971, he had participated in the political campaigns of both his parents. In 1971, Romney graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Brigham Young University (BYU) and in 1975 he received a JD–MBA degree from Harvard. He became a management consultant and in 1977 joined Bain & Company in Boston. As Bain's chief executive officer (CEO), he helped lead the company out of a financial crisis. In 1984, he co-founded and led the spin-off company Bain Capital, a private equity investment firm that became one of the largest of its kind in the nation.
After stepping down from his positions at Bain Capital and in the LDS Church, Romney ran as the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts in 1994 and lost to the incumbent, Ted Kennedy. He then resumed his position at Bain Capital. Years later, a successful stint as president and CEO of the then-struggling Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics led to a relaunch of his political career. Elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002, Romney helped develop and later signed a health care reform law (commonly called "Romneycare") that provided near-universal health insurance access through state-level subsidies and individual mandates to purchase insurance. He also presided over the elimination of a projected $1.2–1.5 billion deficit through a combination of spending cuts, increased fees, and closing corporate tax loopholes. He did not seek reelection in 2006, instead focusing on his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2008 presidential election, which he lost to Senator John McCain. Romney ran for president again four years later and was the Republican nominee in the 2012 presidential election, becoming the first LDS Church member to be a major party's nominee. He lost the election to President Barack Obama. After reestablishing residency in Utah, Romney ran for U.S. Senate in 2018. When Romney won the Republican nomination and general election, he became the first person in modern American history to be elected governor and U.S. senator of different states.
Generally considered a moderate or more neoconservative Republican, Romney was the lone Republican to vote to convict Donald Trump in his first impeachment trial, making him the first senator ever to have voted to remove a president of the same party from office. Romney also voted to convict in Trump's second trial in 2021. He marched alongside Black Lives Matter protestors, voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, supported gun control measures, and did not vote for Trump in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. He has long been hawkish on issues such as Iran, China, and Russia, and is one of Israel's staunchest supporters in Congress. He has been accused by Trump loyalists of being a Republican In Name Only. In 2023, Romney announced he would not run for reelection in 2024 and would retire from the Senate when his term expired in 2025.
Early life and education
Heritage and youth
See also: Romney familyWillard Mitt Romney was born on March 12, 1947, at Harper University Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, one of four children born to automobile executive George W. Romney and former actress and homemaker Lenore Romney (née LaFount). His mother was a native of Logan, Utah, and his father was born to American parents in a Mormon colony in Chihuahua, Mexico. Of primarily English descent, he also has Scottish and German ancestry. A fifth-generation member of the LDS Church, he is a great-grandson of Miles Park Romney and a great-great-grandson of Miles Romney, who converted to Mormonism in its first decade. Another great-great-grandfather, Parley P. Pratt, helped lead the early church.
Romney has three older siblings: Margo, Jane, and Scott. Mitt was the youngest by nearly six years. His parents named him after a family friend, businessman J. Willard Marriott, and his father's cousin, Milton "Mitt" Romney, a former quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Romney was called "Billy" until kindergarten, when he expressed a preference for "Mitt". In 1953, the family moved from Detroit to the affluent suburb of Bloomfield Hills and his father became the chairman and CEO of American Motors the following year and helped the company avoid bankruptcy and return to profitability. By 1959, his father had become a nationally known figure in print and on television, and Mitt idolized him.
Romney attended public elementary schools until seventh grade, when he enrolled as one of only a few Mormon students at Cranbrook School, a private upscale boys' preparatory school a few miles from his home. Many students there came from backgrounds even more privileged than his. Not particularly athletic, he also did not distinguish himself academically. He participated in his father's successful 1962 Michigan gubernatorial campaign, and later worked as an intern in the governor's office. Romney took up residence at Cranbrook when his newly elected father began spending most of his time at the state capitol.
At Cranbrook, Romney helped manage the ice hockey team, and joined the pep squad. During his senior year, he joined the cross country running team. He belonged to 11 school organizations and school clubs, including the Blue Key Club, a booster group he had started. During his final year there, his academic record improved but fell short of excellence. Romney was involved in several pranks while attending Cranbrook. He has since apologized for them, stating that some of them may have gone too far. In March of his senior year, he began dating Ann Davies; she attended the private Kingswood School, Cranbrook's sister school. The two became informally engaged around the time he graduated from high school in June 1965.
College, France mission, marriage, and children
.jpg)
Romney attended Stanford University during the 1965–1966 academic year. He was not part of the counterculture of the 1960s then taking form in the San Francisco Bay Area. As opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War grew, a group staged a May 1966 sit-in at Stanford's administration building to demonstrate against draft status tests; Romney joined a counterprotest against that group. He continued to enjoy occasional pranks.
In July 1966, he began a 30-month stint in France as a Mormon missionary, a traditional rite of passage in his family. He arrived in Le Havre, where he shared cramped quarters under meager conditions. Rules against drinking, smoking, and dating were strictly enforced.
On average, individual Mormon missionaries do not gain many converts and Romney was no exception: he later estimated 10 to 20 for his entire mission. He initially became demoralized and later recalled it as the only time when "most of what I was trying to do was rejected."
Romney soon gained recognition within the mission for the many homes he called on and the repeat visits he was granted. He became a zone leader in Bordeaux in early 1968, and soon thereafter became an assistant to the mission president in Paris. While in Paris, Romney resided at the Mission Home for several months, and enjoyed a mansion far more comfortable than the accommodations he experienced elsewhere in the country.
When the French expressed opposition to the U.S. role in the Vietnam War, Romney debated them. Those who yelled at him and slammed their doors in his face merely reinforced his resolve.
Mitt's father George (pictured here in a 1968 poster) lost the Republican presidential nomination to Richard M. Nixon and later was appointed to the Nixon cabinet.
Mitt's mother Lenore, promoted here on a button, lost a Senate race in 1970. Mitt worked for her campaign.
In June 1968, while in southern France and driving an automobile that was hit by another vehicle, Romney was seriously injured. The crash killed one of his passengers, the wife of the mission president.
Romney then became co-president of a mission that had become demoralized and disorganized after the May 1968 general strike and student uprisings and the car accident. With Romney rallying the others, the mission met its goal of 200 baptisms for the year, the most in a decade. By the end of his stint in December 1968, he was overseeing the work of 175 others. As a result of his experience there, Romney developed a lifelong affection for France and its people, and has remained fluent in French.
At their first meeting following his return, Romney and Ann Davies reconnected and decided to get married. Before their wedding, Romney moved to Utah and enrolled at Brigham Young University, where Ann had been studying. They married on March 21, 1969, in a civil ceremony in Bloomfield Hills and the next day, they flew to Utah for a Mormon wedding ceremony at the Salt Lake Temple; Ann had converted to the faith while he was away.
Romney had missed much of the tumultuous anti-Vietnam War movement in America while in France. Upon his return, he was surprised to learn that his father had joined that movement during his unsuccessful 1968 presidential campaign. George was now serving in President Richard Nixon's cabinet as United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. In a June 1970 newspaper profile of children of cabinet members, Mitt said that U.S. involvement in the war had been misguided – "If it wasn't a political blunder to move into Vietnam, I don't know what is" – but supported Nixon's ongoing Cambodian Incursion as a sincere attempt to end the war. During the U.S. military draft for the Vietnam War, Romney sought and received two 2-S student deferments, then a 4-D ministerial deferment while living in France as a missionary. He later sought and received two additional student deferments. When those ran out, he drew number 300 in the December 1969 draft lottery, ensuring he would not be drafted.
At culturally conservative BYU, Romney remained separated from much of the upheaval of that era. He became president of the Cougar Club booster organization and showed a newfound discipline in his studies. During his senior year, he took a leave of absence to work as driver and advance man for his mother's unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign; together, they visited all 83 Michigan counties. Romney graduated from BYU in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a 3.97 GPA. He gave commencement addresses to both the College of Humanities and the whole of BYU.
The Romneys' first son, Taggart, was born in 1970 while they were undergraduates at BYU and living in a basement apartment. Their son Matthew was born in 1971 and Joshua in 1975. Benjamin (1978) and Craig (1981) were born after Romney had begun his career.
Romney wanted to pursue a business career, but his father advised him that a law degree (Juris Doctor) would be valuable to his career even if he never practiced law. As a result, he enrolled in the recently created four-year joint Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration program coordinated between Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. He readily adapted to the business school's pragmatic, data-driven case study method of teaching. Living in a Belmont, Massachusetts, house with Ann and their two children, his social experience differed from that of most of his classmates. He was nonideological and did not involve himself in the political issues of the day. Romney graduated from Harvard in 1975. He was named a Baker Scholar for graduating in the top 5% of his business school class and received his Juris Doctor degree cum laude for ranking in the top third of his law school class.
Business career
Main article: Business career of Mitt RomneyManagement consulting
After receiving his JD–MBA from Harvard, Romney passed the Michigan bar exam but decided to pursue a career in business rather than law. He was recruited by several large companies but joined the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), reasoning that working as a management consultant for a variety of companies would better prepare him for a future position as a chief executive. Part of a 1970s wave of top graduates who chose to go into consulting rather than join a large company directly, he found his legal and business education useful in his job. He applied BCG principles such as the growth-share matrix, and executives viewed him as having a bright future there. At BCG, he was a colleague of Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he formed a friendship that has lasted for more than 40 years.
In 1977, he was hired by Bain & Company, a management consulting firm in Boston formed a few years earlier by Bill Bain and several other ex-BCG employees. Bain later said of the 30-year-old Romney, "He had the appearance of confidence of a guy who was maybe ten years older." Unlike other consulting firms, which issued recommendations and then departed, Bain & Company immersed itself in a client's businesses and worked with them until changes were implemented. Romney became a vice president of the firm in 1978, working with such clients as the Monsanto Company, Outboard Marine Corporation, Burlington Industries, and Corning Incorporated. Within a few years, the firm considered him one of its best consultants. In fact, clients sometimes preferred to use him rather than more-senior partners.
Minor political issues
Two family incidents during this time later surfaced during Romney's political campaigns. A state park ranger in 1981 told Romney his motorboat had an insufficiently visible license number and that he would face a $50 fine if he took the boat onto the lake. Disagreeing about the license and wanting to continue a family outing, Romney took it out anyway, saying he would pay the fine. The ranger arrested him for disorderly conduct. The charges were dropped several days later. In 1983, on a 12-hour family road trip, he placed the family's dog in a windshield-equipped carrier on the roof of their car, and then washed the car and carrier after the dog suffered a bout of diarrhea. The dog incident in particular later became fodder for Romney's critics and political opponents.
Private equity
Further information: Bain CapitalIn 1984, Romney left Bain & Company to co-found and lead the spin-off private equity investment firm Bain Capital. He initially refrained from accepting Bill Bain's offer to head the new venture until Bain rearranged the terms in a complicated partnership structure so that there was no financial or professional risk to Romney. Bain and Romney raised the $37 million needed to start the new operation, which had seven employees. Romney held the titles of president and managing general partner. Though he was the sole shareholder of the firm, publications also called him managing director or CEO.
Initially, Bain Capital focused on venture capital investments. Romney set up a system in which any partner could veto one of these potential opportunities, and he personally saw so many weaknesses that few venture capital investments were approved in the initial two years. The firm's first significant success was a 1986 investment to help start Staples Inc., after founder Thomas G. Stemberg convinced Romney of the market size for office supplies and Romney convinced others; Bain Capital eventually reaped a nearly sevenfold return on its investment, and Romney sat on Staples's board of directors for over a decade.
Romney soon switched Bain Capital's focus from startups to the relatively new business of leveraged buyouts: buying existing companies with money mostly borrowed from banking institutions using the newly bought companies' assets as collateral, taking steps to improve the companies' value, and then selling those companies when their value peaked, usually within a few years. Bain Capital lost money in many of its early leveraged buyouts, but then found deals that made large returns. The firm invested in or acquired Accuride Corporation, Brookstone, Domino's Pizza, Sealy Corporation, Sports Authority, and Artisan Entertainment, as well as some lesser-known companies in the industrial and medical sectors. Much of the firm's profit was earned from a relatively small number of deals; Bain Capital's overall success-to-failure ratio was about even.
Romney discovered few investment opportunities himself (and those that he did often failed to make money for the firm). Instead, he focused on analyzing the merits of possible deals that others brought forward and on recruiting investors to participate in them once approved. At Bain Capital, Romney spread profits from deals widely within the firm to keep people motivated, often keeping less than 10% for himself. Data-driven, he often played the role of a devil's advocate during exhaustive analysis of whether to go forward with a deal. He wanted to drop a Bain Capital hedge fund that initially lost money, but other partners disagreed with him and it eventually made billions. He opted out of the Artisan Entertainment deal, not wanting to profit from a studio that produced R-rated films. Romney served on the board of directors of Damon Corporation, a medical testing company later found guilty of defrauding the government; Bain Capital tripled its investment before selling off the company, and the fraud was discovered by the new owners (Romney was never implicated). In some cases, Romney had little involvement with a company once Bain Capital acquired it.
Bain Capital's leveraged buyouts sometimes led to layoffs, either soon after acquisition or later after the firm had concluded its role. Exactly how many jobs Bain Capital added compared to those lost because of these investments and buyouts is unknown, owing to a lack of records and Bain Capital's penchant for privacy for itself and its investors. Maximizing the value of acquired companies and the return to Bain's investors, not job creation, was the firm's primary investment goal. Bain Capital's acquisition of Ampad exemplified a deal where it profited handsomely from early payments and management fees, even though the subject company itself later went into bankruptcy. Dade Behring was another case where Bain Capital received an eightfold return on its investment but the company itself was saddled with debt and laid off over a thousand employees before Bain Capital exited (the company subsequently went into bankruptcy, with more layoffs, before recovering and prospering). Referring to the layoffs that sometimes occurred, Romney said in 2007: "Sometimes the medicine is a little bitter but it is necessary to save the life of the patient. My job was to try and make the enterprise successful, and in my view the best security a family can have is that the business they work for is strong."
In 1990, facing financial collapse, Bain & Company asked Romney to return. Announced as its new CEO in January 1991, he drew a symbolic salary of one dollar (remaining managing general partner of Bain Capital during this time). He oversaw an effort to restructure Bain & Company's employee stock-ownership plan and real-estate deals, while rallying the firm's 1,000 employees, imposing a new governing structure that excluded Bain and the other founding partners from control, and increasing fiscal transparency. He got Bain and other initial owners who had removed excessive amounts of money from the firm to return substantial amounts, and persuaded creditors, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, to accept less than full payment. Within about a year, he led Bain & Company to a return to profitability. He then turned it over to new leadership and returned to Bain Capital in December 1992.
Romney took a leave of absence from Bain Capital from November 1993 to November 1994 to run for U.S. Senate. During that time, Ampad workers went on strike and asked Romney to intervene. Against the advice of Bain Capital lawyers, Romney met the strikers, but told them he had no position of active authority in the matter.
By 1999, Bain Capital was on its way to becoming one of the foremost private equity firms in the nation, having increased its number of partners from 5 to 18, with 115 employees and $4 billion under management. The firm's average annual internal rate of return on realized investments was 113% and its average yearly return to investors was around 50–80%.
Starting in February 1999, Romney took a paid leave of absence from Bain Capital in order to serve as the president and CEO of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games Organizing Committee. Billed in some public statements as keeping a part-time role, Romney remained the firm's sole shareholder, managing director, CEO, and president, signing corporate and legal documents, attending to his interests within the firm, and conducting prolonged negotiations for the terms of his departure. He did not involve himself in the firm's day-to-day operations or the investment decisions of its new private equity funds. He retained his position on several boards of directors during this time and regularly returned to Massachusetts to attend meetings.
In August 2001, Romney announced that he would not return to Bain Capital. His separation from the firm concluded in early 2002; he transferred his ownership to other partners and negotiated an agreement that allowed him to receive a share of the profits as a retired partner in some Bain Capital entities, including buyout and investment funds. The private equity business continued to thrive, earning him millions of dollars in annual income.
LDS Church service
During his business career, Romney held several positions in the church's local lay clergy. In the early 1970s, he served in a ward bishopric. He then served for a time as a seminary teacher and then as a member of the stake high council of the Boston Stake while Richard L. Bushman was stake president.
In 1977, he became a counselor to the president of the Boston Stake. He served as bishop of the ward at Belmont, Massachusetts, from 1981 to 1986. As such, in addition to home teaching, he also formulated Sunday services and classes using LDS scriptures to guide the congregation. After the destruction of the Belmont meetinghouse by a fire of suspicious origins in 1984, he forged links with other religious institutions, allowing the congregation to rotate its meetings to other houses of worship during the reconstruction of the Belmont building.
From 1986 to 1994, Romney was president of the Boston Stake, which included more than a dozen wards in eastern Massachusetts and almost 4,000 church members. He organized a team to handle financial and management issues, sought to counter anti-Mormon sentiment, and tried to solve social problems among poor Southeast Asian converts. An unpaid position, his local church leadership often took 30 or more hours a week of his time, and he became known for his considerable energy in the role. He also earned a reputation for avoiding any overnight travel that might interfere with his church responsibilities.
Romney took a hands-on role in the Boston Stake's matters, helping in domestic maintenance efforts, visiting the sick, and counseling burdened church members. A number of local church members later credited him with turning their lives around or helping them through difficult times. Others, rankled by his leadership style, desired a more consensus-based approach. Romney tried to balance the conservative directives from church leadership in Utah with the desire of some Massachusetts members to have a more flexible application of religious doctrine. He agreed with some requests from a liberal women's group that published Exponent II calling for changes in the way the church dealt with women, but he clashed with women he felt were departing too much from doctrine. In particular, he counseled women not to have abortions except in the rare cases allowed by LDS doctrine and encouraged unmarried women facing unplanned pregnancies to give their babies up for adoption. Romney later said that the years spent as an LDS minister gave him direct exposure to people struggling financially and empathy for those with family problems.
1994 United States Senate campaign in Massachusetts
Main article: 1994 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
For much of his business career, Romney did not take public political stances. He had kept abreast of national politics since college, and the circumstances of his father's presidential campaign loss had irked him for decades. He registered as an Independent and voted in the 1992 presidential primaries for the Democratic former senator from Massachusetts, Paul Tsongas.
By 1993, Romney had begun thinking about entering politics, partly on Ann's urging and also to follow in his father's footsteps. He decided to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Ted Kennedy, who was seeking reelection to a sixth term. Political pundits viewed Kennedy as vulnerable that year, in part because of the unpopularity of the Democratic Congress as a whole, and in part because this was Kennedy's first election since the William Kennedy Smith trial in Florida, in which Kennedy's reputation had suffered. Romney changed his affiliation to Republican in October 1993 and formally announced his candidacy in February 1994. In addition to his leave from Bain Capital, Romney also stepped down from his church leadership role in 1994.
Radio personality Janet Jeghelian took an early lead in polls among candidates for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat, but Romney proved the most effective fundraiser. He won 68% of the vote at the May 1994 Massachusetts Republican Party convention; businessman John Lakian finished a distant second, eliminating Jeghelian. Romney defeated Lakian in the September 1994 primary with more than 80% of the vote.
In the general election, Kennedy faced the first serious reelection challenge of his career. The younger, telegenic, and well-funded Romney ran as a businessman who said he had created 10,000 jobs and as a Washington outsider with a solid family image and moderate stances on social issues. When Kennedy tried to tie Romney's policies to those of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, Romney responded, "Look, I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I'm not trying to take us back to Reagan-Bush." Romney said, "Ultimately, this is a campaign about change."
Romney's campaign was effective in portraying Kennedy as soft on crime but had trouble establishing its own consistent positions. By mid-September 1994, polls showed the race about even. Kennedy responded with a series of ads that focused on Romney's seemingly shifting political views on issues such as abortion; Romney responded, "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country." Other Kennedy ads centered on layoffs of workers at the Ampad plant owned by Bain Capital. The latter was effective in blunting Romney's momentum. Kennedy and Romney held a widely watched late October debate that had no clear winner, but by then, Kennedy had pulled ahead in polls and remained so. Romney spent $3 million of his own money on the race and more than $7 million overall. Despite a disastrous showing for Democrats nationwide, Kennedy won the election with 58% of the vote to Romney's 41%, the smallest margin in any of Kennedy's reelection campaigns for the Senate.
The day after the election, Romney returned to Bain Capital, but the loss had a lasting effect; he told his brother, "I never want to run for something again unless I can win."
After election
When his father died in 1995, Mitt donated his inheritance to BYU's George W. Romney Institute of Public Management. He also became vice-chair of the board of the Points of Light Foundation, which had embraced his father's National Volunteer Center. Romney felt restless as the decade neared a close; making more money held little attraction for him. Although no longer in a local leadership position in his church, he still taught Sunday School. During the long and controversial approval and construction process for the $30-million Mormon temple in Belmont, he feared that, as a political figure who had opposed Kennedy, he would become a focal point for opposition to the structure. He thus kept to a limited, behind-the-scenes role in attempts to ease tensions between the church and local residents.
2002 Winter Olympics
Further information: 2002 Winter Olympics
In 1998, Ann Romney learned that she had multiple sclerosis; Mitt described watching her fail a series of neurological tests as the worst day of his life. After experiencing two years of severe difficulties with the disease, she found – while living in Park City, Utah, where the couple had built a vacation home – a combination of mainstream, alternative, and equestrian therapies that enabled her to lead a lifestyle mostly without limitations. When her husband received a job offer to take over the troubled organization responsible for the 2002 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, to be held in Salt Lake City in Utah, she urged him to accept it; eager for a new challenge, as well as another chance to prove himself in public life, he did. On February 11, 1999, the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games of 2002 hired Romney as its president and CEO.
Before Romney took over, the event was $379 million short of its revenue goals. Officials had made plans to scale back the Games to compensate for the fiscal crisis, and there were fears it might be moved away entirely. In addition, the Games' image had been damaged by allegations of bribery against top officials including prior committee president and CEO Frank Joklik. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee forced Joklik and committee vice president Dave Johnson to resign. Utah power brokers, including Governor Mike Leavitt, searched for someone with a scandal-free reputation to take charge of the Olympics. They chose Romney based on his business and legal expertise as well as his connections to both the LDS Church and the state. The appointment faced some initial criticism from both non-Mormons and Mormons that it represented cronyism and made the Games seem too Mormon-dominated. Romney donated to charity the $1.4 million in salary and severance payments he received for his three years as president and CEO, and also donated $1 million to the Olympics.
Romney restructured the organization's leadership and policies. He reduced budgets and boosted fundraising, alleviating corporate sponsors' concerns while recruiting new ones. Romney worked to ensure the Games's safety after the September 11 attacks by coordinating a $300 million security budget. He oversaw a $1.32 billion budget, 700 employees, and 26,000 volunteers. The federal government provided approximately $400 million to $600 million of that budget, much of it a result of Romney's having aggressively lobbied Congress and federal agencies. It was a record level of federal funding for the staging of a U.S. Olympics. An additional $1.1 billion of indirect federal funding came to the state in the form of highway and transit projects.
Romney emerged as the local public face of the Olympic effort, appearing in photographs, in news stories, on collectible Olympics pins depicting him wrapped by an American flag, and on buttons carrying phrases like "Hey, Mitt, we love you!" Organizing committee chair Robert H. Garff later said, "It was obvious that he had an agenda larger than just the Olympics", and that Romney wanted to use the Olympics to propel himself into the national spotlight and a political career. Garff believed the initial budget situation was not as bad as Romney portrayed, given there were still three years to reorganize. Utah Senator Bob Bennett said that much of the needed federal money was already in place. A Boston Globe analysis later found that the committee had nearly $1 billion in committed revenues at that time. Olympics critic Steve Pace, who led Utahns for Responsible Public Spending, thought Romney exaggerated the initial fiscal state to lay the groundwork for a well-publicized rescue. Kenneth Bullock, another board member of the organizing committee and also head of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, often clashed with Romney at the time, and later said that Romney deserved some credit for the turnaround but not as much as he claimed. Bullock said: "He tried very hard to build an image of himself as a savior, the great white hope. He was very good at characterizing and castigating people and putting himself on a pedestal."
Despite the initial fiscal shortfall, the Games ended up with a surplus of $100 million. President George W. Bush praised Romney's efforts and 87% of Utahns approved of his performance as Olympics head. It solidified his reputation as a "turnaround artist", and Harvard Business School taught a case study based around his actions. U.S. Olympic Committee head William Hybl credited Romney with an extraordinary effort in overcoming a difficult time for the Olympics, culminating in "the greatest Winter Games I have ever seen". Romney wrote a book about his experience, Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games, published in 2004. The role gave him experience in dealing with federal, state, and local entities, a public persona he had previously lacked, and the chance to relaunch his political aspirations.
2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign
Main article: 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial electionIn 2002, plagued by political missteps and personal scandals, the administration of Republican Acting Governor of Massachusetts Jane Swift appeared vulnerable, and many Republicans viewed her as unable to win a general election. Prominent party figures – as well as the White House – wanted Romney to run for governor and the opportunity appealed to him for reasons including its national visibility. A Boston Herald poll showed Republicans favoring Romney over Swift by more than 50 percentage points. On March 19, 2002, Swift announced she would not seek her party's nomination, and hours later Romney declared his candidacy, for which he would face no opposition in the primary. In June 2002, the Massachusetts Democratic Party challenged Romney's eligibility to run for governor, noting that state law required seven years' consecutive residence and that Romney had filed his state tax returns as a Utah resident in 1999 and 2000. In response, the bipartisan Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission unanimously ruled that he had maintained sufficient financial and personal ties to Massachusetts to be an eligible candidate.
Romney again ran as a political outsider. He played down his party affiliation, saying he was "not a partisan Republican" but rather a "moderate" with "progressive" views. He said he would observe a moratorium on changes to the state's laws on abortion, but reiterated that he would "preserve and protect a woman's right to choose" and that his position was "unequivocal". He touted his private sector experience as qualifying him for addressing the state's fiscal problems and stressed his ability to obtain federal funds for the state, offering his Olympics record as evidence. He proposed to reorganize the state government while eliminating waste, fraud, and mismanagement. The campaign innovatively utilized microtargeting techniques, identifying like-minded groups of voters and reaching them with narrowly tailored messaging.
In an attempt to overcome the image that had damaged him in the 1994 Senate race – that of a wealthy corporate buyout specialist out of touch with the needs of regular people – the campaign staged a series of "work days", in which Romney performed blue-collar jobs such as herding cows and baling hay, unloading a fishing boat, and hauling garbage. Television ads highlighting the effort, as well as one portraying his family in gushing terms and showing him shirtless, received a poor public response and were a factor in his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts State Treasurer Shannon O'Brien, leading in the polls as late as mid-October. He responded with ads that accused O'Brien of being a failed watchdog for state pension fund losses in the stock market and that associated her husband, a former lobbyist, with the Enron scandal. These were effective in capturing independent voters. O'Brien said that Romney's budget plans were unrealistic; the two also differed on capital punishment and bilingual education, with Romney supporting the former and opposing the latter.
During the election, Romney contributed more than $6 million – a state record at the time – to the nearly $10 million raised for his campaign. On November 5, 2002, he won the election with 50% of the vote to O'Brien's 45%.
Governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007)
Main article: Governorship of Mitt Romney
Romney was sworn in as the 70th governor of Massachusetts on January 2, 2003. He faced a Massachusetts state legislature with large Democratic majorities in both houses, and had picked his cabinet and advisors based more on managerial abilities than partisan affiliation. He declined a governor's salary of $135,000 during his term. Upon entering office in the middle of a fiscal year, he faced an immediate $650 million shortfall and a projected $3 billion deficit for the next year. Unexpected revenue of $1.0–1.3 billion from a previously enacted capital gains tax increase and $500 million in new federal grants decreased the deficit to $1.2–1.5 billion. Through a combination of spending cuts, increased fees, and removal of corporate tax loopholes, the state achieved surpluses of around $600–700 million during Romney's last two full fiscal years in office, although it began running deficits again after that.
Romney supported raising various fees, including those for drivers' licenses and gun licenses, to raise more than $300 million. He increased a special gasoline retailer fee by $0.02 per US gallon ($0.0053/L), generating about $60 million per year in additional revenue. Opponents said the reliance on fees sometimes imposed a hardship on those who could least afford them. Romney also closed tax loopholes that brought in another $181 million from businesses over the next two years and over $300 million for his term. He did so in the face of conservative and corporate critics who viewed these actions as tax increases.
The state legislature, with the governor's support, cut spending by $1.6 billion, including $700 million in reductions in state aid to cities and towns. The cuts also included a $140 million reduction in state funding for higher education, which led state-run colleges and universities to increase fees by 63% over four years. Romney sought additional cuts in his last year as governor by vetoing nearly 250 items in the state budget; the legislature overrode all the vetoes.
The cuts in state spending put added pressure on localities to reduce services or raise property taxes, and the share of town and city revenues coming from property taxes rose from 49% to 53%. The combined state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased during Romney's governorship. He did propose a reduction in the state income tax rate, but the legislature rejected it.
Romney sought to bring near-universal health insurance coverage to the state. This came after Staples founder Tom Stemberg told him at the start of his term that doing so would be the best way he could help people. Another factor was that the federal government, owing to the rules of Medicaid funding, threatened to cut $385 million in those payments to Massachusetts if the state did not reduce the number of uninsured recipients of health care services. Although the idea of universal health insurance had not come to the fore during the campaign, Romney decided that because people without insurance still received expensive health care, the money spent by the state for such care could be better used to subsidize insurance for the poor.
_Commanding_Officer,_Capt._Dennis_E._Fitzpatrick,_gives_the_Massachusetts_Gov._Mitt_Romney_a_tour_of_the_conventionally_powered_aircraft_carrier%27s_flight_deck.jpg)
Determined that a new Massachusetts health insurance measure not raise taxes or resemble the previous decade's failed "Hillarycare" proposal at the federal level, Romney formed a team of consultants from diverse political backgrounds to apply those principles. Beginning in late 2004, they devised a set of proposals that were more ambitious than an incremental one from the Massachusetts Senate and more acceptable to him than one from the Massachusetts House of Representatives that incorporated a new payroll tax. In particular, Romney pushed for incorporating an individual mandate at the state level. Past rival Ted Kennedy, who had made universal health coverage his life's work and who, over time, had developed a warm relationship with Romney, gave the plan a positive reception, which encouraged Democratic legislators to cooperate. The effort eventually gained the support of all major stakeholders within the state, and Romney helped break a logjam between rival Democratic leaders in the legislature.
On April 12, 2006, Romney signed the resulting Massachusetts health reform law, commonly called "Romneycare", which requires nearly all Massachusetts residents to buy health insurance coverage or face escalating tax penalties, such as the loss of their personal income tax exemption. The bill also established means-tested state subsidies for people who lacked adequate employer insurance and whose income was below a threshold, using funds that had covered the health costs of the uninsured. He vetoed eight sections of the health care legislation, including a controversial $295-per-employee assessment on businesses that do not offer health insurance and provisions guaranteeing dental benefits to Medicaid recipients. The legislature overrode all eight vetoes, but the governor's office said the differences were not essential. The law was the first of its kind in the nation and became the signature achievement of Romney's term in office.
At the beginning of his governorship, Romney opposed same-sex marriage and civil unions but advocated tolerance and supported some domestic partnership benefits. A November 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, required the state to recognize same-sex marriages. Romney reluctantly backed a state constitutional amendment in February 2004 that would have banned those marriages but still allowed civil unions, viewing it as the only feasible way to comply with the court's ruling. In May 2004 and per the court decision, he instructed town clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But citing a 1913 law that barred out-of-state residents from getting married in Massachusetts if their union would be illegal in their home state, he said no marriage licenses were to be issued to people not planning to move to Massachusetts. In June 2005, Romney abandoned his support for the compromise amendment, stating that it confused voters who opposed both same-sex marriage and civil unions. Instead, he endorsed a ballot initiative led by the Coalition for Marriage and Family (an alliance of socially conservative organizations) that would have banned same-sex marriage and made no provisions for civil unions. In 2004 and 2006, he urged the U.S. Senate to vote for the Federal Marriage Amendment.
In 2005, Romney revealed a change of view regarding abortion, moving from the abortion rights positions expressed during his 1994 and 2002 campaigns to an anti-abortion one in opposition to Roe v. Wade. He attributed his conversion to an interaction with Harvard University biologist Douglas Melton, an expert on embryonic stem cell biology, although Melton vehemently disputed Romney's recollection of their conversation. Romney subsequently vetoed a bill on pro-life grounds that expanded access to emergency contraception in hospitals and pharmacies; the legislature overrode the veto. He also amended his position on embryonic stem cell research.
Romney used a bully pulpit approach towards promoting his agenda, staging well-organized media events to appeal directly to the public rather than pushing his proposals in behind-doors sessions with the state legislature. He dealt with a public crisis of confidence in Boston's Big Dig project after a fatal ceiling collapse in 2006 by wresting control of the project from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. After two years of negotiating the state's participation in the landmark Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative that instituted a cap-and-trade arrangement for power plant emissions in the Northeast, Romney pulled Massachusetts out of the initiative shortly before its signing in December 2005, citing a lack of cost limits for industry.
In 2004, Romney spent considerable effort trying to bolster the state Republican Party, but it failed to gain any seats in the legislative elections that year. Given a prime-time appearance at the 2004 Republican National Convention, he began to be discussed as a potential 2008 presidential candidate. Midway through his term, Romney decided that he wanted to stage a full-time run for president, and on December 14, 2005, he announced that he would not seek reelection as governor. As chair of the Republican Governors Association, Romney traveled around the country, meeting prominent Republicans and building a national political network; he spent more than 200 days out of state in 2006, preparing for his run.
Romney had a 61 percent job approval rating after his initial fiscal actions in 2003, but it subsequently declined, driven in part by his frequent out-of-state travel. It stood at 34 percent in November 2006, ranking 48th of the 50 U.S. governors. In the 2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election, Democratic nominee Deval Patrick beat Romney's lieutenant governor, Kerry Healey, by 20 points, with the win partially due to dissatisfaction with Romney's administration and the weak condition of the state Republican party.
Romney filed to register a presidential campaign committee with the Federal Election Commission on his penultimate day in office as governor. His term ended on January 4, 2007.
2008 presidential campaign
Main article: Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign See also: 2008 Republican Party presidential primariesRomney formally announced his candidacy for the 2008 Republican nomination for president on February 13, 2007, in Dearborn, Michigan. Again casting himself as a political outsider, his speech frequently invoked his father and his family, and stressed experiences in the private, public, and voluntary sectors that had brought him to this point.
The campaign emphasized Romney's highly profitable career in the business world and his stewardship of the 2002 Olympics. He also had political experience as a governor, together with a political pedigree courtesy of his father (as well as many biographical parallels with him). Ann Romney, who had become an advocate for those with multiple sclerosis, was in remission and was an active participant in his campaign, helping to soften his political personality. Media stories called the 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 m) Romney handsome; a number of commentators noted that with his square jaw and ample hair graying at the temples, he matched a common image of what a president should look like.
Romney's liabilities included having run for senator and serving as governor in one of the nation's most liberal states and having taken positions in opposition to the party's conservative base during that time. Late during his term as governor, he had shifted positions and emphases to better align with traditional conservatives on social issues. Skeptics, including some Republicans, charged Romney with opportunism and a lack of core principles. As a Mormon, he faced suspicion and skepticism by some in the Evangelical wing of the party.
For his campaign, Romney assembled a veteran group of Republican staffers, consultants, and pollsters. But he was little-known nationally, and hovered around 10% support in Republican preference polls for the first half of 2007. He proved the most effective fundraiser of any of the Republican candidates and also partly financed his campaign with his own personal fortune. These resources, combined with the mid-year near-collapse of nominal front-runner John McCain's campaign, made Romney a threat to win the nomination and the focus of the other candidates' attacks. Romney's staff suffered from internal strife; Romney himself was at times indecisive, often asking for more data before making a decision.
During all his political campaigns, Romney has avoided speaking publicly about Mormon doctrines, referring to the U.S. Constitution's prohibition of religious tests for public office. But persistent questions about the role of religion in his life, as well as Southern Baptist minister and former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee's rise in the polls based on an explicitly Christian-themed campaign, led to Romney's December 6, 2007, "Faith in America" speech. In it, Romney declared, "I believe in my Mormon faith and endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers. I will be true to them and to my beliefs." He added that he should be neither elected nor rejected because of his religion, and echoed Senator John F. Kennedy's famous speech during his 1960 presidential campaign in saying, "I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law." Instead of discussing the specific tenets of his faith, he said he would be informed by it, saying: "Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone." Academics later studied the role religion played in the campaign.
The campaign's strategy called for winning the initial two contests – the January 3, 2008, Iowa Republican caucuses and the January 8 New Hampshire primary – to propel Romney nationally. But he took second place in both, losing Iowa to Huckabee, who received more than twice the evangelical Christian votes, and New Hampshire to the resurgent McCain. Huckabee and McCain criticized Romney's image as a flip-flopper and this label stuck to Romney through the campaign (one that Romney rejected as unfair and inaccurate, except for his acknowledged change of mind on abortion). Romney seemed to approach the campaign as a management consulting exercise, and showed a lack of personal warmth and political feel; journalist Evan Thomas wrote that Romney "came off as a phony, even when he was perfectly sincere". The fervor with which Romney adopted his new stances and attitudes contributed to the perception of inauthenticity that hampered the campaign. His staff concluded that competing as a candidate of social conservatism and ideological purity rather than of pragmatic competence had been a mistake.
McCain's win in South Carolina and Romney's in his childhood home Michigan set up a pivotal battle in the January 29 Florida primary. Romney campaigned intensively on economic issues and the burgeoning subprime mortgage crisis, while McCain attacked Romney on Iraq policy and benefited from endorsements from Florida officeholders. McCain won by five points. Although many Republican officials were now lining up behind McCain, Romney persisted through the nationwide Super Tuesday contests on February 5. There he won primaries or caucuses in several states, but McCain won in more and in larger-population ones. Trailing McCain in delegates by a more than two-to-one margin, Romney announced the end of his campaign on February 7.
Altogether, Romney had won 11 primaries and caucuses, receiving about 4.7 million votes and garnering about 280 delegates. He spent $110 million during the campaign, including $45 million of his own money.
Romney endorsed McCain for president a week later, and McCain had Romney on a short list for running mate, where his business experience would have balanced one of McCain's weaknesses. Behind in the polls, McCain opted instead for a high-risk, high-reward "game changer", Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. McCain lost the election to Democratic senator Barack Obama.
Activity between presidential campaigns
Romney supported the Bush administration's Troubled Asset Relief Program in response to the 2007–2008 financial crisis, later saying that it prevented the U.S. financial system from collapsing. During the U.S. automotive industry crisis of 2008–2010, he opposed a bailout of the industry in the form of direct government intervention, and argued that a managed bankruptcy of struggling automobile companies should instead be accompanied by federal guarantees for post-bankruptcy financing from the private sector.
After the 2008 election, Romney laid the groundwork for a 2012 presidential campaign by using his Free and Strong America political action committee (PAC) to raise money for other Republican candidates and pay his existing political staff's salaries and consulting fees. A network of former staff and supporters around the nation were eager for him to run again. He continued to give speeches and raise funds for Republicans, but fearing overexposure, turned down many potential media appearances. He also spoke before business, educational, and motivational groups. From 2009 to 2011, he served on the board of directors of Marriott International, founded by his namesake J. Willard Marriott. He had previously served on it from 1993 to 2002.
In 2009, the Romneys sold their primary residence in Belmont and their ski chalet in Utah, leaving them an estate along Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, and an oceanfront home in the La Jolla district of San Diego, California, which they had bought the year before. The La Jolla home proved beneficial in location and climate for Ann Romney's multiple sclerosis therapies and for recovering from her late 2008 diagnosis of mammary ductal carcinoma in situ and subsequent lumpectomy. Both it and the New Hampshire estate were near some of their grandchildren. Romney maintained his voting registration in Massachusetts, however, and bought a smaller condominium in Belmont during 2010. In February 2010, Romney had a minor altercation with LMFAO member Skyler Gordy, known as Sky Blu, on an airplane flight.
Romney released his book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, in March 2010, and undertook an 18-state book tour to promote it. In the book, he writes of his belief in American exceptionalism, and presents his economic and geopolitical views rather than anecdotes about his personal or political life. It debuted atop The New York Times Best Seller list. Romney donated his earnings from the book to charity.
Immediately after the March 2010 passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Romney attacked the landmark legislation as "an unconscionable abuse of power" and said it should be repealed. The antipathy Republicans felt for it created a potential problem for Romney, since the new federal law was in many ways similar to the Massachusetts health care reform passed during his gubernatorial tenure; as one Associated Press article stated, "Obamacare ... looks a lot like Romneycare." While acknowledging that his plan was an imperfect work in progress, Romney did not back away from it. He defended the state-level health insurance mandate that underpinned it, calling the bill the right answer to Massachusetts's problems at the time.
In nationwide opinion polling for the 2012 Republican presidential primaries, Romney led or placed in the top three with Palin and Huckabee. A January 2010 National Journal survey of political insiders found that a majority of Republican insiders and a plurality of Democratic insiders predicted Romney would be the party's 2012 nominee. Romney campaigned heavily for Republican candidates in the 2010 midterm elections, raising more money than the other prospective 2012 Republican presidential candidates. Beginning in early 2011, he presented a more relaxed image, including more casual attire.
2012 presidential campaign
Main article: Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign Further information: 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries and 2012 United States presidential electionPrimary election
On April 11, 2011, Romney announced, in a video taped outdoors at the University of New Hampshire, that he had formed an exploratory committee for a run for the Republican presidential nomination. Quinnipiac University political science professor Scott McLean said, "We all knew that he was going to run. He's really been running for president ever since the day after the 2008 election."
Romney stood to benefit from the Republican electorate's tendency to nominate candidates who had previously run for president, and thus appeared to be next in line to be chosen. The early stages of the race found him as the apparent front-runner in a weak field, especially in terms of fundraising prowess and organization. Perhaps his greatest hurdle in gaining the Republican nomination was party opposition to the Massachusetts health care reform law that he had shepherded five years earlier. As many potential Republican candidates with star power and fundraising ability decided not to run (including Mike Pence, John Thune, Haley Barbour, Mike Huckabee, and Mitch Daniels), Republican party figures searched for plausible alternatives to Romney.
On June 2, 2011, Romney formally announced the start of his campaign. Speaking on a farm in Stratham, New Hampshire, he focused on the economy and criticized Obama's handling of it. He said, "In the campaign to come, the American ideals of economic freedom and opportunity need a clear and unapologetic defense, and I intend to make it – because I have lived it."
Romney raised $56 million in 2011, more than double the amount raised by any of his Republican opponents, and refrained from spending his own money on the campaign. He initially pursued a low-key, low-profile strategy. Michele Bachmann staged a brief surge in polls, which preceded a poll surge in September 2011 by Rick Perry, who had entered the race the month before. Perry and Romney exchanged sharp criticisms of each other during a series of debates among the Republican candidates. The October 2011 decisions of Palin and Chris Christie not to run effectively settled the field of candidates. Perry faded after poor performances in those debates, while Herman Cain's "long-shot" bid gained popularity until allegations of sexual misconduct derailed it.
.jpg)
Romney continued to seek support from a wary Republican electorate; at this point in the race, his poll numbers were relatively flat and at a historically low level for a Republican front-runner. After the charges of flip-flopping that marked his 2008 campaign began to accumulate again, Romney said in November 2011: "I've been as consistent as human beings can be." In the month before voting began, Newt Gingrich experienced a significant surge – taking a solid lead in national polls and most of the early caucus and primary states – before settling back into parity or worse with Romney following a barrage of negative ads from Restore Our Future, a pro-Romney Super PAC.
In the initial contest, the Iowa caucuses of January 3, election officials announced Romney as ahead with 25% of the vote, edging out a late-gaining Rick Santorum by eight votes (Ron Paul finished third). Sixteen days later, however, they certified Santorum as the winner by 34 votes. A week after the Iowa caucuses, Romney earned a decisive win in the New Hampshire primary with 39% of the vote; Paul finished second and Jon Huntsman Jr. third.
In the run-up to the South Carolina Republican primary, Gingrich launched ads criticizing Romney for causing job losses while at Bain Capital, Perry referred to Romney's role there as "vulture capitalism", and Palin pressed Romney to prove his claim that he created 100,000 jobs during that time. Romney also faced accusations of asset stripping. Many conservatives rallied in defense of Romney, rejecting what they took to be criticism of free-market capitalism. During two debates in the state, Romney fumbled questions about releasing his income tax returns, while Gingrich gained support with audience-rousing attacks on the debate moderators. Romney's double-digit lead in state polls evaporated; he lost the January 21 primary to Gingrich by 13 points. Combined with the delayed loss in Iowa, Romney's poor week represented a lost chance to end the race early, and he quickly decided to release two years of his tax returns. The race turned to the Florida primary, where in debates, appearances, and advertisements, Romney launched a sustained barrage against Gingrich's record, associations and electability. Romney enjoyed a large spending advantage from both his campaign and his aligned Super PAC, and after a record-breaking rate of negative ads from both sides, Romney won Florida on January 31, with 46% of the vote to Gingrich's 32%.
Several caucuses and primaries took place during February, and Santorum won three in a single night early in the month, propelling him into the lead in national and some state polls and positioning him as Romney's chief rival. Days later, Romney told the Conservative Political Action Conference that he had been a "severely conservative governor" (while in 2005 he had maintained that his positions were moderate and characterized reports that he was shifting to the right to attract conservative votes as a media distortion). He sought Donald Trump's endorsement, and received it in February 2012, with a speech by Trump and Romney in which Romney joked that he had spent his "life in the private sector, not quite as successful as this guy but successful nonetheless". Romney won the other five February contests, including a closely fought one in Michigan at the end of the month. In the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses of March 6, Romney won six of ten contests, including a narrow victory in Ohio over a vastly outspent Santorum. Although his victories were not enough to end the race, they were enough to establish a two-to-one delegate lead over Santorum. Romney maintained his delegate margin through subsequent contests, and Santorum suspended his campaign on April 10. Following a sweep of five more contests on April 24, the Republican National Committee put its resources to work for Romney as the party's presumptive nominee.
General election
Polls consistently indicated a tight race for the November general election. Negative ads from both sides dominated the campaign, with Obama's proclaiming that Romney shipped jobs overseas while at Bain Capital and kept money in offshore tax havens and Swiss bank accounts. A related issue dealt with Romney's purported responsibility for actions at Bain Capital after taking the Olympics post. Romney faced demands from Democrats to release additional years of his tax returns, an action a number of Republicans also felt would be wise; after being adamant that he would not do that, he released summaries of them in late September. During May and June, the Obama campaign spent heavily and was able to paint a negative image of Romney in voters' minds before the Romney campaign could construct a positive one.
In July 2012, Romney visited the United Kingdom, Israel, and Poland, meeting leaders in an effort to raise his credibility as a world statesman. Comments he made about the readiness of the 2012 Summer Olympics were perceived as undiplomatic by the British press. Israeli Prime Minister (and former BCG colleague) Benjamin Netanyahu embraced Romney, though some Palestinians criticized him for suggesting that Israel's culture led to their greater economic success.
On August 11, 2012, the Romney campaign announced Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate. On August 28, 2012, the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, officially nominated Romney for president. Romney became the first LDS Church member to be a major-party presidential nominee.
In mid-September, a video surfaced of Romney speaking before a group of supporters in which he said that 47% of the nation pays no income tax, are dependent on the federal government, see themselves as victims, and will support Obama unconditionally. He went on to say, "And so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives." After facing criticism about the tone and accuracy of these comments, he at first characterized them as "inelegantly stated", then a couple of weeks later commented: "I said something that's just completely wrong." Exit polls published following the election showed that voters never saw Romney as someone who cared about people like them.
In an interview on CNN with Wolf Blitzer, Romney called Russia "our number one geopolitical foe". At the time an innocuous response to a foreign policy question, it became a focal point for Democratic attacks on Romney during the campaign. Hillary Clinton, then secretary of state, called Romney's position "dated" and said Russia had been an ally in solving problems, while Joe Biden, then vice president, accused Romney of having a "Cold War mentality" and being "uninformed" on foreign policy. John Kerry, then a senator, called Romney's comments "breathtakingly off target" and reiterated that position at the Democratic National Convention, saying, "He's even blurted out the preposterous notion that Russia is our number one political geopolitical foe." Romney defended his remarks, saying, "The nation which consistently opposes our actions at the United Nations has been Russia ... Russia is a geopolitical foe in that regard", and continued to defend his position in the presidential debates.
The first of three 2012 presidential election debates took place on October 3, in Denver. Media figures and political analysts widely viewed Romney as having delivered a stronger and more focused presentation than Obama. That debate overshadowed Obama's improved presentation in the next two debates later in October, and Romney maintained a small advantage in the debates when seen as a whole.
The election took place on November 6, and Obama was projected the winner at about 11:14 pm Eastern Standard Time. He won 332 electoral votes to Romney's 206. Romney lost all but one of nine battleground states and received 47% of the popular vote to Obama's 51%. Media accounts described Romney as "shellshocked" by the result. He and his senior campaign staff had disbelieved public polls showing Obama narrowly ahead and had thought they were going to win until the vote tallies began to be reported on election night. But Romney's get out the vote operation had been inferior to Obama's, both in person-to-person organization and in voter modeling and outreach technology (the latter exemplified by the failure of the Project Orca application). In his concession speech to his supporters, he said, "Like so many of you, Paul and I have left everything on the field. We have given our all to this campaign. I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead this country in a different direction, but the nation chose another leader." Reflecting on his defeat during a conference call to hundreds of fundraisers and donors a week after the election, Romney attributed the outcome to Obama's having secured the votes of specific interest groups, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, young people, and women, by offering them what Romney called "extraordinary financial gifts". The remark drew heavy criticism from prominent members of the Republican party.
Subsequent activities
During the first year after his defeat, Romney generally kept a low profile, with his ordinary daily activities around San Diego captured via social media glimpses. In December 2012, he joined the board of Marriott International for a third stint as a director. In March 2013, Romney gave a reflective interview on Fox News Sunday, saying, "It kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House doing what needs to be done." He again expressed regret at the "47 percent" remark, saying "There's no question that hurt and did real damage to my campaign." (He echoed both those sentiments a year later.) Romney began working as executive partner group chairman for Solamere Capital, a private capital firm in Boston owned by his son Tagg. He was also involved in supporting several charitable causes.
The Romneys bought a home in the Deer Valley area of Park City, Utah, and a property in Holladay, Utah, where they planned to tear down an existing house and build a new one. They also gained long-sought permission to replace their La Jolla home with a much bigger one, including a car elevator that had brought some derision during the 2012 campaign. Romney and his siblings continued to own a cottage in a gated community called Beach O' Pines south of Grand Bend, Ontario, which has been in the family for more than 60 years. With the new acquisitions the couple briefly had five homes, near each of their five sons and their families, and the couple continued to spend considerable time with their grandchildren, who by 2013 numbered 22. They then sold the condominium in Belmont and decided to make their main residence in Utah, switching their voter registration. The 2014 documentary film Mitt showed a behind-the-scenes, family-based perspective on both of Romney's presidential campaigns and received positive reviews for humanizing Romney and illustrating the toll campaigning takes.
Romney thought he might be branded a "loser for life" and fade into an obscurity like his fellow former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis (a similar figure with no obvious base of political support who had lost what his party considered a winnable presidential election) but, to the surprise of many political observers, that did not happen. Romney reemerged onto the political scene in the run-up to the 2014 U.S. midterm elections, endorsing, campaigning, and fundraising for a number of Republican candidates, especially those running for the U.S. Senate.
Romney was treated for prostate cancer in summer 2017.
2016 presidential election
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Watch Mitt Romney's full March 3 speech: 'Trump is a phony, a fraud', 17:49, see 2;40–10:00, PBS Newshour | |
| Donald Trump responds to Romney's comments at Maine rally, 43:25, see 7:50–10:00, PBS Newshour |
By early 2014, the lack of a clear mainstream Republican candidate for the 2016 presidential election led some supporters, donors, and pollsters to suggest that Romney stage a third run. Regarding such a possibility, Romney at first refused. Nevertheless, speculation continued: Obama's declining popularity led to remorse among some voters; the 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine made Romney's "number one geopolitical foe" remark look prescient; and an August 2014 poll of Iowa Republicans showed Romney with a large lead there over other potential 2016 candidates. A July 2014 CNN poll showed Romney with a 53% to 44% lead over Obama in a hypothetical election "redo".
By early 2015, Romney was considering the idea and contacting his network of supporters. In doing so he was positioning himself in the invisible primary – the preliminary jockeying for the backing of party leaders, donors, and political operatives – against former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who had already set a likely campaign in motion and would be a rival to Romney for establishment Republican support. Despite support in some quarters for a third bid for the presidency, there was a backlash from conservatives who wanted a fresher face without a history of presidential losses, and many of Romney's past donors were not willing to commit to him again. On January 30, 2015, Romney announced that he would not run for president in 2016, saying that while he thought he could win the nomination, "one of our next generation of Republican leaders" would be better positioned to win the general election.
Relationship with Donald Trump
As the presidential election went into primary season, Romney had not endorsed anyone but was one of the Republican establishment figures who were becoming increasingly concerned about the front-runner status of New York businessman Donald Trump. Romney publicly criticized Trump for not releasing his taxes, saying there might be a "bombshell" in them. Trump responded by calling Romney "one of the dumbest and worst candidates in the history of Republican politics". In a March 3, 2016 speech at the Hinckley Institute of Politics, Romney made a scathing attack on Trump's personal behavior, business performance, and domestic and foreign policy stances. He called him a "con man" who relied on his father's loans and "a phony, a fraud", adding: "He's playing members of the American public for suckers. If we Republicans choose Donald Trump as our nominee, the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished". In response, Trump called Romney a "choke artist". Romney's speech represented an unprecedented attack by a major U.S. party's most recent presidential nominee against the party's current front-runner for the nomination.
_(cropped).jpg)
Romney encouraged Republicans to engage in tactical voting, by supporting whichever of the remaining rivals had the best chance to beat Trump in any given state. As such, Romney announced he was voting for, although not endorsing, Ted Cruz for president in the March 22 Utah caucus. As the race went on, there was some evidence that tactical voting was occurring, and some partial arrangements were formed among candidates, but by May 3, Trump had defeated all his opponents and became the party's presumptive nominee. Romney announced that he would not support Trump in the general election, saying, "I am dismayed at where we are now. I wish we had better choices."
In June, Romney said that he would not vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, saying: "It's a matter of personal conscience. I can't vote for either of those two people." He suggested that he might vote for a third-party candidate, or write in his wife's name, saying she would be "an ideal president". When pressed on which of Trump and Clinton was more qualified to be president, Romney quoted P. J. O'Rourke: "Hillary Clinton is wrong on every issue, but she's wrong within the normal parameters."
Romney considered voting for the Libertarian ticket of former Republican governors Gary Johnson and Bill Weld (the latter, like Romney, also a former governor of Massachusetts), saying that he would "get to know Gary Johnson better and see if he's someone who I could end up voting for", adding that "if Bill Weld were at the top of the ticket, it would be very easy for me to vote for Bill Weld for president." In September, he called for Johnson to be included in the presidential debates and in October it emerged that Independent candidate Evan McMullin was using an email list of 2.5 million Romney supporters to raise money. McMullin's chief strategist said that it was purchased from Romney for President and that "we'll let other folks discuss what that may mean and certainly never speak for ." A spokeswoman for Romney said that the list had been "rented by several political candidates in the presidential primary, and by countless other political and commercial users in the time since the 2012 campaign" and Romney made no public comment on McMullin's candidacy. Romney and his wife cast early ballots in Utah, but he declined to say who he voted for. In May 2018, Romney revealed that he had cast a write-in vote for his wife Ann.
After Trump won the election, Romney congratulated him by phone and on Twitter. On November 19, Romney met with him at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, reportedly to discuss the position of Secretary of State, which ultimately went to Rex Tillerson. In February 2017, Romney said that Trump was "off to a very strong start" in fulfilling his campaign promises, although he had "no regrets" about his anti-Trump speech. The next year, Trump endorsed Romney's 2018 senate campaign.
2018 United States Senate campaign in Utah
Main article: 2018 United States Senate election in Utah
September and October 2017 press reports said that should U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch retire, Romney would run for that seat in 2018. On January 2, 2018, after Hatch announced that he would retire, Romney changed his Twitter location from Massachusetts to Holladay, Utah, contributing to speculation that he was considering a Senate campaign. On February 16, 2018, Romney formally launched his campaign with a video message posted on Facebook and Twitter.
At the state Republican nominating convention held on April 21, 2018, Romney received 1,585 delegate votes (49.1%), finishing second to State Representative Mike Kennedy, with 1,642 delegate votes (50.9%). Since neither Romney nor Kennedy garnered the 60% of delegate votes necessary to claim the endorsement, they competed in a June 26 primary election. In the primary, Romney defeated Kennedy, 71.7–28.3%.
Romney was elected U.S. Senator from Utah on November 6, defeating Democratic nominee Jenny Wilson, 62.6% to 30.9%.
With his election, Romney became the third person to have served as governor of one state and senator from another state. (The other two were William W. Bibb, who served as a U.S. senator from Georgia and then the first governor of Alabama, and Sam Houston, who was the sixth governor of Tennessee before becoming a U.S. senator from Texas.)
U.S. Senate (2019–2025)
Tenure
Shortly before assuming office, Romney wrote a Washington Post editorial strongly criticizing Trump's character. Ronna McDaniel, Romney's niece and the chair of the Republican National Committee, called his comments "disappointing and unproductive", while Trump wrote that he "ould much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful". By November 9, 2019, Romney was just one of three Republican senators, along with Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who declined to co-sponsor a resolution opposing the impeachment inquiry process into Trump. He was one of two Republicans (with Collins) who joined all Democrats voting to allow impeachment witnesses.
Romney condemned the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings, saying: "As we celebrate the miracle of Easter, we hold in our hearts the victims of the senseless violence in Sri Lanka and their loved ones."
After many called for Representative George Santos to step down after being investigated by the House Ethics Committee, Romney confronted Santos during President Biden's 2023 State of the Union Address, saying he "shouldn't be in Congress".
Social media
In the October 2019 issue of The Atlantic, Romney revealed that he used a secret Twitter account to keep tabs on political conversation there, saying, "What do they call me, a lurker?" Shortly thereafter, Slate found a Twitter account with the name Pierre Delecto. The account was registered in July 2011, followed about 700 people, and had eight followers at the time it was discovered. It had tweeted 10 times, always in reply to other tweets. The next day, Romney confirmed ownership of the account.
First impeachment of Donald Trump (2019–2020)
On February 5, 2020, after Romney read a prepared text on the Senate floor decrying "corrupting an election to keep oneself in office" as "perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one's oath of office that I can imagine", he broke ranks with the Republican majority as the sole Republican senator to vote to convict Trump in his first impeachment trial, thereby becoming, according to press reports, the first U.S. senator in United States history to vote to convict a president of the same political party.
Fallout from the vote included Romney's being formally censured by various Republican organizations outside of Utah; in comparison, anger against Romney among Republicans within Utah was more muted, and his impeachment vote, according to opinion polling, was supported by Utah Democrats. Jason Perry, director of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics, said, "Democrats in Utah were more excited about Mitt Romney's vote than Republicans were disappointed." Republicans for the Rule of Law ran various ads thanking Romney.
March with Black Lives Matter
On June 7, 2020, in response to the murder of George Floyd and the worldwide protests against police brutality, Romney became the first Republican senator to participate in a protest alongside Black Lives Matter. He said, "We need many voices against racism and against brutality, and we need to make sure that people understand that Black Lives Matter." This act drew praise and admiration from the left and right, with some Republicans questioning why other congressional Republicans were not showing support for the movement. On Twitter, Senator Kamala Harris praised Romney's actions, saying, "We need more of this." Trump mocked Romney, saying, "Tremendous sincerity, what a guy. Hard to believe, with this kind of political talent, his numbers would 'tank' so badly in Utah!"
2020 presidential election
Main article: 2020 United States presidential electionRomney did not endorse Trump's 2020 reelection campaign and told reporters that he did not vote for him. In a Washington Post op-ed, Romney wrote that Trump "has not risen to the mantle of the office". After the victory of Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, Romney was the first Republican senator to extend his congratulations to them.
2021 U.S. Capitol attack
Main article: January 6 United States Capitol attack
On the morning of January 5, 2021, Romney was heckled and harassed at the airport on his way to Washington, D.C., to certify Joe Biden's election win in the Senate. Cellphone footage of the incident showed Trump supporters accusing Romney of not supporting Trump's baseless claims of election fraud, and chanting "Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!" as Romney boarded his flight.
On the morning of January 6, protesters assembled at the "Save America" rally on the Ellipse, where Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and several members of Congress addressed the crowd fueling the conspiracy theories about election fraud. Trump said, "We will never give up, we will never concede. You don't concede when there's theft", and encouraged his supporters to "fight like hell" to "take back our country" and to march to the Capitol. Later that day, while the Senate was in session certifying the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count within the United States Capitol, hundreds of Trump supporters violently attacked the Capitol, where they looted senators' offices and broke into the chamber of the United States Senate. Police evacuated the senators and Vice President Mike Pence to an undisclosed area. As they were evacuating Romney, he yelled at Ted Cruz and other Republican congressmen, "This is what you've gotten, guys!" According to New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin, Romney told him with "fury in his voice", "This is what the president has caused today, this insurrection!" Romney fully rebuked Trump and condemned the actions of the attackers. Later that night, when Congress had reconvened, Romney said on the Senate floor:
We gather today due to a selfish man's injured pride and the outrage of his supporters whom he has deliberately misinformed for the past two months and stirred to action this very morning ... Those who choose to continue to support his dangerous gambit by objecting to the results of a legitimate, democratic election will forever be seen as being complicit in an unprecedented attack against our democracy ... They will be remembered for their role in this shameful episode in American history. That will be their legacy…The best way we can show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the truth! That is the burden, and the duty, of leadership. The truth is that President-elect Biden won the election. President Trump lost. I've had that experience myself. It's no fun.
On February 10, 2021, new video was released during Trump's second impeachment trial that showed capitol police officer Eugene Goodman saving Romney from running into the Capitol rioters. During a break in the hearing, Romney said, "It was very troubling seeing the great violence the capitol police were subjected to. It tears at your heart and brings tears to your eyes. It was overwhelmingly distressing and emotional." Romney also said he didn't know how close he was and didn't know it had been Goodman who diverted him away from the rioters, but that he looked forward to thanking Goodman.
On May 27, 2021, along with five other Republicans and all present Democrats, Romney voted to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 attack. The vote failed for lack of 60 required "yes" votes.
Second impeachment of Donald Trump (2021)
Main article: Second impeachment of Donald TrumpOn January 13, 2021, the House voted to impeach Trump a second time for incitement of insurrection. On January 26, Republican senator Rand Paul of Kentucky introduced a motion to dismiss the impeachment charge. The objection was defeated on a 55–45 vote; Romney was one of the five Republicans to vote against it, along with Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Ben Sasse and Pat Toomey.
On February 13, 2021, Romney and five other Republican senators voted to allow other witnesses in the impeachment trial. Republican senator and Trump ally Ron Johnson, who was "visibly upset", got in a heated exchange with Romney for his vote, saying, "We never should've had this impeachment trial." Later that day Romney voted to convict Trump for the second time along with six of his Republican colleagues. The final vote was 57 to convict and 43 to acquit. He wrote a statement that read in part:
President Trump attempted to corrupt the election by pressuring the Secretary of State of Georgia to falsify the election results in his state. President Trump incited the insurrection against Congress by using the power of his office to summon his supporters to Washington on January 6th and urging them to march on the Capitol during the counting of electoral votes. He did this despite the obvious and well known threats of violence that day. President Trump also violated his oath of office by failing to protect the Capitol, the Vice President, and others in the Capitol. Each and every one of these conclusions compels me to support conviction.
Committee assignments
Current
- Committee on Foreign Relations
- Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy (Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation
- Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism
- Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight
- Subcommittee on Governmental Operations and Border Management
- Committee on Budget (2021–present)
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Source:
Political positions
Further information: Political positions of Mitt Romney
In addition to calling for cuts in federal government spending to help reduce the national debt, Romney proposed measures intended to limit the growth of entitlement programs, such as introducing means testing and gradually raising the eligibility ages for receipt of Social Security and Medicare. He supported substantial increases in military spending and promised to invest more heavily in military weapons programs while increasing the number of active-duty military personnel. He was very supportive of the directions taken by the budget proposals of Paul Ryan, though he later proposed his own budget plan.
Romney pledged to lead an effort to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") and replace it with a system that gives states more control over Medicaid and makes health insurance premiums tax-advantaged for individuals in the same way they are for businesses. He favored repeal of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Sarbanes–Oxley Act and intended to replace them with what he called a "streamlined, modern regulatory framework".
He also promised to seek income tax law changes that he said would help to lower federal deficits and would stimulate economic growth. These included reducing individual income tax rates across the board by 20%, maintaining the Bush administration-era tax rate of 15% on investment income from dividends and capital gains (and eliminating this tax entirely for those with annual incomes less than $200,000), cutting the top tax rate on corporations from 35% to 25%, and eliminating the estate tax and the Alternative Minimum Tax. He promised that the loss of government revenue from these tax cuts would be offset by closing loopholes and placing limits on tax deductions and credits available to taxpayers with the highest incomes, but said that that aspect of the plan could not yet be evaluated because details would have to be worked out with Congress.
Romney opposed the use of mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions to deal with global warming. He stated that he believed climate change is occurring, but that he did not know how much of it could be linked to human activity. He was a proponent of increased domestic oil drilling, hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"), building more nuclear power plants, and reducing the regulatory authority of the Environmental Protection Agency. He believed North American energy independence could be achieved by 2020.
Romney called Russia America's "number one geopolitical foe", a position many ridiculed him for, including former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, who later publicly apologized to him. He has asserted that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capability should be America's "highest national security priority". Romney stated his strong support for Israel. He planned to formally label China a currency manipulator and take associated counteractions unless China changed its trade practices. Romney supported the Patriot Act, the continued operation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, and use of enhanced interrogation techniques against suspected terrorists. He described same-sex marriage as a "state issue" while running for Senate in 1994 and opposed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in 2002. Romney opposed same-sex marriage and civil unions, but favored domestic partnership legislation that gives certain legal rights to same-sex couples, such as hospital visitation. In 2011, he signed a pledge promising to seek passage of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. In 2022, Romney reversed his previous position on federal marriage, and was one of 12 Republicans voting to advance legislation to codify same-sex marriage into federal law by voting for the Respect for Marriage Act.
.jpg)
Since 2005, Romney has described himself as "pro-life". That year, he wrote: "I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother." During his 1994 Senate campaign, Romney had said, "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country", a stance he reiterated during his 2002 campaign for governor. While Romney would prefer to see passage of a constitutional amendment that would outlaw abortion, he did not believe the public would support such an amendment; as an alternative, he promised to nominate Supreme Court justices who would help overturn Roe v. Wade, allowing each state to decide on the legality of abortion. His earlier pro-abortion rights stance in particular and support for some gay rights and gun restrictions as governor of Massachusetts earned him the criticism of some conservatives; the conservative magazine Human Events labeled him one of the top ten RINOs in 2005.
Romney said he would appoint federal judges in the mold of U.S. Supreme Court justices John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, and Samuel Alito. He advocated judicial restraint and strict constructionism as judicial philosophies.
Romney declared his support for the Black Lives Matter international human rights movement by attending the rally, and then joining the Faith Works march, on June 7, 2020, from southeast Washington, past the Trump International Hotel, and Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, over the murder of George Floyd.
In July 2020, Romney, along with Pat Toomey, was one of two Republican U.S. Senators who condemned Trump's decision to commute the sentence of Roger Stone, which Romney described as "Unprecedented, historic corruption: an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president."
In September 2020, Romney said the Republicans' decision to nominate and confirm Amy Coney Barrett as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States before the 2020 presidential election was fair: "the circumstance where a nominee of a president is from a different party than the Senate then, more often than not, the Senate does not confirm. So the Garland decision was consistent with that. On the other hand, when there's a nominee of a party that is in the same party as the Senate, then typically they do confirm."
In June 2024, Romney proposed a framework to mitigate the existential risk from artificial general intelligence along with Senators Jack Reed, Jerry Moran, and Angus King. Romney said he would like to see regulation that "would restrict the types of actions that could lead to existential, or health, or other serious consequences".
On July 21, 2024, when President Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential election, Romney posted a statement reading: "Others will judge his presidency. However, having worked with him these past few years, I respect President Biden. His decision to withdraw from the race was right and is in the best interest of the country." He added, "Ann and I send warm personal wishes to the President and First Lady."
Electoral history
U.S. senator from Massachusetts
Note: percentages may not total 100% because of rounding.| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mitt Romney | 188,280 | 82.0% | |
| Republican | John Lakian | 40,898 | 17.8% | |
| Write-in | 318 | 0.1% | ||
| Total votes | 229,496 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ted Kennedy (incumbent) | 1,266,011 | 58.1% | –6.9% | |
| Republican | Mitt Romney | 894,005 | 41.0% | +7.1% | |
| Libertarian | Lauraleigh Dozier | 14,484 | 0.7% | +0.2% | |
| LaRouche Was Right | William A. Ferguson Jr. | 4,776 | 0.2% | +0.2% | |
| Write-in | 688 | nil | N/A | ||
| Total votes | 2,179,964 | 100% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
Governor of Massachusetts
Note: percentages may not total 100% because of rounding.| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mitt Romney (Kerry Healey) | 1,091,988 | 49.8% | –1.0% | |
| Democratic | Shannon O'Brien (Chris Gabrieli) | 985,981 | 44.9% | –2.4% | |
| Green-Rainbow | Jill Stein (Tony Lorenzen) | 76,530 | 3.5% | +3.5% | |
| Libertarian | Carla Howell (Rich Aucoin) | 23,044 | 1.1% | –0.6% | |
| Independent | Barbara C. Johnson (Joe Schebel) | 15,335 | 0.7% | +0.7% | |
| Write-in | 1,301 | 0.1% | –0.1% | ||
| Total votes | 2,194,179 | 100% | +4.0% | ||
| Blank | 6,122 | ||||
| Turnout | 2,220,301 | ||||
| Majority | 106,007 | 4.8% | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | +1.4% | |||
2012 Republican nominee for President of the United States
Note: percentages may not total 100% because of rounding.| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Barack Obama / Joe Biden (inc.) | 65,915,795 | 51.1% | ||
| Republican | Mitt Romney / Paul Ryan | 60,933,504 | 47.2% | ||
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson / Jim Gray | 1,275,971 | 1.0% | ||
| Green | Jill Stein / Cheri Honkala | 469,627 | 0.4% | ||
| Constitution | Virgil Goode / James Clymer | 122,389 | 0.1% | ||
| Peace and Freedom | Roseanne Barr / Cindy Sheehan | 67,326 | 0.1% | ||
| Justice | Rocky Anderson / Luis J. Rodriguez | 43,018 | nil | ||
| American Independent | Tom Hoefling / J.D. Ellis | 40,628 | nil | ||
| Reform | Andre Barnett / Kenneth Cross | 956 | nil | ||
| N/A | Other | 216,196 | 0.2% | ||
| Total votes | 129,085,410 | 100% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
U.S. Senator from Utah
Note: percentages may not total 100% because of rounding.| Utah State Republican Convention results, 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | First ballot | Pct. | Second ballot | Pct. |
| Mike Kennedy | 1,354 | 40.7% | 1,642 | 50.9% |
| Mitt Romney | 1,539 | 46.2% | 1,585 | 49.1% |
| Loy Brunson | 4 | 0.1% | Eliminated | |
| Alicia Colvin | 29 | 0.9% | Eliminated | |
| Stoney Fonua | 7 | 0.2% | Eliminated | |
| Chris Forbush | 0 | N/A | Eliminated | |
| Timothy Jiminez | 100 | 3.0% | Eliminated | |
| Joshua Lee | 2 | 0.1% | Eliminated | |
| Larry Meyers | 163 | 4.9% | Eliminated | |
| Gayle Painter | 0 | N/A | Eliminated | |
| Samuel Parker | 122 | 3.7% | Eliminated | |
| Total | 3,328 | 100% | 3,227 | 100% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mitt Romney | 240,021 | 71.3% | |
| Republican | Mike Kennedy | 96,771 | 28.7% | |
| Total votes | 336,792 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mitt Romney | 665,215 | 62.6% | –2.7% | |
| Democratic | Jenny Wilson | 328,541 | 30.9% | +0.9% | |
| Constitution | Tim Aalders | 28,774 | 2.7% | –0.5% | |
| Libertarian | Craig Bowden | 27,607 | 2.6% | N/A | |
| Independent American | Reed McCandless | 12,708 | 1.2% | N/A | |
| Write-in | 52 | nil | N/A | ||
| Total votes | 1,062,897 | 100% | N/A | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
Awards and honors
Honorary degrees
| Date | School | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | University of Utah | Doctorate of Business |
| 2002 | Bentley College | Doctor of Law |
| 2004 | Suffolk University Law School | Doctor of Public Administration |
| 2007 | Hillsdale College | Doctorate in Public Service |
| 2012 | Liberty University | Doctor of Humanities |
| 2013 | Southern Virginia University | Honorary Doctorate |
| 2015 | Jacksonville University | Honorary Doctorate |
| 2015 | Utah Valley University | Doctorate of Business |
| 2015 | Saint Anselm College | Honorary Doctorate |
Non-academic awards and honors
People magazine included Romney in its 50 Most Beautiful People list for 2002, and in 2004, a foundation that promotes the Olympic truce gave him its inaugural Truce Ideal Award. The Cranbrook School gave him its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. In 2008, he shared with his wife Ann the Canterbury Medal from The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, for "refus to compromise their principles and faith" during the presidential campaign. In 2012, Time magazine included Romney in their List of The 100 Most Influential People in the World.
In 2021, Romney received the Profile in Courage Award for being the only member of his party to vote to convict Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial.
In 2024, Romney received the annual Legislative Achievement Award from the National Emergency Management Association for his efforts in creating the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission in Utah.
Published works
- Romney, Mitt; Robinson, Timothy (2004). Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games. Washington: Regnery Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89526-084-0.
- Romney, Mitt (2010). No Apology: The Case for American Greatness. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-60980-1.
See also
- List of governors of Massachusetts
- List of United States senators from Utah
- List of United States Republican Party presidential tickets
- President of the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games
Notes
- Pranks conducted by Romney during his Cranbrook years included sliding down golf courses on large ice cubes, dressing as a police officer and tapping on the car windows of friends who were making out, and staging an elaborate formal dinner on the median of a busy street. The golf course escapade led to Romney and Ann Davies being detained by local police. In 2012, five former classmates described a 1965 episode where Romney, then a senior, took the lead in holding down a younger student while cutting his long, bleached-blond hair with scissors. Romney said that he does not recall the incident, though he acknowledged that he might have participated in some high school "hijinks and pranks" that went too far, and he apologized for any harm that resulted from them.
- Pranks conducted by Romney during his Stanford years included dressing as a police officer and pretending to arrest people and pre-"Big Game" customs involving the Stanford Axe.
- Mitt's great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and two uncles had been missionaries, as had his brother, Scott. He did briefly consider breaking with tradition and not going on a mission (and he had successfully been rushed by the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity at Stanford, for sophomore year membership). But he did go, and all five of Mitt's sons later served as missionaries as well.
- Based on figures from 1971 to 2010, the average Mormon gets only 4–8 baptism converts to the faith per year during a mission. The church succeeds in expanding by having huge numbers of missionaries, so that the small number of conversions from each one add up.
- Romney's task was complicated by proselytizing for a religion that prohibits alcohol in a country known for it. He reflected upon this in 2002: "As you can imagine, it's quite an experience to go to Bordeaux and say, 'Give up your wine! I've got a great religion for you!'"
- On June 16, 1968, Romney and five fellow Mormons were traveling on dangerous roads in southern France. As they drove through the village of Bernos-Beaulac, a Mercedes that was passing a truck missed a curve and swerved into the opposite lane hitting the Citroën DS Romney was driving head-on. Trapped between the steering wheel and door, the unconscious Romney had to be pried from the car; a French police officer mistakenly wrote Il est mort in his passport. Besides killing the wife of the mission president, the other four passengers were seriously injured. George Romney relied on his friend Sargent Shriver, the U.S. Ambassador to France, to go to the local hospital and discover that his son had survived. Mitt Romney, who was not at fault in the accident, had suffered broken ribs, a fractured arm, a concussion, and facial injuries, but recovered quickly without needing surgery. The French police say that they have no records of the incident because such records are routinely destroyed after 10 years.
- Some sources incorrectly report that Romney graduated first in his class at BYU. Romney himself has corrected this notion, saying that he didn't. While Romney believes he did have the highest grade point average for his on-campus BYU years in the College of Humanities, he did not if his Stanford record was factored in.
- One study of 68 deals that Bain Capital made during Romney's time there found that the firm lost money or broke even on 33 of them. Another study that looked at the eight-year period following 77 deals during Romney's time found that in 17 cases the company went bankrupt or out of business, and in 6 cases Bain Capital lost all its investment. But 10 deals were very successful and represented 70 percent of the total profits.
- ^ Romney's cited exceptions regarding abortion are in line with those of the LDS Church, which allows it in cases of rape, incest, when the mother's health is seriously threatened, or when the fetus cannot survive past birth. When Romney was a bishop in the 1980s, there was a case where a woman in his congregation with four children was advised by her doctor to terminate her pregnancy because she had a potentially life-threatening blood clot. Romney strongly advised her not to, but she did anyway.
- Kennedy spent $10.5 million overall, including a $1.5 million loan to himself. This was the second-most expensive race of the 1994 election cycle, after the Dianne Feinstein–Michael Huffington Senate race in California.
- Official state figures for fiscal year 2005 (July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005) declared a $594.4 million surplus. For fiscal 2006, the surplus was $720.9 million. During fiscal 2007, Romney cut $384 million in spending that the legislature wanted; in January 2007, midway through the fiscal year, incoming Governor Deval Patrick restored that amount, and also declared that the state faced a "looming budget shortfall" of $1 billion for fiscal 2008. Patrick consequently proposed a budget for fiscal 2008 that included $515 million in spending cuts and $295 million in new corporate taxes. As it happened, the state ended fiscal 2007 with a $307.1 million deficit and fiscal 2008 with a $495.2 million deficit.
- Upon passage of the law, Romney said "There really wasn't Republican or Democrat in this. People ask me if this is conservative or liberal, and my answer is yes. It's liberal in the sense that we're getting our citizens health insurance. It's conservative in that we're not getting a government takeover." Within four years, the Massachusetts law had achieved its primary goal of expanding coverage: in 2010, 98% of state residents had coverage, compared to a national average of 83%. Among children and seniors the 2010 coverage rate was even higher, 99.8% and 99.6% respectively. Approximately two-thirds of residents received coverage through employers; one-sixth each received it through Medicare or public plans.
- ^ Romney also amended his position on embryonic stem cell research: having once supported it broadly, he changed to being against therapeutic cloning of embryos for scientific research, insisting that "surplus embryos" from fertility treatments should be used instead.
- American political opinion periodically looked towards industry for business managers who it was thought could straighten out what was held to be wrong in the nation's capital. The track record of such efforts was at best mixed, with Lee Iacocca declining to run, Romney's father George and Steve Forbes failing to get far in the primaries, and Ross Perot staging one of the more successful third-party runs in American history.
- Biographical parallels between George and Mitt Romney include: Both served as Mormon missionaries in Europe and considered the experiences formative. Both pursued high school sweethearts single-mindedly until the women agreed to marry them several years later, then had families with four or five children. Both had very successful careers in business and became known for turning around failing companies or organizations. Both presided over a stake in the LDS Church. Both achieved their first elected position at age 55, as Republican governor of a Democratic-leaning state. The two bear a close physical resemblance at similar ages and both have been said to "look like a president". Both staged their first presidential run in the year they turned 60. Both were considered suspect by ideological conservatives within the Republican Party. Neither protested publicly against the LDS Church policy that did not allow black people in its lay clergy, although the elder Romney hoped the church leadership would revise the policy, and his son has said that he was greatly relieved when the church did so in 1978. There are also obvious differences in their paths, including that George had a hardscrabble upbringing while Mitt's was affluent, and that Mitt far exceeded George's accomplishments in formal education. Another is that Mitt's personality is more reserved, private, and controlled than his father's was, traits he got from his mother Lenore, and his political personality is also shaped at least as much by Lenore as by George. And while George was willing to defy political trends, Mitt has been much more willing to adapt to them.
- Regarding the role of Romney's religion in the 2008 campaign, one academic study, based upon research conducted throughout the 2008 primaries, showed that a negative perception of Mormonism was widespread during the election, and that perception was often resistant to factual information that would correct mistaken notions about the religion or Romney's relationship to it. The authors concluded that, "For Romney ... religion is the central story." Another study, analyzing a survey conducted during January 2008 (when an African American, a woman, and a Mormon all had realistic chances of becoming the first president from that group), found that voters had internally accepted the notion of black equality, paving the way for Barack Obama's election; had partially established but not fully internalized the notion of gender equality, making Hillary Clinton's task somewhat more difficult; but had only selectively internalized the notion of religious equality, and in particular not extended it to Mormons, thus making Romney's run significantly more difficult. Those authors concluded that, "for a Mormon candidate, the road to the presidency remains very rough ... The bias against a Mormon candidate is substantial."
- During most of Romney's first stint on the Marriott board, he was a member of, and for six years chair of, the board's audit committee. In 1994, during Romney's time as chair, Marriott implemented the Son of BOSS tax shelter, which resulted in the company claiming $71 million in losses. In 2008 and 2009, federal courts ruled this use of the shelter illegal and said those losses never existed. PolitiFact.com calls a 2012 claim that Romney personally approved the shelter as "Half True".
- After having attended the 2010 Winter Olympics, Romney and wife were on board an Air Canada plane waiting to take off on a flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles when he got into a physical altercation with Sky Blu, sitting in front of him, over Sky Blu's seat not being in the upright position. Romney said that Sky Blu became physically violent and that he did not retaliate, while Sky Blu said that Romney gave him a "Vulcan grip" first and that he responded physically to that. Sky Blu was escorted off the aircraft by Canadian police but Romney did not press charges and Sky Blu was released.
References
- Giang, Vivian; Guey, Lynne; Nisen, Max (May 16, 2013). "16 Wildly Successful People Who Majored In English". Business Insider. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- Schott, Bryan (September 12, 2017). "Romney could be first person to be a Governor and Senator for two different states in more than 100 years". Utah Policy. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- "Is Mitt Romney doing a good job in the Senate? More Democrats than Republicans in Utah think so". Deseret News. July 27, 2022. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- "Are Republicans showing Mitt Romney more love? New Utah poll has the answers". Deseret News. February 3, 2022. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- "Mitt Romney just did something that literally no senator has ever done before". Vox. February 5, 2020. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- Balz, Dan (September 13, 2023). "Mitt Romney says he will not seek a second term in the Senate". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- Hosenball, Mark (May 29, 2012). "Romney's birth certificate evokes his father's controversy". Chicago Tribune. Reuters. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2015. Also see "State of Michigan Certificate of Live Birth" Archived March 15, 2023, at the Wayback Machine.
- Page, Susan (February 20, 2012). "Home sweet home? Michigan primary a challenge for Romney". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Mahoney, The Story of George Romney, pp. 59–62, 104, 113.
- Miroff, Nick (July 21, 2011). "In besieged Mormon colony, Mitt Romney's Mexican roots". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- Burnett, John (January 22, 2012). "Mexican Cousins Keep Romney's Family Tree Rooted". NPR. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
- Mahoney, The Story of George Romney, pp. 52, 70.
- Roberts, Gary Boyd (1998). Notable Kin: An Anthology of Columns First Published in the NEHGS NEXUS 1986–1995, Volume 2. Boston: Carl Boyer, 3rd. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-936124-20-9.
- Potter, Mitch (January 23, 2012). "Mitt Romney has Canadian roots". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Kranish, Michael; Paulson, Michael (June 25, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 2: Centered in faith, a family emerges". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020. Also available as "Mitt's LDS roots run deep" Archived February 6, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Deseret Morning News, July 2, 2007.
- ^ Kaleem, Jaweed (August 29, 2012). "Mitt Romney Holds Mormon Faith Close Through Political Rise". HuffPost. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Mahoney, The Story of George Romney, pp. 104, 113.
- Kranish; Helman, The Real Romney, pp. 14–15.
- ^ Gell, Jeffrey N. (October 21, 1994). "Romney Gains Momentum As He Keeps On Running". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Kranish; Helman, The Real Romney, pp. 15–16.
- Candee, Marjorie Dent, ed. (1958). Current Biography Yearbook 1958. New York: H. W. Wilson Company. p. 368. ISBN 978-0-8242-0124-1.
- ^ Swidey, Neil; Paulson, Michael (June 24, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 1: Privilege, tragedy, and a young leader". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on September 18, 2007. Also available from HighBeam. Also available as "Mitt Romney: the beginning". Deseret Morning News. July 1, 2007. Archived from the original on September 18, 2007.
- ^ Horowitz, Jason (May 10, 2012). "Mitt Romney's prep school classmates recall pranks, but also troubling incidents". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Greenberger, Scott S. (June 12, 2005). "From prankster to politician, Romney deemed a class act". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 8, 2009.
- ^ Tumulty, Karen (May 10, 2007). "What Romney Believes". Time. Archived from the original on May 12, 2007.
- Martelle, Scott (December 25, 2007). "Romney's running mate". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ LeBlanc, Steve (December 16, 2007). "Fortunate Son: Mitt Romney's life is his father's legacy". Deseret Morning News. Salt Lake City. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 26, 2008.
- ^ Vickers, Marcia (June 27, 2007). "The Republicans' Mr. Fix-it". Fortune. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- Parker, Ashley; Kantor, Jodi (May 10, 2012). "Bullying Story Spurs Apology From Romney". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012.
- Rucker, Philip (May 10, 2012). "Mitt Romney apologizes for high school pranks that 'might have gone too far'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- Kranish; Helman, The Real Romney, pp. 27–29.
- ^ Conroy, Scott; Strickler, Laura (June 7, 2012). "At Stanford, Romney got his bearings in a year of change". CBS News. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- Kranish, Michael (June 24, 2012). "Mitt Romney's prankster ways continued in college". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- Ngai, Edward (August 22, 2012). "Mitt Romney led the charge as a Big Game prankster in 1965". The Stanford Daily. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
- "The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 2: Photo 3". The Boston Globe. June 18, 2007. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
- Mahoney, The Story of George Romney, pp. 73–74.
- ^ Kirkpatrick, David D. (November 15, 2007). "Romney, Searching and Earnest, Set His Path in '60s". The New York Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 17, 2007.
- Kranish; Helman, The Real Romney, p. 63.
- ^ Hewitt, A Mormon in the White House?, pp. 81–82.
- Stewart, David G. Jr. (2007). The Law of the Harvest: Practical Principles of Effective Missionary Work. Henderson, Nevada: Cumorah Foundation. ISBN 978-0-9795121-0-0.
- Bushman, Claudia Lauper; Bushman, Richard Lyman (2001). Building the Kingdom: A History of Mormons in America. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-19-515022-3.
- Kranish; Helman, The Real Romney, p. 69.
- ^ Wright, Lawrence (January 21, 2002). "Lives of the Saints". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Samuel, Henry; Swaine, Jon (December 15, 2011). "Mitt Romney's life as a poor Mormon missionary in France questioned". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on December 16, 2011.
- ^ Saslow, Eli (December 10, 2007). "A Mission Accepted". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 25, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Paulson, Michael (June 24, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Survivors recall tragic car crash in France with Romney at the wheel". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Also available as "Survivors recall tragic car crash in France with Romney". The New York Times. June 24, 2007. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011.
- "La jeunesse française de Mitt Romney". L'Express (in French). January 23, 2008. Archived from the original on January 30, 2008.
- "Mitt Romney blasts Obama, Europe in NH primary victory speech". GlobalPost. January 11, 2012. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
- Kranish; Helman, The Real Romney, p. 88.
- ^ Horowitz, Jason (February 18, 2012). "Mitt Romney, as a student at a chaotic time for BYU, focused on family, church". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- ^ Swidey, Neil; Ebbert, Stephanie (June 27, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 4: Journeys of a shared life: Raising sons, rising expectations bring unexpected turns". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 12, 2010. Also available in HighBeam. Also available as "Romney determined to make mark early" Archived November 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Deseret Morning News, July 4, 2007.
- "Mitt Romney Marries Ann Davies". The New York Times. March 22, 1969. p. 37. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- "Generation Gap Reaches to Top". Reading Eagle. Newsweek Feature Service. June 4, 1970. p. 32. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Kranish, Michael (June 24, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Mormon church obtained Vietnam draft deferrals for Romney, other missionaries". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 31, 2009.
- "Results from Lottery Drawing – Vietnam Era – 1970". Selective Service System. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
- ^ Gellman, Barton (June 4, 2012). "Dreams from His Mother". Time. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014.
- ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (February 23, 2012). "Political Lessons, From a Mother's Losing Run". The New York Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012.
- ^ Hewitt, A Mormon in the White House?, p. 46.
- ^ Romney, Mitt (March 19, 2006). "Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts)". Q&A (Interview). Interviewed by Brian Lamb. C-SPAN. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Gavin, Robert; Pfeiffer, Sacha (June 26, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 3: Reaping profit in study, sweat". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 12, 2010. Also available in HighBeam. Also available as "Plenty of 'pitting' preceded Romney's profits" Archived December 8, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Deseret Morning News, July 3, 2007.
- ^ Kantor, Jodi (December 25, 2011). "At Harvard, a Master's in Problem Solving". The New York Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on December 25, 2011.
- ^ Pfeiffer, Sacha (June 26, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Romney's Harvard classmates recall his quick mind, positive attitude". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Kranish; Helman, The Real Romney, p. 97.
- ^ Rees, Matthew (December 1, 2006). "Mister PowerPoint Goes to Washington". The American. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012.
- Leonhardt, David (December 11, 2011). "Consultant Nation". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 11, 2011.
- ^ Lizza, Ryan (October 29, 2007). "The Mission: Mitt Romney's strategies for success". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on January 19, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Barbaro, Michael (April 7, 2012). "A Friendship Dating to 1976 Resonates in 2012". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 17, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- Barbaro, Michael (April 7, 2012). "A Friendship Dating From 1976 Resonates in 2012". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
- Hewitt, A Mormon in the White House?, pp. 48–49.
- ^ Kirkpatrick, David D. (June 4, 2007). "Romney's Fortunes Tied to Business Riches". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 6, 2007.
- ^ Kranish, Michael; Helman, Scott (January 4, 2012). "The Meaning of Mitt". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Askar, Jamshid Ghazi (May 7, 2012). "The story behind Mitt Romney's 1981 arrest for disorderly conduct". Deseret News. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Rucker, Philip (March 14, 2012). "Mitt Romney's dog-on-the-car-roof story still proves to be his critics' best friend". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- Phillips, Frank (May 5, 1994). "GOP hopeful arrested in 1981; Charge dismissed in boating case". The Boston Globe. p. 37. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011.
- Swidey, Neil (January 8, 2012). "What our fascination with Mitt Romney's dog Seamus says about our culture". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 10, 2012.
- ^ Pappu, Sridhar (September 2005). "The Holy Cow! Candidate". The Atlantic Monthly. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- ^ Sorkin, Andrew Ross (June 4, 2007). "Romney's Presidential Run Puts Spotlight on Bain Capital". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 7, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- ^ Blum, Justin; Lerer, Lisa (July 20, 2011). "Romney's Record Defies Image as Job-Creator". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- McKibben, Gordon (October 30, 1990). "Bain & Co. plans major layoffs, Boston staff hardest hit". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013.
- ^ Lewis, Diane E. (January 30, 1991). "Bain agrees to reshape ownership". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013.
- ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine (January 30, 1991). "Bain Names Chief Executive And Begins a Reorganization". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- Romney, Mitt (June 21, 1998). "Dad's ideas live on – and in others". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013.
- Nyhan, David (May 28, 1995). "They're trying to sell volunteerism up the river". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013.
- Romney, Turnaround, pp. 15–16.
- ^ Wallace-Wells, Benjamin (October 23, 2011). "Mitt Romney and the 1% Economy". New York. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
- "Bain Capital's Romney aiming for politics after Olympics". Boston Business Journal. August 23, 2001. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2007.
- ^ Maremont, Mark (January 9, 2012). "Romney at Bain: Big Gains, Some Busts". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Kranish; Helman, The Real Romney, pp. 141, 155.
- ^ Confessore, Nicholas; Drew, Christopher; Creswell, Julie (December 18, 2011). "Buyout Profits Keep Flowing to Romney". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 19, 2011.
- ^ Barbaro, Michael (November 13, 2011). "After a Romney Deal, Profits and Then Layoffs". The New York Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011.
- Hicks, Josh (November 2, 2011). "Romney's claims about Bain Capital job creation". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- Hagey, Keach (January 11, 2012). "Mitt Romney's Bain Capital days: A black box". Politico. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
- ^ Gavin, Robert (January 27, 2008). "As Bain slashed jobs, Romney stayed to side". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013.
- Kessler, Glenn (July 25, 2012). "Did Mitt Romney get a 'bailout' for Bain & Company?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- Johnson, Glen (February 24, 2007). "Romney urges states to divest from Iran despite links to business interests there". Telegram & Gazette. Worcester. Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- Hewitt, A Mormon in the White House, p. 51.
- Phillips, Frank (October 8, 1994). "Romney agrees to talk; union balks". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013.
- Vaillancourt, Meg (October 10, 1994). "Romney meets with strikers Ind. workers say nothing resolved". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013.
- Phillips, Frank (January 5, 1995). "Strike-bound factory tied to Romney during US Senate race is set to close". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013.
- Farragher, Thomas; Nelson, Scott Bernard (October 24, 2002). "Business record helps, hinders Romney". The Boston Globe. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 3, 2002.
- ^ Healy, Beth; Kranish, Michael (July 20, 2012). "Romney kept reins, bargained hard on severance". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012.
- ^ Borchers, Callum; Rowland, Christopher (July 12, 2012). "Romney Stayed Longer at Bain". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012.
- Gatlin, Greg (February 12, 1999). "Romney Looks To Restore Olympic Pride". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
- ^ Braun, Stephen; Gillum, Jack (July 25, 2012). "Fact Check: Romney Met Bain Partners After Exit". The Macomb Daily. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- Burns, Alexander (July 12, 2012). "Mitt Romney did business in Massachusetts during Olympics". Politico. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
- ^ Roche, Lisa Riley; Bernick Jr., Bob (August 20, 2001). "Public service for Romney". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Kuhnhenn, Jim (August 14, 2007). "Romney Worth As Much As $250 Million". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
- ^ Horowitz, Jason (August 19, 2012). "Romney's rise through the ranks of the Mormon Church in Boston". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Pappu, Sridhar (December 15, 2007). "In Mitt Romney's Neighborhood, A Mormon Temple Casts a Shadow". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (October 15, 2011). "For Romney, a Role of Faith and Authority". The New York Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Semuels, Alana (December 7, 2011). "Romney, an active man of faith". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Brady-Myerov, Monica (December 6, 2011). "At Belmont Temple, Romney Was An Influential Leader". WBUR. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Hersh, The Shadow President, p. 123.
- Parker, Ashley (December 13, 2011). "As Rivalry Tightens, Romney Is Reflective". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2011.
- ^ Hersh, The Shadow President, p. 139.
- Canellos, The Last Lion, p. 295.
- ^ Gross, Daniel (February 26, 2007). "The CEO Candidate". Slate. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Kahn, Joseph P. (February 19, 2009). "Ted Kennedy: Chapter 5: Trials & Redemptions: An untidy private life, then a turn to stability". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on February 22, 2009.
- Marcus, Ruth (October 21, 1994). "Clinton Gets a Sense of the Real Thing; Kennedy and Massachusetts Democrats Put on a Campaign Rally". The Washington Post.
- Trott, Robert W. (July 17, 1994). "Ted Kennedy lacks luster as he seeks re-election". Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. Associated Press. p. 12C. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Phillips, Frank (April 5, 1994). "Romney leads GOP Senate hopefuls in race for funds". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
- Hersh, The Shadow President, pp. 124, 126–127.
- Phillips, Frank (May 15, 1994). "Romney wins GOP approval; Given the nod for US Senate". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
- "Romney will oppose Sen. Kennedy in Nov". The Providence Journal. Associated Press. September 21, 1994. p. B1.
- Clymer, Edward M. Kennedy, p. 549.
- "DNC calls out Romney's evolving affection for Reagan". PolitiFact.com. November 29, 2011. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Clymer, Edward M. Kennedy, p. 553.
- Hersh, The Shadow President, pp. 128–129, 139.
- Rimer, Sarah (September 24, 1994). "Kennedy's Wife Is Giving Him a Political Advantage in a Difficult Contest". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- Gordon, Al (October 2, 1994). "Kennedy in Fight of His Political Life". Newsday, Nassau and Suffolk edition. p. A4. Archived from the original on August 30, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
- Hersh, The Shadow President, pp. 141–142.
- ^ Montopoli, Brian (January 16, 2012). "Romney contradicts past comments on abortion". CBS News. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- Apple Jr.; R. W. (October 26, 1994). "Kennedy and Romney Meet, and the Rancor Flows Freely". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- Clymer, Adam (October 27, 1994). "Kennedy and Romney Look to Round 2". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- Lehigh, Scot (November 8, 1994). "2 million may vote on Weld–Roosevelt, Kennedy–Romney". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
- "Kennedy reports $1.3 million debt". The Gainesville Sun. August 1, 1995. p. 5A. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Kennedy, Edward M. (2009). True Compass. Twelve. p. 448. ISBN 978-0-446-53925-8.
- ^ Johnson, Kirk (September 19, 2007). "In Olympics Success, Romney Found New Edge". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007.
- "Ann Romney: From the Saddle to the Campaign Trail". ABC News. August 14, 2007. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2007.
- ^ Zernike, Kate (February 12, 2002). "Olympics: The Man in Charge: Romney's Future After Salt Lake A Guessing Game". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011.
- ^ Hohler, Bob (June 28, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 5: In Games, a showcase for future races". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 12, 2010. Also available from HighBeam. Also available as "Mitt used Games role for political impetus". Deseret News Morning News. July 5, 2007. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007.
- ^ Call, Jeff (Winter 2002). "The Fire Within". BYU Magazine. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- "Officials deny Salt Lake could lose 2002 Olympics". The Bryan Times. Associated Press. January 12, 1999. p. 13. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- "Man who led Salt Lake's Olympic bid denies wrongdoing". CNN. January 10, 1999. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Ostling, Richard; Ostling, Joan (1999). Mormon America: The Power and the Promise. HarperCollins. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-06-066372-8.
- Hohler, Bob (June 28, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Romney's Olympic ties helped him reap campaign funds". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 8, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Drogin, Bob (February 3, 2008). "GOP spat began with Olympics". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Karl, Jonathan (March 2, 2012). "In '02 Romney touted D.C. connections, federal funds". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Dobner, Jennifer; Hunt, Kasie (February 18, 2012). "Romney led Olympics to success – with some help". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ Helderman, Rosalind S. (February 16, 2012). "Romney's work on Olympics, Mass. projects reveals complex history with earmarks". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Isikoff, Michael (February 18, 2012). "Salt Lake City Olympics Earmarks a Double-Edged Sword for Romney". NBC News. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012.
- Hunt, Kasie (February 18, 2012). "Romney cites Olympics success, rivals are leery". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Khan, Azmat (October 1, 2012). "Artifact 10: Mitt Romney's Olympic Pins". Frontline. PBS. Archived from the original on September 24, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Shipley, Amy (February 12, 2012). "10 years after Salt Lake City Olympics, questions about Romney's contributions". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- "SLOC plotting how to dole out Olympics profits". ESPN. Associated Press. September 17, 2002. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Barone and Cohen, The Almanac of American Politics 2004, p. 772.
- Darman, Jonathan; Miller, Lida (October 1, 2007). "Mitt's Mission". Newsweek. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Lightman, David (January 12, 2008). "Candidate known as turnaround artist". The Island Packet. McClatchy-Tribune News Service. Archived from the original on June 14, 2013.
- Frank, Mitch (March 21, 2002). "Jane Swift Takes One For the Team". Time. Archived from the original on April 6, 2003.
- Berwick Jr., Bob; Roche, Lisa Riley. "Boston GOP beseeching Mitt: But hero of S.L. Games is coy about his future" Archived March 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Deseret News (Salt Lake City), February 22, 2002.
- Zeleny, Jeff (March 20, 2002). "GOP's Swift drops out". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
- Kranish; Helman, The Real Romney, pp. 224–225.
- ^ "Swift exits, Romney joins Mass. governor's race". CNN. March 19, 2002. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ "Vote 2002: Massachusetts Governor's Race". PBS NewsHour. PBS. Archived from the original on June 25, 2003. Retrieved November 1, 2006.
- Guarino, David R.; Crummy, Karen E. (June 8, 2002). "State Dems file challenge on residency of Romney". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
- Butterfield, Fox (June 8, 2002). "Republican's Candidacy Is Challenged By Democrats". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 20, 2013.
- Osnos, Evan (June 25, 2002). "Mass. board confirms GOP gubernatorial candidate's residency". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
- ^ Mooney, Brian (June 29, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 6: Taking office, remaining an outsider". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 12, 2010. Also available in HighBeam. Also available as "Romney took on 'outsider' role at helm of Bay State" Archived February 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Deseret Morning News, July 6, 2007.
- Killough, Ashley (December 13, 2011). "Democrats rail against Romney over decade-old comments". CNN. Archived from the original on December 14, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2011. See "Romney in 2002: I'm "Moderate," "Progressive," and "Not a Partisan Republican" Archived December 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine" for video.
- ^ Mooney, Brian C.; Ebbert, Stephanie; Helman, Scott (June 30, 2007). "The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 7: Ambitious goals; shifting stances". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020. Also available in HighBeam.
- ^ Bayles, Fred (October 16, 2002). "Romney may be losing his touch in Mass". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- Cillizza, Chris (July 5, 2007). "Romney's Data Cruncher". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Klein, Rick (September 26, 2002). "New Ads, 'Work Days' Show Down-to-Earth Candidate". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 2, 2002. Also available with photo as "Mitt takes his shirt off as campaign heats up" Archived December 4, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Deseret News, September 27, 2002.
- ^ Miga, Andrew (April 5, 2012). "Don't expect a warm and fuzzy Romney this fall". The Post and Courier. Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
- Belluck, Pam (November 2, 2002). "Tight and Heated Race Rages in Massachusetts". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 20, 2013.
- Mooney, Brian C. (August 22, 2006). "Gabrieli surpasses spending record". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009.
- Bunker, Ted (November 11, 2002). "Donor cash still floods campaigns". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on November 29, 2012.
- Barone and Cohen, Almanac of American Politics 2004, p. 773.
- Peter, Jennifer (January 3, 2003). "Romney takes oath as governor". Bangor Daily News. p. B2. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Barone and Cohen, Almanac of American Politics 2008, p. 789.
- ^ Cohn, Jonathan (July 2, 2007). "Parent Trap: How Mitt Romney un-became his father". The New Republic. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
- "Romney says he'd donate his salary". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. May 30, 2007. p. 5A. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Landrigan, Kevin (December 13, 2007). "Taxing Matter". The Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008.
- "More Mitt Missteps". FactCheck. July 9, 2007. Archived from the original on July 11, 2007.
- ^ "Information Statement Supplement" (PDF). The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. December 4, 2008. p. A–12. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- Carroll, Matt (January 7, 2007). "Patrick's reversal of cuts brings joy". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008.
- "Patrick says state has $1 billion deficit". WHDH. Associated Press. January 5, 2007. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007.
- Frank Phillips; Andrea Estes (February 28, 2007). "Patrick says budget 'without gimmicks'". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 5, 2007.
- ^ Barbaro, Michael (October 1, 2011). "Seeking Taxes, Romney Went After Business". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011.
- ^ Greenberger, Scott S. (January 31, 2005). "Romney, Businesses Wrangle on 'Loopholes'". The Boston Globe. p. A1. Archived from the original on February 23, 2006.
- Viser, Matt (December 18, 2005). "Property taxes still on rise in Mass". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009.
- Barrick, Daniel (May 3, 2007). "Romney's vetoes seldom stood". Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012.
- Sahadi, Jeanne (January 23, 2012). "Is Romney a tax cutter?". CNN. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ Mooney, Brian C. (May 30, 2011). "Romney and health care: In the thick of history". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
- ^ Belluck, Pam (April 25, 2010). "On Health Care, Massachusetts Leaders Invoke Action, Not Talk". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 11, 2006.
- Canellos, The Last Lion, p. 300.
- ^ Helman, Scott & Kowalczyk, Liz (April 13, 2006). "Mass. governor signs health bill, with vetoes". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 21, 2006.
- Crook, Clive (June 2006). "The Massachusetts Experiment". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2006.
- Dembner, Alice (January 20, 2007). "Sticker shock for state care plan". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ LeBlanc, Steve (April 26, 2006). "Mass. House Overrides Gov. Romney Veto of Health Care Fee". Insurance Journal. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- Geisel, Jerry (December 14, 2010). "Massachusetts' insured rate hits 98.1%: Analysis". Business Insurance. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011.
- ^ Mehren, Elizabeth (June 17, 2005). "Massachusetts ballot initiative could halt same-sex marriages". Los Angeles Times. p. 4A. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020 – via Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- "Mitt Romney on the Issues". Romney for Governor 2002. Archived from the original on December 18, 2002. Retrieved December 11, 2006.
- ^ Phillips, Frank (February 23, 2005). "Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 6, 2009.
- Abraham, Yvonne; Phillips, Frank (May 19, 2004). "Romney Eyes Order on Licenses; Seeks to Halt Marriage of Gay Outsiders". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008.
- Romney, Mitt (June 22, 2004). Testimony of Honorable Mitt Romney, Governor, Massachusetts (Speech). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012.
- Romney, Mitt (June 2, 2006). "The Importance of Protecting Marriage". Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- Draper, Robert (October 2, 2012). "The Mitt Romney Who Might Have Been". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021.
- Greenberger, Scott S. (September 16, 2005). "Lawmakers override governor's contraception veto: Move will ease morning-after pill's availability". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- Greenberger, Scott S. (December 21, 2005). "7 states sign emissions pact". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 28, 2005.
- Barone and Cohen, The Almanac of American Politics 2006, p. 809.
- Bradley, Nina (August 29, 2004). "Is Romney ready for the big time?: Mass. Gov. gets plum prime-time speaking spot during convention". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, p. 238.
- Przybyla, Heidi (December 14, 2005). "Romney Says He Won't Seek Second Term as Governor". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015.
- "Romney out of state 212 days so far in 2006". EdgeBoston.com. Associated Press. December 26, 2006. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
- ^ Mason, Edward; Mashberg, Tom (December 9, 2011). "Mitt has Always Plummeted in the Polls". Salon.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Barone and Cohen, Almanac of American Politics 2008, p. 790.
- "Approval Ratings for All 50 Governors as of 11/20/06". SurveyUSA. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
- Phillips, Frank (September 30, 2006). "Patrick has a Big Lead in New Poll". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 15, 2006.
- "Romney Takes Step Toward an '08 Run". The New York Times. January 4, 2007. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007.
- ^ Helman, Scott; Ryan, Andrew (February 14, 2007). "On big day, Mass. gets little note". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 25, 2007.
- Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, p. 239.
- Struglinski, Suzanne (February 13, 2007). "Romney officially enters presidential race". Deseret News Morning News. Salt Lake City. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
- ^ Heilemann and Halperin, Game Change, pp. 293–294.
- Libert, Barry; Faulk, Rick (2009). Barack, Inc.: Winning Business Lessons of the Obama Campaign. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: FT Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-13-702207-6.
- Webber, Alan M. (February 22, 2012). "Does America need a CEO in the Oval Office?". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Glass, Andrew (January 13, 2008). "Romney plays nostalgia card in Michigan". Politico. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Cassels, Louis (March 11, 1967). "Romney Insists His Mormon Faith Won't Mar His Liberal Stand". Baltimore Afro-American. United Press International. p. 4. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- "'Meet the Press' transcript for Dec. 16, 2007". Meet the Press. NBC News. December 16, 2007. Archived from the original on December 29, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Melanson, Mike (September 13, 2003). "Ann Romney tackles multiple sclerosis head-on". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on September 19, 2003.
- ^ Fiore, Fay (November 24, 2007). "Working to break his own storybook spell". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Draper, Robert (February 1, 2008). "Almost Human". GQ. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- James, Susan Donaldson (October 18, 2011). "Caveman Politics: Americans Like Their Presidents Tall". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Darman, Jonathan; Thomas, Evan (February 25, 2007). "Governor Romney, Meet Governor Romney". Newsweek. Archived from the original on March 9, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- "'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for Feb. 13". Hardball with Chris Matthews. NBC News. February 14, 2007.
- Leibovich, Mark (December 30, 2007). "Obama on Language". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- "Mr Smooth of Massachusetts". The Economist. July 5, 2007. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- Simon, Roger (February 13, 2007). "Is Romney Too Good To Be True?". Politico. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- "Transcript: Glenn Beck, January 3, 2007: "Are We Ready for Another Attack?; 2008 Elections Gearing Up"". Glenn Beck Program. CNN Headline News. January 3, 2007. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Heilemann and Halperin, Game Change, pp. 294–295.
- Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, pp. 251–252.
- Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, p. 247.
- Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, pp. 261–263.
- Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, p. 276.
- Feldmann, Linda (December 11, 2007). "Romney moves to allay Mormon concerns directly". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ "Mitt Romney Pledges to Serve No One Religion in Faith Speech". Fox News. December 6, 2007. Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
- ^ McPike, Erin (December 6, 2007). "On the Ground at Romney Speech". MSNBC. Archived from the original on December 8, 2007.
- ^ Campbell, David; Green, John Green; Monson, J. Quin (2009). Framing Faith: How Voters Responded to Candidates' Religions in the 2008 Presidential Campaign (PDF). Annual meeting of the American Political Science Association. Toronto. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2010.
- ^ Monson, J. Quin; Riding, Scott (2009). Social Equality Norms for Race, Gender and Religion in the American Public During the 2008 Presidential Primaries (PDF). The Transformative Election of 2008. Mershon Center for International Security Studies, Ohio State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011.
- Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, p. 251.
- ^ Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, pp. 280–281.
- Preston, Mark; Hamby, Peter; Bash, Dana; Crowley, Candy (January 4, 2008). "Huckabee, Obama have huge night in Iowa". CNN. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Issenberg, Sasha (August 30, 2009). "The Long-Distance Runner". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- Thomas, "A Long Time Coming", p. 45.
- ^ Zeleny, Jeff (March 5, 2011). "To Quiet Critics, Romney Puts 2012 Focus on Jobs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011.
- ^ Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, pp. 283–285.
- ^ Heilemann and Halperin, Game Change, pp. 312–313.
- ^ "Romney suspends presidential campaign". CNN. February 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
- "Election Center 2008: Delegate Scorecard". CNN. Archived from the original on June 4, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
- "2008 Republican Popular Vote". RealClearPolitics. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
- ^ Sidoti, Liz (February 14, 2008). "Ex-GOP candidate Romney endorses McCain". Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 15, 2008.
- Kranish, Michael (July 17, 2008). "Romney not getting his $45m back: Says he won't seek gifts to repay campaign loans". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009.
- Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, pp. 328, 331.
- Balz and Johnson, The Battle for America 2008, pp. 334–335.
- Memoli, Michael A. (March 21, 2012). "Romney: It was Bush, not Obama, who averted second Depression". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Moorhead, Molly (November 28, 2011). "Mitt Romney changes position on TARP, DNC says". PolitiFact.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Mitt Romney (November 18, 2008). "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Note that the title of this op-ed was written by the newspaper; Romney originally submitted it as "The Way Forward for the Auto Industry". See May 8, 2012, New York Times Ashley Parker blog entry "Having Opposed Auto Bailout, Romney Now Takes Credit for Rebound" Archived September 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- Phillips, Frank (December 8, 2008). "Romney paves way for possible '12 run". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 12, 2008.
- Hiar, Corbin (March 5, 2012). "Money for Love? Romney Campaign Gives Over $1.7 Million to Republicans". HuffPost. Center for Public Integrity. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
- ^ Martin, Jonathan (June 29, 2009). "Mitt Romney's team awaits 2012". Politico. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- Cannon, Carl M. (June 2, 2009). "Mitt's Makeover: Channeling Reagan for 2012 Run". Politics Daily. Archived from the original on June 5, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
- Confessore, Nicholas (August 12, 2011). "Romney's Assets Top $190 Million". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020.
- ^ "Mitt Romney stepping down from Marriott board, again". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Associated Press. January 13, 2011. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Drucker, Jesse (February 23, 2012). "Romney as Audit Chair Saw Marriott Son of BOSS Shelter Defy IRS". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on January 25, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- Greenberg, Jon (August 9, 2012). "Barack Obama links Mitt Romney to infamous tax shelter 'Son of Boss'". PolitiFact.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ McPike, Erin; Barnes, James A. (May 6, 2009). "A Granite State Home Base For Romney?". The Hotline. Archived from the original on May 9, 2009.
- Abel, David (February 17, 2009). "2 Romney estates hit the market". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 12, 2010.
- ^ Johnson, Glen (April 19, 2010). "GOP's Romney takes to life in new California home". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- Levenson, Michael (December 6, 2008). "Ann Romney has surgery to remove precancerous lump". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- Issenberg, Sasha (August 24, 2010). "A 25-state midterm swing for Romney". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- Gibson, Jake (February 16, 2010). "Romney Assaulted on Flight Leaving Olympics". Fox News. Archived from the original on February 19, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- "Is 'Vulcan Grip' Rapper Sky Blu, Who Tussled With Mitt Romney, the Nerdiest Hip-Hop Artist Ever?". The Wall Street Journal. February 19, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
- Tacopino, Joe (February 19, 2010). "Sky Blu of LMFAO claims Mitt Romney got physical first on flight from Vancouver". Daily News. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- Barr, Andy (January 4, 2010). "Mitt Romney headed to Iowa". Politico. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
- ^ Altman, Alex (March 3, 2010). "The Skimmer: Mitt Romney's 'No Apology'". Time. Archived from the original on March 6, 2010.
- Issenberg, Sasha (March 2, 2010). "In book, Romney styles himself wonk, not warrior". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- Zimmermann, Eric (March 13, 2010). "Romney tops bestseller list, but with an asterisk". The Hill. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Viser, Matt (August 13, 2011). "Romney worth between $190m and $250m, campaign says". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
- ^ Johnson, Glen (March 26, 2010). "Romneycare may come back to haunt Mitt on health issue". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Johnson, Glen (December 15, 2010). "Health Mandate Cases to Loom Over 2012 Romney Run". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
- Issenberg, Sasha (March 30, 2010). "Romney defends Mass. health care law". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- "GOP Insiders Sour On Palin". The Hotline. January 7, 2010. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010.
- Burns, Alexander (October 13, 2010). "Mitt Romney's plan: Go big, go everywhere". Politico. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Vogel, Kenneth P. (October 14, 2010). "Romney's $1.7 million tops field". Politico. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Martin, Jonathan; Burns, Alexander (April 12, 2011). "5 challenges for front-runner Mitt Romney". Politico. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Steinhauser, Paul; Yoon, Robert (April 11, 2011). "Romney forms presidential exploratory committee". CNN. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Viser, Matt (April 12, 2011). "Romney takes next big step toward run for president". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Lewis, Matt (October 20, 2009). "Palin or Romney: Republicans Weigh Passion vs. Principle". Politics Daily. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
- ^ Shear, Michael D. (June 2, 2011). "Romney, Opening Race, Presents Himself as the Candidate to Face Obama". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
- ^ Burns, Alexander (May 17, 2011). "X factor: 5 questions for the GOP race". Politico. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Green, Joshua (May 5, 2011). "The Do-Nothing Frontrunner". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- ^ Martin, Jonathan (May 22, 2011). "With Mitch Daniels out, GOP looking for new 2012 option". Politico. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Condon, Stephanie (June 2, 2011). "Romney launches presidential bid with Obama 'misery index' attack". CBS News. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011.
- Shear, Michael D. (January 13, 2012). "Obama Raised $42 Million in Last Quarter of '11". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012.
- Viser, Matt (October 15, 2011). "Romney raises $14.2m last quarter, but trails Perry". The Boston Globe.
- Smith, Ben (August 1, 2011). "Mitt Romney's low-profile strategy". Politico.
- "Accelerating GOP Race Poised to Test Perry's Staying Power, Romney's Obama Strategy". Fox News. September 3, 2011.
- Kucinich, Jackie (September 25, 2011). "GOP debates signal a race between Romney and Perry". USA Today.
- ^ Babington, Charles (October 5, 2011). "With GOP Field Set, Romney Woos The Unconvinced". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012.
- Tulumello, Jennifer Skalka (November 11, 2011). "Newt Gingrich: Will his mini-surge in the polls last?". The Christian Science Monitor.
- Stirewalt, Chris (September 29, 2011). "Cain and Gingrich Benefit from Perry Swoon". Fox News.
- "Cain Suspends Presidential Campaign, Cites 'Hurt' Caused by 'False' Allegations". Fox News. December 3, 2011.
- Saad, Lydia (October 10, 2011). "Cain Surges, Nearly Ties Romney for Lead in GOP Preferences". The Gallup Organization.
- Klein, Joe (December 1, 2011). "Why Don't They Like Mitt?". Time.
- Elliot, Philip (October 9, 2011). "Romney rivals may go after him for flip-flops". The Boston Globe. Associated Press.
- ^ Davenport, Coral (October 28, 2011). "Mitt Romney's shifting views on climate change". CBS News.
- Wallsten, Peter (November 3, 2011). "Romney says he's been consistent". The Washington Post.
- Allen, Mike (December 12, 2011). "Mitt Romney on Newt Gingrich: He's the front-runner". Politico.
- Montopoli, Brian (December 19, 2011). "Poll: Newt Gingrich's lead over Romney is gone". CBS News.
- "Romney defeats Santorum by 8 votes in Iowa". CNN. January 4, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Silver, Nate (January 19, 2012). "The Semantics and Statistics of Santorum's Win in Iowa". FiveThirtyEight, The New York Times.
- "Romney secures front-runner status with New Hampshire win, looks to take momentum into South Carolina". Fox News. January 11, 2012.
- ^ "Romney, Gingrich tangle over ads in South Carolina". Fox News. January 13, 2012.
- Lee, MJ (January 12, 2012). "Sarah Palin: Mitt Romney needs Bain show & tell". Politico.
- Kantrow, Yvette. (January 23, 2012). Romney's Bain. HuffPost.
- Dowd, Maureen. (January 10, 2012). A Perfect Doll. New York Times.
- Porritt, Richard. (April 13, 2012). Rivals force Mitt Romney to defend former life as an 'asset stripper. Evening Standard.
- ^ Thomma, Steven; Lightman, David; Smith, Gina (January 21, 2012). "Gingrich wins huge come-from-behind victory in South Carolina". McClatchy Newspapers. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- Dickerson, John (January 20, 2012). "The Brawl". Slate. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Peoples, Steve (January 22, 2012). "Mitt Romney will release tax returns Tuesday; rival Newt Gingrich calls himself most electable GOP candidate". MassLive.com. Associated Press.
- Burns, Alexander; Bravender, Robin (January 24, 2012). "Florida Republican primary is 'Armageddon'". Politico.
- Rutenberg, Jim; Zeleny, Jeff (January 28, 2012). "The Calculations That Led Romney to the Warpath". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012.
- Cohen, Tom; Steinhauser, Paul (February 1, 2012). "Romney claims victory in Florida, builds new momentum". CNN.
- Steinhauser, Paul (February 14, 2012). "Polls: All tied up between Romney and Santorum". CNN. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Fahrenthold, David A. (February 10, 2012). "Mitt Romney was 'severely conservative', he tells CPAC". The Washington Post.
- Phillips, Frank (December 22, 2005). "Romney says media distort his views: insists positions moderate in US, except in Mass". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 27, 2006.
- Silverleib, Mark Preston,Alan (February 2, 2012). "Trump endorses Romney". CNN. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Cohen, Tom (February 28, 2012). "Romney wins Michigan and Arizona". CNN.
- Blake, Aaron (February 29, 2012). "Mitt Romney wins Wyoming caucuses". The Washington Post.
- "Romney builds delegate lead with Super Tuesday wins". Fox News. March 7, 2012.
- "Romney sweeps 3 primary contests, eyes general election battle". Fox News. April 4, 2012.
- Cohen, Tom (April 10, 2012). "Santorum suspends campaign, clearing Romney's path". CNN.
- Memoli, Michael A. (April 25, 2012). "RNC officially names Mitt Romney the party's 'presumptive nominee'". Los Angeles Times.
- Haberman, Maggie (July 5, 2012). "7 points that could tip the election". Politico.
- Peters, Jeremy W. (July 25, 2012). "Negative Ads Hit at Identity to Shape Race for Presidency". The New York Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on July 26, 2012.
- Gibson, Ginger (September 21, 2012). "Mitt Romney releases 2011 tax returns". Politico.
- Shear, Michael D.; Gabriel, Trip (July 18, 2012). "Romney Steadfast in the Face of Growing Calls to Release More Tax Returns". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012.
- ^ Kranish, Michael (December 23, 2012). "Mitt Romney was hesitant to reveal himself". The Boston Globe.
- Hunt, Kasie (July 31, 2012). "Romney hails US-Polish ties during visit to Warsaw". The Guardian. Associated Press.
- Condon, Stephanie (July 26, 2012). "British papers blast Mitt Romney". CBS News.
- Watt, Nicholas; Mulholland, Hélène; Gibson, Owen (July 27, 2012). "Mitt Romney's Olympics blunder stuns No 10 and hands gift to Obama". The Guardian.
- McLaughlin, Seth (July 31, 2012). "Romney's trip a bumpy ride". The Washington Times. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Hunt, Kasie (August 11, 2012). "It's Paul Ryan: Romney picks Wis. Rep. for No. 2". Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
- Caldwell, Leigh Ann (August 28, 2012). "Republican delegates nominate Mitt Romney". CBS News. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- "Romney's nomination seen as positive for Mormons". Arizona Daily Star. Associated Press. September 3, 2012.
- MacAskill, Ewan (September 17, 2012). "Mitt Romney under fire after comments caught on video". The Guardian.
- Rucker, Philip (October 1, 2012). "Romney's '47 percent' comments aren't going away, and they're taking a toll". The Washington Post.
- "Mitt Romney and the 47 percent: Looking at the facts". The Star-Ledger. Newark. September 18, 2012.
- ^ Rutenberg, Jim; Baker, Peter (October 4, 2012). "Campaign Gains a New Intensity in Debate's Wake". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012.
- Johnson, Luke (March 26, 2012). "Mitt Romney: Russia Is 'Our Number One Geopolitical Foe'". HuffPost.
- Friedman, Emily (March 26, 2012). "Mitt Romney Says Russia Is No. 1 Geopolitical Foe". ABC News.
- Williams, Matt (September 2, 2012). "Joe Biden leads Democratic attacks on Romney before Charlotte convention". The Guardian.
- Conroy, Scott (March 29, 2012). "Romney's Russia Comments Reflect Long-Held Distrust". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ Rothman, Noah (March 3, 2014). "Rothman: MSNBC's Most Embarrassing Mockery of Romney's Russia Warnings". Mediaite. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- Haberman, Maggie (April 2012). "Hillary Clinton calls Romney's Russia comments 'dated' (Updated)". Politico.
- "Biden and Clinton hit Romney for 'dated' comments on Russia". NewsComAu. April 1, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- "Biden, Clinton hit back at Romney". Toronto Sun. Reuters. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- "Kerry Calls Romney's Russia Position 'Breathtakingly Off Target'". news.yahoo.com. May 25, 2012.
- "Video: John Kerry Aims International Zingers at Mitt Romney". ABC News. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- Shelly, Matthew (June 19, 2012). "Romney Keeps Up Attacks on Russia". news.yahoo.com.
- "In debate, Romney reiterates Russia is 'geopolitical foe' of US". The Christian Science Monitor. October 23, 2012.
- "Romney's debate performance was presidential game changer, analysts say". The Star-Ledger. Newark. October 5, 2012.
- Page, Susan (October 25, 2012). "Poll: An Obama comeback, but a Romney edge on debates". USA Today.
- Gambrell, Mandy (November 7, 2012). "Latest: Obama, Biden declared winners". WHIO-TV. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- "Obama defeats Romney to win second term, vows he has 'more work to do'". Fox News. November 7, 2012.
- Memoli, Michael A. (January 4, 2013). "It's official: Obama, Biden win second term". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Crawford, Jan (November 8, 2012). "Adviser: Romney 'shellshocked' by loss". CBS News.
- Balz, Dan (July 28, 2013). "How the Obama campaign won the race for voter data". The Washington Post.
- O'Brien, Michael (November 7, 2012). "Victorious Obama 'more determined' in face of challenges". NBC News.
- Santucci, John; Good, Chris; Walshe, Shushannah (November 15, 2012). "Everything Romney said to explain away loss". ABC News.
- Parker, Ashley (November 14, 2012). "Romney blames loss on Obama's 'gifts' to minorities and young voters". The New York Times.
- Reston, Maeve (November 15, 2012). "Romney attributes loss to 'gifts' Obama gave minorities". Los Angeles Times.
- Wallace, Gregory (November 18, 2012). "Gingrich: Romney 'gifts' comment 'nuts'". CNN. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- Falcone, Michael (November 17, 2012). "Republicans Mourning for Mitt Romney? Not So Much". ABC News.
- Rucker, Phillip (December 1, 2012). "A detached Romney tends wounds in seclusion after failed White House bid". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Hall, Matthew T. (December 12, 2012). "Hall: Stop taking pictures of Mitt in La Jolla". U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Bomkamp, Samantha (December 3, 2012). "Mitt Romney rejoins Marriott board". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Whitesides, John (March 3, 2013). "A reflective Romney emerges from seclusion, rips Obama". Reuters. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Miller, Jake (March 3, 2013). "Mitt Romney: 'It kills me' to not be in the White House". CBS News. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Leibovich, Mark (September 30, 2014). "Mitt Isn't Ready to Call It Quits". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on September 30, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Viser, Matt; Kranish, Michael (November 4, 2013). "Mitt Romney carefully looks to raise public voice". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- "Mitt Romney Buys Massive Park City, Utah Mansion". Forbes. October 8, 2013.
- ^ Burr, Thomas (October 2, 2014). "Despite voter-registration snafu Mitt Romney not shunning GOP". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Canham, Matt; Burr, Thomas (October 26, 2013). "The hidden room inside Mitt Romney's new Utah house". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Humphreys, Adrian (November 3, 2012). "Mitt Romney's Canadian 'white house': Family has vacationed at cottage in private, gated Ontario community for 60 years". National Post. Toronto. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Logiurato, Brett (January 25, 2014). "The New Mitt Romney Documentary Is Fantastic, and It Exposes the Fundamental Flaw in a Lot of Campaigns". Business Insider. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Viser, Matt (February 15, 2014). "No, no, not again, Mitt Romney says". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Clift, Eleanor (February 7, 2014). "Mitt Romney on the 2016 Comeback Trail". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Spaeth, Ryu (August 29, 2014). "The amazing resurrection of Mitt Romney". The Week. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Costa, Robert (April 18, 2014). "Mitt Romney returns to political stage as Republicans prepare for midterms". The Washington Post.
- Rucker, Philip; Costa, Robert (October 13, 2014). "Can't quit Mitt: Friends say Romney feels nudge to consider a 2016 presidential run". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Rucker, Philip (January 8, 2018). "Mitt Romney was 'treated successfully' for prostate cancer". Retrieved January 9, 2018 – via WashingtonPost.com.
- Woodruff, Judy (March 3, 2016). "Romney reappears to lead GOP charge against 'phony' Trump". PBS. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- Kurtz, Howard (September 3, 2014). "Romney Redux: Is the media chorus for another Mitt campaign just a fantasy?". Fox News. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Terbush, Jon (July 27, 2014). "Americans really wish they had elected Mitt Romney instead of Obama". Theweek.com. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- Rothman, Noah (July 27, 2014). "If voters had it to do over, Romney in a landslide". Hot Air. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- O'Connor, Patrick; Reinhard, Beth (January 9, 2015). "Romney Tells Donors He Is Considering 2016 White House Bid". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Costa, Robert; Rucker, Philip; Tumulty, Karen (January 12, 2015). "Romney moves to reassemble campaign team for 'almost certain' 2016 bid". The Washington Post.
- Cohn, Nate (April 9, 2015). "The G.O.P. Presidential Field Looks Chaotic. It's Not". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Glueck, Katie (January 15, 2015). "Mitt Romney backlash intensifies". Politico. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Parker, Ashley; Martin, Jonathan (January 30, 2015). "Support Waning, Romney Decides Against 2016 Bid". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Gomez, Serafin (January 30, 2015). "Romney announces he will not run for president in 2016". Fox News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- "Text of Romney's Statement on Decision Not to Run in 2016". The Wall Street Journal. January 30, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Burns, Alexander; Haberman, Maggie; Martin, Jonathan (February 27, 2016). "Inside the Republican Party's Desperate Mission to Stop Donald Trump". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 27, 2016.
- Vlahos, Kelly (February 25, 2016). "Romney stands by Trump tax criticism, though offers no proof". Fox News.
- "Transcript of Mitt Romney's Speech on Donald Trump". The New York Times. March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- Smith, Allan (March 3, 2016). "Mitt Romney fried Donald Trump in an epic speech". Yahoo! Finance. Business Insider. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ O'Keefe, Ed (March 3, 2016). "Mitt Romney slams 'phony' Trump: He's playing 'the American public for suckers'". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Collinson, Stephen (March 5, 2016). "GOP at war with itself". CNN. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Benen, Steve (March 21, 2016). "Mitt Romney picks a side (sort of)". MSNBC. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
- Holland, Steve (March 4, 2016). "Republican Romney calls Trump 'a fraud,' creates pathway to contested convention". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Schleifer, Theodore (March 19, 2016). "Mitt Romney to vote for Ted Cruz in Utah". CNN.
- Altman, Alex (March 11, 2016). "Marco Rubio Says Ohio Should Vote Kasich to Stop Trump". Time. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Detrow, Scott (April 25, 2016). "The Cruz-Kasich Deal: Will Their Alliance Against Trump Work?". NPR. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Trudo, Hanna (May 6, 2016). "Romney says he won't back Trump". Politico. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Conor Friedersdorf (June 29, 2016). "Mitt Romney: My Conscience Won't Allow Me to Vote for Trump or Clinton". The Atlantic. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ Schleifer, Theodore (June 11, 2016). "Mitt Romney says Donald Trump will change America with 'trickle-down racism'". CNN. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ Roche, Lisa Riley (October 3, 2016). "Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin using Mitt Romney email list to raise money". Deseret News. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ Mark Abadi (November 2, 2016). "Mitt Romney has cast his ballot – but hasn't revealed whom he voted for". Business Insider UK. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- Dennis Romboy (May 30, 2018). "Mitt Romney reveals his 2016 presidential vote". Deseret News. Archived from the original on May 31, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- Nik DeCosta-Klipa (November 13, 2016). "Mitt Romney called to congratulate Donald Trump on his election night win". Boston.com. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- "Trump meets with Romney, secretary of state job to potentially be discussed". Fox News. November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- Michael S. Schmidt; Julie Hirschfeld (November 19, 2016). "Trump Meets with Romney as He Starts to Look Outside His Inner Circle". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 20, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Michael D. Shear; Maggie Haberman (December 12, 2016). "Rex Tillerson, Exxon C.E.O., Chosen as Secretary of State". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 13, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
- Chasmar, Jessica (February 6, 2017). "Mitt Romney: Donald Trump 'off to a very strong start'". The Washington Times. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
- Watkins, Eli (February 19, 2018). "Trump endorses Mitt Romney for Senate". CNN. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- "Mitt Romney is considering a Senate run if Orrin Hatch retires, and a new poll shows he'd likely win – The Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. March 15, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- "Orrin Hatch Tells Friends He Plans to Retire". The Atlantic. October 27, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- Kapur, Sahil (January 2, 2018). "Romney Changes Location on Twitter as Utah Senate Seat Opens". Bloomberg News. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- Reston, Maeve (February 16, 2018). "Romney announces US Senate run". CNN. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- Rossman, Sean (December 11, 2019). "Mitt Romney is officially running for U.S. Senate". USA Today. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- "Mitt Romney outlines policies to cap his first day of campaigning for Utah's soon-to-be-open U.S. Senate seat". The Salt Lake Tribune.
- Reston, Maeve (April 21, 2018). "Mitt Romney fails to secure Utah GOP nomination, will face primary". CNN. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- "Utah Primary Election Results". The New York Times. June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- Romboy, Dennis (November 7, 2018), "What can Utah, U.S. expect from Mitt Romney in the Senate?", Deseret News, archived from the original on November 8, 2018, retrieved November 7, 2018
- ^ "Mitt Romney Prepares for Unusual US Senate Bid | Smart Politics". editions.lib.umn.edu. September 14, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
- "Trump caused worldwide dismay – Romney". BBC News. January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
- Wise, Justin (January 2, 2019). "RNC chair slams her uncle Mitt Romney for Trump criticism". The Hill. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
- Carney, Jordain (October 28, 2019). "Murkowski, Collins say they won't co-sponsor Graham's impeachment resolution". The Hill. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- Edelman, Adam (November 9, 2019). "Only 3 Senate Republicans aren't defending Trump from the impeachment inquiry. Here's why". NBC News. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- "Republicans defeat Democratic bid to hear witnesses in Trump trial". Politico. January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- Knox, Annie (April 21, 2019). "Utah faith, political leaders mourn deadly toll in Sri Lankan bombings". Deseret News. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- "Romney to Santos: 'You don't belong here'". BBC News. February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- Coppins, Mckay (October 20, 2019). "The Liberation of Mitt Romney". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- Feinberg, Ashley (October 20, 2019). "This Sure Looks Like Mitt Romney's Secret Twitter Account (Update: It Is)". Slate. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- Montanaro, Domenico (October 21, 2019). "Mitt Romney, 'Pierre Delecto' and the Strategy of Anonymously Criticizing Trump". NPR. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- Balz, Dan (February 5, 2020). "Romney to vote to convict Trump on impeachment charge of abuse of power, becoming the first Republican to break ranks". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- Coppins, McKay (February 5, 2020). "How Mitt Romney Decided Trump Is Guilty". The Atlantic. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- "Trump Impeachment Trial". The New York Times. February 5, 2020. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020.
- Fandos, Nicholas (February 5, 2020). "Trump Acquitted of Two Impeachment Charges in Near Party-Line Vote". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020.
- Ballhaus, Rebecca; Andrews, Natalie (February 5, 2020). "Senate Acquits Trump on Both Impeachment Articles". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- King, Ledyard; Groppe, Maureen; Wu, Nicholas. "'Appalling abuse': Sen. Mitt Romney votes to convict President Trump on abuse of power charge". USA Today.
- Romboy, Dennis (February 11, 2020). "New poll shows most Utahns pleased with Mitt Romney's vote, but 60% of GOP has negative reaction". Deseret News. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- "Can a Republican take on Trump and survive? Mitt Romney is proving it's possible". www.msn.com. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- Johnson, Martin (February 7, 2020). "New ad campaign by GOP group: Thank you, Romney". The Hill. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- Gilmour, Jared (February 11, 2020). "'We stand with Mitt.' Crowdfunded Utah billboard backs Romney's Trump impeachment vote". McClatchyDC. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- Forgie, Adam (February 11, 2020). "'We Stand with Mitt': Student Republicans of Utah crowdfund billboard". KUTV. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- Brito, Cristopher (June 8, 2020). "Mitt Romney marches with Black Lives Matter protesters, becoming first GOP senator to join them". CBS News. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- "President Trump mocks Utah Sen. Mitt Romney for marching with Black Lives Matter protesters". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- Coppins, McKay (June 8, 2020). "Why Romney Marched". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- Emmrich, Stuart (June 8, 2020). "'Black Lives Matter,' Tweets Mitt Romney as He Joins a Protest March in Washington". Vogue. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- Goldiner, Dave (June 8, 2020). "Trump sarcastically cheers 'what a guy' Mitt Romney for joining George Floyd protest march". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- Raju, Manu; LeBlanc, Paul (June 8, 2020). "Mitt Romney says he did not vote for Trump in the 2020 election". CNN. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Mervosh, Sarah (January 1, 2019). "Mitt Romney Says Trump 'Has Not Risen to the Mantle of the Office'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- @MittRomney (November 7, 2020). "Ann and I extend our congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. We know both of them as people of good will and admirable character. We pray that God may bless them in the days and years ahead" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Trump supporters accost Mitt Romney on a plane and call him a 'traitor' for refusing to back the president's efforts to overturn the election". Business Insider. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- "Romney Heckled in Airport in Another Show of GOP Divisions". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- "Trump Supporters Heckle Mitt Romney on Flight to D.C. for Electoral College Certification". Slate.com. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Faulders, Katherine; Santucci, John (January 5, 2021). "As he seeks to prevent certification of election, Trump plans to attend DC rally". ABA News. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- Holmes, Anisa (January 6, 2021). "Trump Supporters Gather, President Incites Chaos in DC". NBC. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- President Donald Trump, ABC News Prime: Call for Trump's removal, Capitol Hill security failure, Global reaction to riots on YouTube, ABC News, January 8, 2021, minutes 10:55–11:06.
- McCarthy, Tom; Ho, Vivian; Greve, Joan E. (January 7, 2021). "Schumer calls pro-Trump mob 'domestic terrorists' as Senate resumes election certification – live". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- "Trump supporters storm the US Capitol". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- "Romney: Trump caused 'this insurrection'". The Hill. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- "Mitt Romney Rips Pro-Trump 'Insurrection,' Condemns Colleagues' Attempts to Overturn Election". Newsweek. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "Sen. Romney: This was 'an insurrection incited by the President'". CNN. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- McLeod, Paul (February 10, 2021). "New Impeachment Video Shows Officer Eugene Goodman Saving Mitt Romney From Running Into Capitol Rioters". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- "Live: Day 2 of the Second Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- Republican senators torpedo Jan. 6 commission, Roll Call, Chris Marquette, May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- Fandos, Nicholas (January 13, 2021). "Trump Impeached for Inciting Insurrection". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- Fandos, Nicholas (January 26, 2021). "Republicans vote en masse against trying Trump, signaling he is likely to be acquitted of the impeachment charge". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- Leonard, Ben (February 13, 2021). "'Blame you': Johnson and Romney get heated after vote for impeachment witnesses". Politico. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- "Romney Statement on Impeachment Vote". romney.senate.gov. February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- "U.S. Senate: Committee Assignments of the 117th Congress". www.senate.gov. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- Jennings, Natalie (February 24, 2012). "Mitt Romney speaks to Detroit Economic Club". The Washington Post.
- Riley, Charles (May 10, 2012). "Defense spending to spike $2.1 trillion under Romney". CNN.
- "Romney to Legion: I will not cut defense". American Legion. July 19, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Burns, Alexander (March 20, 2012). "Romney endorses Ryan budget". Politico.
- Landler, Mark (April 4, 2012). "Budget author, a Romney ally, turns into campaign focus". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012.
- Semuels, Alana (March 23, 2012). "Romney vows to repeal and replace 'Obamacare' on law's anniversary". Los Angeles Times.
- Riley, Charles (May 12, 2012). "JPMorgan and the politics of financial reform". CNN.
- Lerer, Lisa (May 17, 2012). "Romney calls for caution on regulations after JPMorgan loss". Bloomberg.
- Romney, Mitt (February 24, 2012). "Mitt Romney delivers remarks in Detroit, Michigan". MittRomney.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ Riley, Charles (February 22, 2012). "Mitt Romney's plan to cut your taxes". CNN.
- Easley, Jonathan (March 7, 2012). "Romney says his tax plan 'can't be scored' because it lacks details". The Hill. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012.
- Mufson, Steven; Eilperin, Juliet (June 8, 2012). "Romney energy plan shows candidate's changing views, draws questions on job claims". The Washington Post.
- Huisenga, Sarah (April 5, 2012). "Romney goes after Obama on fracking". National Journal. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- Geman, Ben (August 25, 2012). "Romney's campaign seeks energy jolt ahead of Tampa GOP convention". The Hill.
- Friedman, Emily (March 26, 2012). "Mitt Romney Says Russia Is No. 1 Geopolitical Foe". ABC News.
- McMorris-Santoro, Evan (October 8, 2012). "Madeleine Albright Dismisses Romney's Foreign Policy Speech As Light On Ideas". Talking Points Memo.
- Maza, Cristina (February 26, 2019). "Madeleine Albright apologizes to Mitt Romney for underestimating Putin: "We forget we're dealing with a KGB agent"". Newsweek.
- Mitnik, Joshua (July 29, 2012). "Romney's Israel speech: Iran will be 'highest national security priority'". The Christian Science Monitor.
- Simsek, Ayhan (October 30, 2012). "Turkey watching US elections closely". Deutsche Welle.
- "Mitt Romney on the Issues". Ontheissues.org. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
- ^ Lorentzen, Amy (July 20, 2007). "Romney backs interrogation, Patriot Act". USA Today.
- Blue, Miranda; Kelly, Ryan (October 5, 2007). "Romney's nuances on gay issues". PolitiFact. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- Barbaro, Michael (May 9, 2012). "Romney reaffirms opposition to marriage, or civil unions, for gay couples". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012.
- Montopoli, Brian (August 4, 2011). "Mitt Romney pledges opposition to gay marriage". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 23, 2011.
- Turner, Trish. "Historic same-sex marriage bill advances in Senate". ABC News. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- LeVine, Marianne (November 16, 2022). "Same-sex marriage protections clear critical Senate hurdle". Politico. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- Kessler, Glenn (September 21, 2007). "The Fact Checker: Romney and Abortion". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012.
- Romney, Mitt (July 26, 2005). "Why I vetoed contraception bill". The Boston Globe.
- Romney, Mitt (March 6, 2005). "The problem with the stem cell bill". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009.
- Helman, Scott (February 11, 2007). "Romney's stem cell view may upset the right". The Boston Globe.
- Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (October 10, 2012). "Romney says abortion law not on his agenda". Financial Times. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012.
- Rowland, Darrel (October 11, 2012). "Romney wants states to repeal abortion". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013.
- Parker, Ashley (October 8, 2011). "Romney tries to reassure socially conservative audience". The New York Times.
- "Top 10 RINOs (Republicans in Name Only)". Human Events. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- Camia, Catalina (October 1, 2012). "Who would Romney appoint to Supreme Court?". USA Today.
- ^ Romney Weighs in on Top Campaign Issues. Fox News. December 4, 2011. Event occurs at 7:34.
- O'Neill, Tyler (July 3, 2012). "Obamacare Ruling Energizes Pro-Life Movement". Fox News. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013.
- ^ Boorstein, Michelle; Natanson, Hannah. "Mitt Romney, marching with evangelicals, becomes first GOP senator to join George Floyd protests in D.C." The Washington Post.
- ^ Jenkins, Jack (June 7, 2020). "Mitt Romney Joins Evangelical Racial Justice March in DC". Religion News Service – via christianity today.
- ^ Solender, Andrew (June 7, 2020). "Mitt Romney Says 'Black Lives Matter' At Protest Against Police Violence". Forbes.
- Newman, Josh (June 7, 2020). "Mitt Romney marches in Black Lives Matter protest in Washington". Salt Lake Tribune.
- Desiderio, Andrew (July 11, 2020). "Historic corruption': 2 Republican senators denounce Trump's commutation of Stone". Politico. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- "How Republicans Quickly Lined Up to Confirm a Supreme Court Nominee". National Review. September 26, 2020. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- Sherman, Jake; Palmer, Anna; Ross, Garrett; Okun, Eli (September 22, 2020). "POLITICO Playbook PM: McConnell plows ahead". Politico. Archived from the original on January 4, 2025. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
- mshaw (June 11, 2024). "Downplaying AI's existential risks is a fatal error, some say". Roll Call. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- Maxfield, Dilan (July 21, 2024). "Romney Statement on Biden Announcement". Mitt Romney. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- "PD43+ >> 1994 U.S. Senate Republican Primary". Massachusetts Elections Division. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- "PD43+ >> 1994 U.S. Senate General Election". Massachusetts Elections Division. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- "United States Senate primary election in Utah, 2018" (PDF). Office of the Utah Lieutenant Governor. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- "United States Senate general election in Utah, 2018" (PDF). Office of the Utah Lieutenant Governor. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- Egan, Dan (April 9, 1999). "SLOC Boss Romney Will Give U. Commencement Address". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. B3.
- "Mitt Romney Calls for Bentley College Graduates to 'Be American Heroes'" (Press release). Bentley College. May 1, 2002. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
- "Suffolk University to Award Eight Honorary Degrees" (Press release). Suffolk University. May 24, 2004. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010.
- "Commencement 2007" (PDF). Hillsdale College. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- Bible, Mitzi (May 12, 2012). "Commencement 2012: Paying tribute to Liberty's heritage, God's blessings". Liberty University.
- King, Hannah (March 22, 2013). "Mitt Romney to Speak at Commencement April 27". Southern Virginia University. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Farrington, Brendan (April 25, 2015). "Mitt Romney to Jacksonville University graduates: Get a life". Orlando Sentinel. Associated Press.
- Jacobsen, Morgan (April 30, 2015). "Mitt Romney tells UVU grads to 'live a large life'". Deseret News.
- Adams, Michelle (May 17, 2015). "Mitt Romney Urges Graduates to Engage in Citizenship" (Press release). Saint Anselm College. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015.
- "Mitt Romney: Politician". People. May 13, 2002. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Pane, Lisa Marie (February 13, 2006). "Romney looks ahead, back in Olympics visit". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- Roche, Lisa Riley (May 10, 2008). "Romney honored for 'Defense of Religious Liberty'". Deseret News. Salt Lake City.
- Bain, Bill (April 18, 2012). "The 100 Most Influential People in the World". Time.
- "Romney gets Profile in Courage Award for impeachment vote". AP News. April 20, 2021.
- "LEGISLATIVE Awards". National Emergency Management Association. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Waltz, Paige (March 21, 2024). "Romney Receives National Emergency Management Association's Legislative Achievement Award". Mitt Romney. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
Bibliography
- Balz, Dan; Johnson, Haynes (2009). The Battle for America, 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election. New York: Viking Penguin. ISBN 978-0-670-02111-6.
- Barone, Michael; Cohen, Richard E. (2004). The Almanac of American Politics 2004 (paperback). Washington: National Journal Group. ISBN 978-0-89234-106-1.
- Barone, Michael; Cohen, Richard E. (2006). The Almanac of American Politics 2006. Washington: National Journal Group. ISBN 978-0-89234-111-5.
- Barone, Michael; Cohen, Richard E. (2008). The Almanac of American Politics 2008 (paperback). Washington: National Journal Group. ISBN 978-0-89234-116-0.
- Canellos, Peter S.; The Team at The Boston Globe, eds. (2009). The Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4391-3817-5.
- Clymer, Adam (1999). Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography. New York: Wm. Morrow & Company. ISBN 978-0-688-14285-8.
- Heilemann, John; Halperin, Mark (2010). Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-173363-5.
- Hersh, Burton (1997). The Shadow President: Ted Kennedy in Opposition. South Royalton, Vermont: Steerforth Press. ISBN 978-1-883642-30-3.
- Hewitt, Hugh (2007). A Mormon in the White House?: 10 Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney. Washington: Regnery Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59698-502-5.
- Kranish, Michael; Helman, Scott (2012). The Real Romney. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-212327-5.
- Mahoney, Tom (1960). The Story of George Romney: Builder, Salesman, Crusader. New York: Harper & Brothers. OCLC 236830.
- Thomas, Evan (2009). "A Long Time Coming": The Inspiring, Combative 2008 Campaign and the Historic Election of Barack Obama. New York: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-58648-607-5.
Further reading and viewing
- Coppins, McKay (2023). Romney: A Reckoning. New York: Scribner. ISBN 9781982196202. OCLC 1394141101.
- Foster, Craig (2008). A Different God?: Mitt Romney, the Religious Right, and the Mormon Question. Draper, Utah: Greg Kofford Books. ISBN 978-1-58958-117-3.
- Hines, Phillip (2012). Mitt Romney in His Own Words. New York: Threshold Editions. ISBN 978-1-4516-8780-4.
- Scott, Ronald B. (2011). Mitt Romney: An Inside Look at the Man and His Politics. Guilford, Connecticut: Lyons Press. ISBN 978-0-7627-7927-7.
- Turner, Lisa Ray; Field, Kimberly (2007). Mitt Romney: The Man, His Values, and His Vision. Silverton, Idaho: Mapletree Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60065-109-0.
- Whiteley, Greg (2014). Mitt – A Netflix original documentary (documentary film). Netflix.
External links
- Official U.S. Senate website
- Mitt Romney for U.S. Senate – Official campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Video of his explanation to the Senate why he plans to vote to convict President Trump in the Senate impeachment trial from CNN
| Business positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Chief Executive Officer of Bain Capital 1984–2002 |
Position abolished |
| Preceded byBill Bain | Chief Executive Officer of Bain and Company 1991–1992 |
Succeeded bySteve Ellisas Worldwide Managing Director of Bain and Company |
| Succeeded byOrit Gadieshas Chair of Bain and Company | ||
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded byJoe Malone | Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (Class 1) 1994 |
Succeeded byJack Robinson |
| Preceded byPaul Cellucci | Republican nominee for Governor of Massachusetts 2002 |
Succeeded byKerry Healey |
| Preceded byKenny Guinn | Chair of the Republican Governors Association 2005–2006 |
Succeeded bySonny Perdue |
| Preceded byJohn McCain | Republican nominee for President of the United States 2012 |
Succeeded byDonald Trump |
| Preceded byOrrin Hatch | Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Utah (Class 1) 2018 |
Succeeded byJohn Curtis |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded byEishiro Saito | President of the Organising Committee for Winter Olympic Games 2002 |
Succeeded byValentino Castellani |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded byJane Swift Acting |
Governor of Massachusetts 2003–2007 |
Succeeded byDeval Patrick |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded byOrrin Hatch | United States Senator (Class 1) from Utah 2019–2025 Served alongside: Mike Lee |
Succeeded byJohn Curtis |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byHeidi Heitkampas Former US Senator | Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Senator |
Succeeded byHarrison Schmittas Former US Senator |
| Mitt Romney | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Politics |
|   |
| Business | ||
| Olympics | ||
| Bibliography | ||
| Family |
| |
| Utah's delegation(s) to the 116th–118th United States Congress (ordered by seniority) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||
Definitions from Wiktionary
Media from Commons
News from Wikinews
Quotations from Wikiquote
Texts from Wikisource
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Data from Wikidata
Categories:
- Mitt Romney
- 1947 births
- 2002 Winter Olympics
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- 20th-century Mormon missionaries
- 21st-century American businesspeople
- 21st-century American male writers
- 21st-century American non-fiction writers
- 21st-century United States senators
- American chief executives of financial services companies
- American corporate directors
- American financial company founders
- American investors
- American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- American male non-fiction writers
- American management consultants
- American Mormon missionaries in France
- American people of English descent
- American people of German descent
- American people of Scottish descent
- American political writers
- American Mormon missionaries in the United States
- Bain Capital people
- Boston Consulting Group people
- Brigham Young University alumni
- Businesspeople from Massachusetts
- Businesspeople from Michigan
- Businesspeople from Utah
- Candidates in the 2008 United States presidential election
- Candidates in the 2012 United States presidential election
- Centrism in the United States
- Cranbrook Educational Community alumni
- George W. Romney
- Harvard Business School alumni
- Harvard Law School alumni
- Latter Day Saints from Michigan
- Latter Day Saints from Massachusetts
- Living people
- Marriott International people
- Massachusetts Republicans
- Members of Phi Kappa Phi
- Michigan Republicans
- National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America members
- People associated with the 2008 United States presidential election
- People associated with the 2012 United States presidential election
- People from Belmont, Massachusetts
- People from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
- People from Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
- People from La Jolla, San Diego
- People from Park City, Utah
- Romney family
- Presidents of the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games
- Private equity and venture capital investors
- Recipients of the Paralympic Order
- Republican Party (United States) presidential nominees
- Republican Party governors of Massachusetts
- Republican Party United States senators from Utah
- Staples Inc. people
- Utah lawyers
- Utah Republicans
- Writers from Massachusetts