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'''Willard Mitt Romney''' (born ] ]) is an American, ], and ] from the state of ] and later ]. Formerly the 70th ] Romney is currently seeking the ] nomination in the ].<ref> ''Boston Globe,'' February 13, 2007</ref> |
'''Willard Mitt Romney''' (born ] ]) is an American, ], and ] from the state of ] and later ]. Formerly the 70th ] Romney is currently seeking the ] nomination in the ].<ref> ''Boston Globe,'' February 13, 2007</ref> | ||
Romney is a former ] of ], a ] firm, and the co-founder of ], a ] investment firm. After a life in ] and as the CEO of the ], Romney was elected as ] Governor in 2002. ] served one term and did not seek re-election in ]; his term expired ], ].<ref>Phillips, Frank and Helman, Scott. ''The Boston Globe'', December 15, 2005), retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> |
Romney is a former ] of ], a ] firm, and the co-founder of ], a ] investment firm. After a life in ] and as the CEO of the ], Romney was elected as ] Governor in 2002. ] served one term and did not seek re-election in ]; his term expired ], ].<ref>Phillips, Frank and Helman, Scott. ''The Boston Globe'', December 15, 2005), retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> | ||
==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
Mitt Romney is the son of former Michigan Governor and ] ], and 1970 U.S. Senate candidate ]. He was named "Willard" after hotel magnate ], his father's best friend.<ref name="willard">Wheaton, Sarah. "" ''The New York Times'', ] 2007.</ref> Mitt, his middle name, comes from his father's cousin Milton, who played quarterback for the ] from 1925 to 1929.<ref>, Chicago Bears.</ref> Mitt Romney has three older siblings: Lynn Romney Keenan, Jane Romney Robinson, and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/373/000044241/|title= Mitt Romney|publisher=nndb.com|accessdate=2007-12-01}}</ref |
Mitt Romney is the son of former Michigan Governor and ] ], and 1970 U.S. Senate candidate ]. He was named "Willard" after hotel magnate ], his father's best friend.<ref name="willard">Wheaton, Sarah. "" ''The New York Times'', ] 2007.</ref> Mitt, his middle name, comes from his father's cousin Milton, who played quarterback for the ] from 1925 to 1929.<ref>, Chicago Bears.</ref> Mitt Romney has three older siblings: Lynn Romney Keenan, Jane Romney Robinson, and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/373/000044241/|title= Mitt Romney|publisher=nndb.com|accessdate=2007-12-01}}</ref> | ||
Mitt Romney graduated from the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (now ]). After attending ] for two quarters, Romney served in ] for 30 months as a ] for ].<ref>Miller, John J. "" ''National Review, June 20 2005.- </ref> In June 1968, Romney was involved in a serious ] while driving fellow missionaries in ]. Another vehicle hit Romney's car head on; the fault for the accident, which left one person dead, has been attributed to the driver of the other vehicle.<ref>Paulson, Michael. "" ''Boston.com News, June 24 2007.- </ref |
Mitt Romney graduated from the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (now ]). After attending ] for two quarters, Romney served in ] for 30 months as a ] for ].<ref>Miller, John J. "" ''National Review, June 20 2005.- </ref> In June 1968, Romney was involved in a serious ] while driving fellow missionaries in ]. Another vehicle hit Romney's car head on; the fault for the accident, which left one person dead, has been attributed to the driver of the other vehicle.<ref>Paulson, Michael. "" ''Boston.com News, June 24 2007.- </ref> | ||
Romney has been married to high school girlfriend ] since 1969. They have five sons and eleven grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/08/AR2007060802781.html|title=Romney brothers dish on Dad|author=Jose Antonio Vargas| publisher='']''|page=A01|date=2007-06-09|accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref> |
Romney has been married to high school girlfriend ] since 1969. They have five sons and eleven grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/08/AR2007060802781.html|title=Romney brothers dish on Dad|author=Jose Antonio Vargas| publisher='']''|page=A01|date=2007-06-09|accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref> | ||
After his mission service, Romney attended ], where he graduated as ], earning his ] ] '']'' in 1971. In 1975, Romney graduated from a joint ]/] program coordinated between ] and ]. He graduated ''cum laude'' from the law school and was named a ] for graduating in the top five percent of his business school class.<ref>Hugh Hewitt, ''A Mormon in the White House'', March 2007</ref |
After his mission service, Romney attended ], where he graduated as ], earning his ] ] '']'' in 1971. In 1975, Romney graduated from a joint ]/] program coordinated between ] and ]. He graduated ''cum laude'' from the law school and was named a ] for graduating in the top five percent of his business school class.<ref>Hugh Hewitt, ''A Mormon in the White House'', March 2007</ref> | ||
==Religious background== | ==Religious background== | ||
Mitt Romney is a member of ] (LDS), more commonly known as ]. His great-great-grandfather, ], was among the first leaders of the religion in the early 1800s. Mitt's wife Ann converted to Mormonism before they were married in 1969.<ref>Ronald Kessler, , ], ]. Accessed ].</ref> Ann's family could not attend their wedding ceremony that was held at a ], due to a rule preventing non-Mormons from entering LDS temples, but they attended another ceremony held for non-Mormons.<ref>{{cite web | title="Romney’s Mormon Question" | date=2007-05-10 | accessdate = 2007-12-11 | work=Time Magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1619552-1,00.html}}</ref> In addition to his missionary work in France, Romney has also served as a ] and ] in his church. Romney does not ], ], or ].<ref>, ''60 Minutes'', CBS News, May 13, 2006 (retrieved December 3, 2007).</ref><ref>Jill Lawrence, , ''USA Today'', March 12, 2007.</ref> |
Mitt Romney is a member of ] (LDS), more commonly known as ]. His great-great-grandfather, ], was among the first leaders of the religion in the early 1800s. Mitt's wife Ann converted to Mormonism before they were married in 1969.<ref>Ronald Kessler, , ], ]. Accessed ].</ref> Ann's family could not attend their wedding ceremony that was held at a ], due to a rule preventing non-Mormons from entering LDS temples, but they attended another ceremony held for non-Mormons.<ref>{{cite web | title="Romney’s Mormon Question" | date=2007-05-10 | accessdate = 2007-12-11 | work=Time Magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1619552-1,00.html}}</ref> In addition to his missionary work in France, Romney has also served as a ] and ] in his church. Romney does not ], ], or ].<ref>, ''60 Minutes'', CBS News, May 13, 2006 (retrieved December 3, 2007).</ref><ref>Jill Lawrence, , ''USA Today'', March 12, 2007.</ref> | ||
Romney's religion has played a major role in ], with polls indicating that a quarter of Republican voters are "less likely" to vote for a presidential candidate who is Mormon.<ref name="speech"/><ref>Scott Keeter and Gregory Smith, , ''The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life'', ], ].</ref> However, some ]s and ] criticize Romney for not being Mormon enough, regarding social policy.<ref name="Nasaw">Daniel Nasaw, , ''The Guardian'', ], ].</ref><ref>George Bennett, , ''Palm Beach Post'', ], ].</ref> He has avoided speaking publicly about specific church doctrines, and has pointed out that ].<ref name="speech">Linda Feldmann, , ''Christian Science Monitor'', ], ].</ref> Declining to discuss details about his religion also reduces the risk that ] will alienate evangelical Christian voters.<ref name="Nasaw"/> Romney has instead ] in general, saying that as president he would "need the prayers of the people of all faiths," and that he would "serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States."<ref name="speech"/> Mormonism was not an issue in his father's presidential campaign in 1968 because he was eliminated in the ] before it could become an issue.<ref name="speech"/><ref>{{cite web | title="Romney's "symphony" should also embrace freedom from religion" | date=2007-12-12 | accessdate = 2007-12-12 | work=Seattle Times | url=http://i4m.com/think/polygamy/polygamy_illegal.htm}} | Romney's religion has played a major role in ], with polls indicating that a quarter of Republican voters are "less likely" to vote for a presidential candidate who is Mormon.<ref name="speech"/><ref>Scott Keeter and Gregory Smith, , ''The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life'', ], ].</ref> However, some ]s and ] criticize Romney for not being Mormon enough, regarding social policy.<ref name="Nasaw">Daniel Nasaw, , ''The Guardian'', ], ].</ref><ref>George Bennett, , ''Palm Beach Post'', ], ].</ref> He has avoided speaking publicly about specific church doctrines, and has pointed out that ].<ref name="speech">Linda Feldmann, , ''Christian Science Monitor'', ], ].</ref> Declining to discuss details about his religion also reduces the risk that ] will alienate evangelical Christian voters.<ref name="Nasaw"/> Romney has instead ] in general, saying that as president he would "need the prayers of the people of all faiths," and that he would "serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States."<ref name="speech"/> Mormonism was not an issue in his father's presidential campaign in 1968 because he was eliminated in the ] before it could become an issue.<ref name="speech"/><ref>{{cite web | title="Romney's "symphony" should also embrace freedom from religion" | date=2007-12-12 | accessdate = 2007-12-12 | work=Seattle Times | url=http://i4m.com/think/polygamy/polygamy_illegal.htm}} | ||
</ref> Other presidential aspirants of that faith have included ], ], and ].<ref>Anna Scott, , ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' ], ].</ref |
</ref> Other presidential aspirants of that faith have included ], ], and ].<ref>Anna Scott, , ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' ], ].</ref> | ||
Romney's church has been ] for policies that some perceive as sexist or racist; for example, males of African descent could not be ordained to the priesthood until 1978. However, Romney participated in pro-civil rights marches with his father<ref> Walter Shapiro, , ''Salon.com'', ], ].</ref> and "hoped that the time would come when the leaders of the church would receive the inspiration to change the policy."<ref>David Kirkpatrick, , ''New York Times'', ], ].</ref |
Romney's church has been ] for policies that some perceive as sexist or racist; for example, males of African descent could not be ordained to the priesthood until 1978. However, Romney participated in pro-civil rights marches with his father<ref> Walter Shapiro, , ''Salon.com'', ], ].</ref> and "hoped that the time would come when the leaders of the church would receive the inspiration to change the policy."<ref>David Kirkpatrick, , ''New York Times'', ], ].</ref> | ||
Romney has denounced ] and is a proponent of ] marriage.<ref>Douglas Kmiec, , ''National Review'', ] ]. To quote Romney: "There is nothing more awful, in my view, than the violation of the marriage covenant that one has with one’s wife. The practice of polygamy is abhorrent, it’s awful, and it drives me nuts that people who are polygamists keep pretending to use the umbrella of my church....My church abhors it, it excommunicates people who practice it, and it's got nothing to do with my faith."</ref> Like his ancestor Parley Pratt, Romney's paternal great-grandparents practiced ], and they fled to ] in 1884 after an 1878 ] that upheld laws banning polygamy.<ref name="branch">Jennifer Dobner and Glen Johnson. Associated Press via ''Boston Globe''. ] ].</ref> Subsequent generations of Romney's paternal lineage have been monogamous and none of his mother's Mormon ancestors appear to have been polygamists.<ref>, Associated Press via ''Fox News'', ], ].</ref><ref>Neil Swidey and Michael Paulson,, ''Boston Globe'', ], ].</ref> Due to legal pressure by the U.S. federal government,<ref>''Salt Lake Herald'', ], quoted in Richard S. Van Wagoner (1989, 2d ed.). ''Mormon Polygamy: A History'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books) p. 136. When asked by a reporter what the Church's attitude was toward the anti-polygamy laws, ] ] stated in 1889, "we mean to obey it. We have no thought of evading it or ignoring it."</ref> the LDS church ].<ref name="Chicago">Dahleen Glanton and Margaret Ramirez, , ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ].</ref> Mitt's father, George, was born in Mexico in 1907, and was brought to the United States in 1912 by Mitt's grandparents.<ref name="ancestor">Thomas Burr. ''Salt Lake Tribune,'' ] ], via archive.org. Retrieved on ].</ref |
Romney has denounced ] and is a proponent of ] marriage.<ref>Douglas Kmiec, , ''National Review'', ] ]. To quote Romney: "There is nothing more awful, in my view, than the violation of the marriage covenant that one has with one’s wife. The practice of polygamy is abhorrent, it’s awful, and it drives me nuts that people who are polygamists keep pretending to use the umbrella of my church....My church abhors it, it excommunicates people who practice it, and it's got nothing to do with my faith."</ref> Like his ancestor Parley Pratt, Romney's paternal great-grandparents practiced ], and they fled to ] in 1884 after an 1878 ] that upheld laws banning polygamy.<ref name="branch">Jennifer Dobner and Glen Johnson. Associated Press via ''Boston Globe''. ] ].</ref> Subsequent generations of Romney's paternal lineage have been monogamous and none of his mother's Mormon ancestors appear to have been polygamists.<ref>, Associated Press via ''Fox News'', ], ].</ref><ref>Neil Swidey and Michael Paulson,, ''Boston Globe'', ], ].</ref> Due to legal pressure by the U.S. federal government,<ref>''Salt Lake Herald'', ], quoted in Richard S. Van Wagoner (1989, 2d ed.). ''Mormon Polygamy: A History'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books) p. 136. When asked by a reporter what the Church's attitude was toward the anti-polygamy laws, ] ] stated in 1889, "we mean to obey it. We have no thought of evading it or ignoring it."</ref> the LDS church ].<ref name="Chicago">Dahleen Glanton and Margaret Ramirez, , ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ].</ref> Mitt's father, George, was born in Mexico in 1907, and was brought to the United States in 1912 by Mitt's grandparents.<ref name="ancestor">Thomas Burr. ''Salt Lake Tribune,'' ] ], via archive.org. Retrieved on ].</ref> | ||
==Business career== | ==Business career== | ||
After graduation Romney went to work for the ], where he had interned during the summer of 1974.<ref>Lewis, Raphael and Helman, Scott. ''Boston Globe'', ] ], retrieved ], ].</ref> From 1978 to 1984, Romney was a vice president of ], Inc., another Boston-based ] firm. In 1984, Romney left Bain & Company to co-found a Bain & Company spin-off ] investment firm called ].<ref>Pappu, Sridhar. , ''The Atlantic Monthly'', September 2005, retrieved ], ].</ref> During the 14 years he headed the company, Bain Capital's average annual internal rate of return on realized investments was 113 percent,<ref name="MrPowerPoint" /> making money primarily through ].<ref name="howmakemoney">{{cite news |first=David|last=Kirkpatrick|title=Romney’s Fortunes Tied to Business Riches |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/politics/04bain.html?ex=1338609600&en=55a03ad8230fe973&ei=5088 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-08-18 }}</ref> He invested in or bought many well-known companies such as ], ], ], ] and ].<ref> from BizJournals.com</ref |
After graduation Romney went to work for the ], where he had interned during the summer of 1974.<ref>Lewis, Raphael and Helman, Scott. ''Boston Globe'', ] ], retrieved ], ].</ref> From 1978 to 1984, Romney was a vice president of ], Inc., another Boston-based ] firm. In 1984, Romney left Bain & Company to co-found a Bain & Company spin-off ] investment firm called ].<ref>Pappu, Sridhar. , ''The Atlantic Monthly'', September 2005, retrieved ], ].</ref> During the 14 years he headed the company, Bain Capital's average annual internal rate of return on realized investments was 113 percent,<ref name="MrPowerPoint" /> making money primarily through ].<ref name="howmakemoney">{{cite news |first=David|last=Kirkpatrick|title=Romney’s Fortunes Tied to Business Riches |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/politics/04bain.html?ex=1338609600&en=55a03ad8230fe973&ei=5088 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-08-18 }}</ref> He invested in or bought many well-known companies such as ], ], ], ] and ].<ref> from BizJournals.com</ref> | ||
In 1990, Romney was asked to return to Bain & Company, which was facing financial collapse. As CEO, Romney managed an effort to restructure the firm's employee stock-ownership plan, real-estate deals and bank loans, while increasing fiscal transparency. Within a year, he had led Bain & Company through a highly successful turnaround and returned the firm to profitability without layoffs or partner defections.<ref name="MrPowerPoint"> Rees, Matthew. ''The American'', ], ], retrieved December 16, 2006.</ref |
In 1990, Romney was asked to return to Bain & Company, which was facing financial collapse. As CEO, Romney managed an effort to restructure the firm's employee stock-ownership plan, real-estate deals and bank loans, while increasing fiscal transparency. Within a year, he had led Bain & Company through a highly successful turnaround and returned the firm to profitability without layoffs or partner defections.<ref name="MrPowerPoint"> Rees, Matthew. ''The American'', ], ], retrieved December 16, 2006.</ref> | ||
Romney left Bain Capital in 1998 to head the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games Organizing Committee.<ref> ''Commonwealth of Massachusetts'' (Official web page of Governor Romney) (no date) via ''The Internet Archive'' (retrieved July 22, 2007) Mitt Romney</ref> He and his wife have a net worth of between 190 and 250 million ].<ref name="personalworth">{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Kuhnhenn |title=Romney Worth As Much As $250 Million |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6847438,00.html |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-08-13 }}</ref |
Romney left Bain Capital in 1998 to head the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games Organizing Committee.<ref> ''Commonwealth of Massachusetts'' (Official web page of Governor Romney) (no date) via ''The Internet Archive'' (retrieved July 22, 2007) Mitt Romney</ref> He and his wife have a net worth of between 190 and 250 million ].<ref name="personalworth">{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Kuhnhenn |title=Romney Worth As Much As $250 Million |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6847438,00.html |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-08-13 }}</ref> | ||
==CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee== | ==CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee== | ||
<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] torch to ] ] at the State Department.]] --> | <!-- Unsourced image removed: ] torch to ] ] at the State Department.]] --> | ||
Romney served as president and CEO of the ] held in ]. In 1999, the event was running $379 million short of its revenue benchmarks. Plans were being made to scale back the games in order to compensate for the fiscal crisis.<ref>{{cite news | first=Steve | last=Carp | coauthors= | title= Romney's efforts credited for saving Salt Lake Games |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jul-22-Sun-2001/news/16571104.html | work=Las Vegas Review Journal | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref> The Games were also damaged by ] involving top officials, including then Salt Lake Olympic Committee (SLOC) President and CEO ]. Joklik and SLOC vice president ] were forced to resign.<ref> ''CNN.com'', January 8, 1999, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref |
Romney served as president and CEO of the ] held in ]. In 1999, the event was running $379 million short of its revenue benchmarks. Plans were being made to scale back the games in order to compensate for the fiscal crisis.<ref>{{cite news | first=Steve | last=Carp | coauthors= | title= Romney's efforts credited for saving Salt Lake Games |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jul-22-Sun-2001/news/16571104.html | work=Las Vegas Review Journal | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref> The Games were also damaged by ] involving top officials, including then Salt Lake Olympic Committee (SLOC) President and CEO ]. Joklik and SLOC vice president ] were forced to resign.<ref> ''CNN.com'', January 8, 1999, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> | ||
On ], ], Romney was hired as the new president and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.<ref name="Fire Within"> Call, Jeff ''BYU Magazine'', Winter 2002, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> Romney revamped the organization's leadership and policies, reduced budgets and boosted fundraising. He also worked to ensure the safety of the Games following the terrorist attacks of ] by coordinating a $300 million security budget.<ref> Rice, Lewis. ''Harvard Law Bulletin'', Spring 2002, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> Despite the initial fiscal shortfall, the Games ended up clearing a profit of $100 million, not counting the $224.5 million in security costs contributed by outside sources.<ref>{{cite news |date=], ]| title= SLOC has plenty to fund security, organizers say |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/oly/view/0,3949,30000033,00.html| work=Deseret News | author=Derek Jensen | accessdate=2007-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title= SLOC plotting how to dole out Olympics profits | On ], ], Romney was hired as the new president and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.<ref name="Fire Within"> Call, Jeff ''BYU Magazine'', Winter 2002, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> Romney revamped the organization's leadership and policies, reduced budgets and boosted fundraising. He also worked to ensure the safety of the Games following the terrorist attacks of ] by coordinating a $300 million security budget.<ref> Rice, Lewis. ''Harvard Law Bulletin'', Spring 2002, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> Despite the initial fiscal shortfall, the Games ended up clearing a profit of $100 million, not counting the $224.5 million in security costs contributed by outside sources.<ref>{{cite news |date=], ]| title= SLOC has plenty to fund security, organizers say |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/oly/view/0,3949,30000033,00.html| work=Deseret News | author=Derek Jensen | accessdate=2007-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title= SLOC plotting how to dole out Olympics profits | ||
|date=], ] | publisher= ESPN | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1433186&type=news | work=Associated Press | pages= | accessdate = 2007-12-12 }}</ref |
|date=], ] | publisher= ESPN | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1433186&type=news | work=Associated Press | pages= | accessdate = 2007-12-12 }}</ref> | ||
Romney contributed $1 million to the Olympics, and donated the $825,000 salary he earned as President and CEO to charity.<ref>Eastland, Terry ''The Weekly Standard'' June 6, 2005, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> He wrote a book about his experience called '']'' (ISBN 978-1-59698-514-8). |
Romney contributed $1 million to the Olympics, and donated the $825,000 salary he earned as President and CEO to charity.<ref>Eastland, Terry ''The Weekly Standard'' June 6, 2005, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> He wrote a book about his experience called '']'' (ISBN 978-1-59698-514-8). | ||
==Massachusetts political campaigns== | ==Massachusetts political campaigns== | ||
===Campaign for United States Senate, 1994 election=== | ===Campaign for United States Senate, 1994 election=== | ||
In 1994, Romney won the Massachusetts Republican Party's nomination for ] after defeating businessman ] in the primary.<ref>Gizzi, John ''Human Events Publishing,'' May 17, 2004; retrieved October 29, 2004</ref> Romney's mother had run for the Senate in 1970.<ref>{{citeweb | title= The Real Romney? |date=], ] | publisher= YouTube| url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI&eurl= | accessdate = 2007-06-17 }}</ref> Some early polls showed Romney close to the Senator ]. One '']''/]-TV poll taken after the ], ] primary showed Romney ahead 44 percent to 42 percent, within the poll's sampling ].<ref>Gordon, Al. ''Newsday'' (Nassau and Suffoklk edition), pg. A04, October 2, 1994; retrieved October 29, 2006.</ref> Kennedy, who typically faced only "token" GOP opposition for his senate seat was more vulnerable than usual in 1994, in part because of the unpopularity of the Democratic Congress as a whole and also because this was Kennedy's first election since the ] in Florida, in which Ted Kennedy had taken some public relations hits regarding his character. ] ] traveled to Massachusetts to campaign for Kennedy.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} |
In 1994, Romney won the Massachusetts Republican Party's nomination for ] after defeating businessman ] in the primary.<ref>Gizzi, John ''Human Events Publishing,'' May 17, 2004; retrieved October 29, 2004</ref> Romney's mother had run for the Senate in 1970.<ref>{{citeweb | title= The Real Romney? |date=], ] | publisher= YouTube| url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI&eurl= | accessdate = 2007-06-17 }}</ref> Some early polls showed Romney close to the Senator ]. One '']''/]-TV poll taken after the ], ] primary showed Romney ahead 44 percent to 42 percent, within the poll's sampling ].<ref>Gordon, Al. ''Newsday'' (Nassau and Suffoklk edition), pg. A04, October 2, 1994; retrieved October 29, 2006.</ref> Kennedy, who typically faced only "token" GOP opposition for his senate seat was more vulnerable than usual in 1994, in part because of the unpopularity of the Democratic Congress as a whole and also because this was Kennedy's first election since the ] in Florida, in which Ted Kennedy had taken some public relations hits regarding his character. ] ] traveled to Massachusetts to campaign for Kennedy.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} | ||
After Romney touted his business credentials and his record at creating jobs within his company, Kennedy ran campaign ads showing an Indiana company bought out by Romney's firm, Bain Capital, and interviews with its union workers who had been fired and criticized Romney for the loss of their jobs, one saying, "I don’t think Romney is creating jobs because he took every one of them away."<ref>{{citenews | first=Mike | last=Hall | title= Romney’s ‘Business Experience’: Firing Workers, Hiring Them Back at Lower Wages |date=], ] | publisher= AFL/CIO Blog| url=http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/05/31/romneys-business-experience-firing-workers-hiring-them-back-at-lower-wages/ | work=AFL/CIO | accessdate = 2007-06-17 | language = English }}</ref> Although both Kennedy and Romney supported the ] rights established under ], Kennedy accused Romney of being "multiple choice" on the issue, rather than "pro choice" (a shot at what he stated were Romney's flip flops on the issue). According to figures in ''] 1996'', which relies on official campaign finance reports, Romney spent over $7 million of his own money, with Kennedy spending more than $10 million from his campaign fund, mostly in the last weeks of the campaign (this was the second-most expensive race of the 1994 election cycle, after the ] vs. ] Senate race in ]).<ref>{{citenews | first=Jerry | last=Miller | coauthors= | title= Record Fundraising |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Try=No&Page=\Politics\archive\200004\POL20000424d.html | work=CNSNews | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref> Kennedy won the election with 58 percent of the vote to Romney's 41 percent, the smallest margin in Kennedy's nine elections to the Senate through 2006.<ref>Taranto, James ''The Wall Street Journal'' Saturday, December 31, 2005; retrieved October 29, 2006.</ref |
After Romney touted his business credentials and his record at creating jobs within his company, Kennedy ran campaign ads showing an Indiana company bought out by Romney's firm, Bain Capital, and interviews with its union workers who had been fired and criticized Romney for the loss of their jobs, one saying, "I don’t think Romney is creating jobs because he took every one of them away."<ref>{{citenews | first=Mike | last=Hall | title= Romney’s ‘Business Experience’: Firing Workers, Hiring Them Back at Lower Wages |date=], ] | publisher= AFL/CIO Blog| url=http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/05/31/romneys-business-experience-firing-workers-hiring-them-back-at-lower-wages/ | work=AFL/CIO | accessdate = 2007-06-17 | language = English }}</ref> Although both Kennedy and Romney supported the ] rights established under ], Kennedy accused Romney of being "multiple choice" on the issue, rather than "pro choice" (a shot at what he stated were Romney's flip flops on the issue). According to figures in ''] 1996'', which relies on official campaign finance reports, Romney spent over $7 million of his own money, with Kennedy spending more than $10 million from his campaign fund, mostly in the last weeks of the campaign (this was the second-most expensive race of the 1994 election cycle, after the ] vs. ] Senate race in ]).<ref>{{citenews | first=Jerry | last=Miller | coauthors= | title= Record Fundraising |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Try=No&Page=\Politics\archive\200004\POL20000424d.html | work=CNSNews | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref> Kennedy won the election with 58 percent of the vote to Romney's 41 percent, the smallest margin in Kennedy's nine elections to the Senate through 2006.<ref>Taranto, James ''The Wall Street Journal'' Saturday, December 31, 2005; retrieved October 29, 2006.</ref> | ||
===Campaign for Governor, 2002 election=== | ===Campaign for Governor, 2002 election=== | ||
{{main|Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002}} | {{main|Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002}} | ||
{{seealso|2002 Mitt Romney residency issue}} |
{{seealso|2002 Mitt Romney residency issue}} | ||
In 2002, Republican Lieutenant Governor ] was expected to campaign for the governor's office. Swift had served as ] after Republican Governor ] resigned upon being appointed ]. Swift was viewed as an unpopular executive, and her administration was plagued by political missteps and personal scandals.<ref>Associated Press. ''The Daily Texan'', April 11, 2001; retrieved October 29, 2006.</ref> Many Republicans viewed her as a liability and considered her unable to win a general election against a Democrat.<ref>Frank, Mitch. ''Time Magazine,'' Mar. 21, 2002; retrieved Octover 29, 2006.</ref> Prominent GOP activists campaigned to persuade Romney to run for governor.<ref>Berwick Jr., Bob and Roch, Lisa Riley. '']'', February 22, 2002; retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref> One poll taken at this time showed that Republicans favored Romney over Swift by more than 50 percentage points.<ref> ''Cable News Network,'' March 19, 2002; retrieved October 30, 2006.</ref> Swift decided not to seek her party's nomination. |
In 2002, Republican Lieutenant Governor ] was expected to campaign for the governor's office. Swift had served as ] after Republican Governor ] resigned upon being appointed ]. Swift was viewed as an unpopular executive, and her administration was plagued by political missteps and personal scandals.<ref>Associated Press. ''The Daily Texan'', April 11, 2001; retrieved October 29, 2006.</ref> Many Republicans viewed her as a liability and considered her unable to win a general election against a Democrat.<ref>Frank, Mitch. ''Time Magazine,'' Mar. 21, 2002; retrieved Octover 29, 2006.</ref> Prominent GOP activists campaigned to persuade Romney to run for governor.<ref>Berwick Jr., Bob and Roch, Lisa Riley. '']'', February 22, 2002; retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref> One poll taken at this time showed that Republicans favored Romney over Swift by more than 50 percentage points.<ref> ''Cable News Network,'' March 19, 2002; retrieved October 30, 2006.</ref> Swift decided not to seek her party's nomination. | ||
] officials claimed that Romney was ineligible to run for governor, citing residency issues. The ] requires seven consecutive years of residency prior to a run for office. Romney claimed residency in ] from 1999 to 2002, during his time as president of the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee. In 1999 he listed himself as a part-time Massachusetts resident.<ref><!--review for best method to handle AP sources-->Mcelhenny, John (Associated Press) ''Portsmouth Herald", Tuesday, June 18, 2002, retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref> The ] filed a complaint with the Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission, which eventually ruled that Romney was eligible to run for office. The ruling was not challenged in court.<ref> Belluck, Pam. ''New York Times'' (Abstract) (Page A-17, Col. 4), June 26, 2002, retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref |
] officials claimed that Romney was ineligible to run for governor, citing residency issues. The ] requires seven consecutive years of residency prior to a run for office. Romney claimed residency in ] from 1999 to 2002, during his time as president of the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee. In 1999 he listed himself as a part-time Massachusetts resident.<ref><!--review for best method to handle AP sources-->Mcelhenny, John (Associated Press) ''Portsmouth Herald", Tuesday, June 18, 2002, retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref> The ] filed a complaint with the Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission, which eventually ruled that Romney was eligible to run for office. The ruling was not challenged in court.<ref> Belluck, Pam. ''New York Times'' (Abstract) (Page A-17, Col. 4), June 26, 2002, retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref> | ||
Supporters of Romney hailed his business record, especially his success with the 2002 Olympics, as that of one who would be able to bring in a new era of efficiency into Massachusetts politics.<ref> ''PBS Online News Hour'' (No Date); retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref> Romney contributed $6.3 million to his own campaign during the election, at the time a state record.<ref> Brian C. Mooney ''Boston Globe''; August 22, 2006, Retrieved November 20, 2006. </ref> Romney was elected Governor in November 2002 with 50 percent of the vote over Democratic candidate ], who received 45 percent of the vote.<ref> 'CNN.com''; retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref |
Supporters of Romney hailed his business record, especially his success with the 2002 Olympics, as that of one who would be able to bring in a new era of efficiency into Massachusetts politics.<ref> ''PBS Online News Hour'' (No Date); retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref> Romney contributed $6.3 million to his own campaign during the election, at the time a state record.<ref> Brian C. Mooney ''Boston Globe''; August 22, 2006, Retrieved November 20, 2006. </ref> Romney was elected Governor in November 2002 with 50 percent of the vote over Democratic candidate ], who received 45 percent of the vote.<ref> 'CNN.com''; retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref> | ||
==Governor of Massachusetts, 2003–2007== | ==Governor of Massachusetts, 2003–2007== | ||
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Romney was sworn in as the 70th governor of Massachusetts on ], ]. Upon entering office, Romney faced a projected $3 billion deficit, but a previously enacted $1.3 billion capital gains tax increase and $500 million in unanticipated federal grants decreased the deficit to $1.2 billion.<ref>, Factcheck.org, July 9, 2007</ref> Through a combination of spending cuts and lower taxes, and removal of tax loopholes, the State had a $700 million surplus by 2006.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9441455 | title=Mr Smooth of Massachusetts | work=The Economist |date=2007-07-07}}</ref |
Romney was sworn in as the 70th governor of Massachusetts on ], ]. Upon entering office, Romney faced a projected $3 billion deficit, but a previously enacted $1.3 billion capital gains tax increase and $500 million in unanticipated federal grants decreased the deficit to $1.2 billion.<ref>, Factcheck.org, July 9, 2007</ref> Through a combination of spending cuts and lower taxes, and removal of tax loopholes, the State had a $700 million surplus by 2006.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9441455 | title=Mr Smooth of Massachusetts | work=The Economist |date=2007-07-07}}</ref> | ||
Romney supported raising various fees by $500 million per year, including raising fees for driver's licenses, marriage licenses, and gun licenses.<ref name="taxreform">{{cite news |url= http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Mitt_Romney_Tax_Reform.htm | |title= Mitt Romney on Tax Reform| work=Ontheissues.org|accessdate=2007-06-17}}</ref> Romney increased the state gasoline tax by 2 cents per gallon, generating about $60 million per year in additional tax revenue.<ref name="mooney"/> Romney also closed a tax loopholes that brought in another $181 million from businesses over the next two years;<ref name="mooney"/> | Romney supported raising various fees by $500 million per year, including raising fees for driver's licenses, marriage licenses, and gun licenses.<ref name="taxreform">{{cite news |url= http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Mitt_Romney_Tax_Reform.htm | |title= Mitt Romney on Tax Reform| work=Ontheissues.org|accessdate=2007-06-17}}</ref> Romney increased the state gasoline tax by 2 cents per gallon, generating about $60 million per year in additional tax revenue.<ref name="mooney"/> Romney also closed a tax loopholes that brought in another $181 million from businesses over the next two years;<ref name="mooney"/> | ||
The state legislature with Romney's support also cut spending by $1.6 billion, including $700 million in reductions in state aid to cities and towns. <ref>{{cite web|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. | work =Matt Viser, Boston Globe | December 18, 2005 | accessmonthday = December 7| accessyear = 2006 }}</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%.<ref name="mooney"/> Romney sought additional cuts in his last year as Massachusetts governor by vetoing nearly 250 items in the state budget. All of those vetoes were overturned by the legislature.<ref>{{cite news | title= Romney's vetoes seldom stood| work=DANIEL Barrick, Concord Monitor| date=2007-05-03| url=http://concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/REPOSITORY/705030311}}</ref |
The state legislature with Romney's support also cut spending by $1.6 billion, including $700 million in reductions in state aid to cities and towns. <ref>{{cite web|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. | work =Matt Viser, Boston Globe | December 18, 2005 | accessmonthday = December 7| accessyear = 2006 }}</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%.<ref name="mooney"/> Romney sought additional cuts in his last year as Massachusetts governor by vetoing nearly 250 items in the state budget. All of those vetoes were overturned by the legislature.<ref>{{cite news | title= Romney's vetoes seldom stood| work=DANIEL Barrick, Concord Monitor| date=2007-05-03| url=http://concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/REPOSITORY/705030311}}</ref> | ||
According to an analysis by the Tax Foundation, the state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased from 10 percent to 10.6 percent of per capita income during Romney's governorship.<ref name="mooney">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part6_main/?page=full |title=Taking office, remaining an outsider |last=Mooney |first=Brian |date=June 29, 2007 |accessdate=2007-07-03 |work=Boston Globe}}</ref |
According to an analysis by the Tax Foundation, the state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased from 10 percent to 10.6 percent of per capita income during Romney's governorship.<ref name="mooney">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part6_main/?page=full |title=Taking office, remaining an outsider |last=Mooney |first=Brian |date=June 29, 2007 |accessdate=2007-07-03 |work=Boston Globe}}</ref> | ||
On ], ], Romney signed the ] which mandates nearly all Massachusetts residents to buy health insurance coverage or else face a substantial penalty in the form of an additional income tax assessment. The bill also establishes means-tested state subsidies for people without adequate employer insurance and who make below an income threshold by using funds previously designated 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 |work=The Atlantic |date=2006-06-27 |accessdate=2006-11-21}}</ref> <ref> Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Acts of 2006 (Session Laws), Chapter 58. Retrieved January 2, 2007.</ref> <ref> Dembner, Alice. Boston Globe. January 19, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2007.</ref> He vetoed 8 sections of the health care legislation, including an employer assessment<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/11/04/house_approves_healthcare_overhaul/ | title=House approves healthcare overhaul: Tax at odds with plans by Romney, Travaglini | author=Scott S. Greenberger | publisher='']'' | date=2005-11-04 | accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref> <ref></ref> and provisions providing health coverage to senior and disabled legal ]s not eligible for federal Medicaid.<ref>http://www.thetranscript.com/headlines/ci_3706699</ref> <ref>http://news.bostonherald.com/localPolitics/view.bg?articleid=134877</ref> The legislature overrode all eight vetoes. Romney's communications director Eric Fehrnstrom responded saying "These differences with the Legislature are not essential to the goal of getting everyone covered with insurance." |
On ], ], Romney signed the ] which mandates nearly all Massachusetts residents to buy health insurance coverage or else face a substantial penalty in the form of an additional income tax assessment. The bill also establishes means-tested state subsidies for people without adequate employer insurance and who make below an income threshold by using funds previously designated 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 |work=The Atlantic |date=2006-06-27 |accessdate=2006-11-21}}</ref> <ref> Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Acts of 2006 (Session Laws), Chapter 58. Retrieved January 2, 2007.</ref> <ref> Dembner, Alice. Boston Globe. January 19, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2007.</ref> He vetoed 8 sections of the health care legislation, including an employer assessment<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/11/04/house_approves_healthcare_overhaul/ | title=House approves healthcare overhaul: Tax at odds with plans by Romney, Travaglini | author=Scott S. Greenberger | publisher='']'' | date=2005-11-04 | accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref> <ref></ref> and provisions providing health coverage to senior and disabled legal ]s not eligible for federal Medicaid.<ref>http://www.thetranscript.com/headlines/ci_3706699</ref> <ref>http://news.bostonherald.com/localPolitics/view.bg?articleid=134877</ref> The legislature overrode all eight vetoes. Romney's communications director Eric Fehrnstrom responded saying "These differences with the Legislature are not essential to the goal of getting everyone covered with insurance." | ||
At the beginning of his governorship, Romney opposed same-sex marriage and civil unions.<ref> | At the beginning of his governorship, Romney opposed same-sex marriage and civil unions.<ref> | ||
McElhenny, John. ''Daily Collegian'' October 16, 2002. Retrieved December 10, 2006.</ref> <ref> ''Romney for Governor 2002.'' Retrieved December 11, 2006.</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 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work= }}</ref> In May 2004 Romney 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, <ref>{{cite web|url=http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/20060410.html|title=Will the State of Massachusetts Ever Permit Same-Sex Out-of-Staters to Marry?|publisher=]}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/specials/gay_marriage/articles/2004/05/21/history_suggests_race_was_the_basis/ |title=History suggests race was the basis |last=Greenberger |first=Scott S. |date=May 21, 2004 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work=The Boston Globe }}</ref> no marriage licenses were to be issued to out-of-state same-sex couples not planning to move to Massachusetts. 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. Instead, Romney 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>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/06/17/romney_backs_new_effort_to_prohibit_gay_marriages/ |title=Romney backs new effort to prohibit gay marriages |last=Lewis |first=Raphael |date=June 17, 2005 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work= }}</ref> In 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 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work=mass.gov}}</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 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work=US Senate Committee on the Judiciary}}</ref> |
McElhenny, John. ''Daily Collegian'' October 16, 2002. Retrieved December 10, 2006.</ref> <ref> ''Romney for Governor 2002.'' Retrieved December 11, 2006.</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 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work= }}</ref> In May 2004 Romney 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, <ref>{{cite web|url=http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/20060410.html|title=Will the State of Massachusetts Ever Permit Same-Sex Out-of-Staters to Marry?|publisher=]}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/specials/gay_marriage/articles/2004/05/21/history_suggests_race_was_the_basis/ |title=History suggests race was the basis |last=Greenberger |first=Scott S. |date=May 21, 2004 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work=The Boston Globe }}</ref> no marriage licenses were to be issued to out-of-state same-sex couples not planning to move to Massachusetts. 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. Instead, Romney 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>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/06/17/romney_backs_new_effort_to_prohibit_gay_marriages/ |title=Romney backs new effort to prohibit gay marriages |last=Lewis |first=Raphael |date=June 17, 2005 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work= }}</ref> In 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 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work=mass.gov}}</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 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work=US Senate Committee on the Judiciary}}</ref> | ||
On ], ], Romney announced that he would not seek re-election for a second term as governor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/14/romney_to_announce_he_wont_seek_re_election/ |title=Romney to announce he won't seek re-election |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=2005-12-14 |accessdate=2006-11-21 |work=Boston Globe}}</ref> Romney left office with a favorability rating of 43%. <ref>http://wbztv.com/local/local_story_137120921.html</ref> Romney filed papers to establish a formal exploratory presidential campaign committee the next to last day in office as governor.<ref>Estes, Andrea; and Helman, Scott. | On ], ], Romney announced that he would not seek re-election for a second term as governor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/14/romney_to_announce_he_wont_seek_re_election/ |title=Romney to announce he won't seek re-election |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=2005-12-14 |accessdate=2006-11-21 |work=Boston Globe}}</ref> Romney left office with a favorability rating of 43%. <ref>http://wbztv.com/local/local_story_137120921.html</ref> Romney filed papers to establish a formal exploratory presidential campaign committee the next to last day in office as governor.<ref>Estes, Andrea; and Helman, Scott. | ||
''Boston Globe. January 4, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2007.</ref> Romney's term ended ], ]. |
''Boston Globe. January 4, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2007.</ref> Romney's term ended ], ]. | ||
==Campaign for United States President, 2008 election== | ==Campaign for United States President, 2008 election== | ||
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| title = FEC statement of candidacy | | title = FEC statement of candidacy | ||
| accessdate = 2007-10-21 | | accessdate = 2007-10-21 | ||
}}</ref><ref> ''New York Times,'' January 4, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2007.</ref> On ], ] Romney formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. |
}}</ref><ref> ''New York Times,'' January 4, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2007.</ref> On ], ] Romney formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. | ||
In ], ], Romney won the ] with 31% of the vote.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293003,00.html</ref> His closest rival in the Straw Poll, ], received 18% of the total vote. <ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aj67AMOxCXYo&refer=us</ref> ], ], and the then-unofficial candidate ], did not attend. Romney also won the Illinois Straw Poll with 40.35% of the vote, with ] coming in 2nd with 19.96% of the total vote.<ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/16/mitt-romney-wins-illinois-straw-poll/</ref |
In ], ], Romney won the ] with 31% of the vote.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293003,00.html</ref> His closest rival in the Straw Poll, ], received 18% of the total vote. <ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aj67AMOxCXYo&refer=us</ref> ], ], and the then-unofficial candidate ], did not attend. Romney also won the Illinois Straw Poll with 40.35% of the vote, with ] coming in 2nd with 19.96% of the total vote.<ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/16/mitt-romney-wins-illinois-straw-poll/</ref> | ||
Romney has been criticized for comparing his sons' campaign service to service in the military. Said Romney, "one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected.” Neither Romney nor his five sons have served in the military.<ref>http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/08/questions-about-romneys-sons-and-military-service/</ref> Romney later apologized and said he misspoke and that there is no comparison to the sacrifice that military persons make.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293030,00.html</ref |
Romney has been criticized for comparing his sons' campaign service to service in the military. Said Romney, "one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected.” Neither Romney nor his five sons have served in the military.<ref>http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/08/questions-about-romneys-sons-and-military-service/</ref> Romney later apologized and said he misspoke and that there is no comparison to the sacrifice that military persons make.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293030,00.html</ref> | ||
], ]; September 3, 2007]] | ], ]; September 3, 2007]] | ||
Another criticism of Romney is that he is the Republican version of ]. Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, one of his main rivals, compared him to Kerry<ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/10/ghosts-of-2004-in-latest-giuliani-romney-skirmish/</ref>. For example, Romney is seen to have changed his views on gay rights because of his previous support for Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy". <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/us/politics/08romney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Romney’s Tone on Gay Rights Is Seen as Shift|author=Michael Luo|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=2007-09-08|accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref>. Also like Kerry, Mitt Romney is financing much of his campaign with his own personal fortune, contributing over $17 million to the campaign<ref>{{cite web| url=http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/finances/index.html | title=Mitt Romney's campaign finances | publisher=''The New York Times'' | accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref>. |
Another criticism of Romney is that he is the Republican version of ]. Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, one of his main rivals, compared him to Kerry<ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/10/ghosts-of-2004-in-latest-giuliani-romney-skirmish/</ref>. For example, Romney is seen to have changed his views on gay rights because of his previous support for Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy". <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/us/politics/08romney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Romney’s Tone on Gay Rights Is Seen as Shift|author=Michael Luo|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=2007-09-08|accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref>. Also like Kerry, Mitt Romney is financing much of his campaign with his own personal fortune, contributing over $17 million to the campaign<ref>{{cite web| url=http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/finances/index.html | title=Mitt Romney's campaign finances | publisher=''The New York Times'' | accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref>. | ||
As of September 2007, ] show that Romney has electoral support in the key early states of Iowa<ref>]</ref>, | As of September 2007, ] show that Romney has electoral support in the key early states of Iowa<ref>]</ref>, | ||
and | and | ||
New Hampshire<ref>]</ref> as well as polling strongly in Nevada<ref>]</ref>, | New Hampshire<ref>]</ref> as well as polling strongly in Nevada<ref>]</ref>, | ||
Michigan<ref>]</ref> (which may be a key early state), Utah<ref>]</ref> and Idaho<ref>]</ref>. |
Michigan<ref>]</ref> (which may be a key early state), Utah<ref>]</ref> and Idaho<ref>]</ref>. | ||
==Political positions== | ==Political positions== | ||
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End note --> | End note --> | ||
Mitt Romney's political positions have changed considerably over the course of his political career. As a candidate for office in Massachusetts, Romney repeatedly claimed<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ |work=Boston Globe|title=Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |date=2005-02-23}}</ref><ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/us/politics/08romney.html |work=New York Times|title=Romney’s Tone on Gay Rights Is Seen as Shift |date=2007-09-08}}</ref> to hold liberal or moderate views on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. As a candidate for the Republican nomination for President, Romney has expressed views more in line with traditional conservative ones on social issues, and now portrays himself as a social conservative.<ref> {{citenews|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6362249.stm |work=BBC|title=Profile: Mitt Romney |date=2007-02-15}}</ref><ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Romney_Agenda_10.15.07 |work=Mitt Romney.Com|title=The Romney Agenda: The Three-Legged Republican Stool |date=2007-10-15}}</ref |
Mitt Romney's political positions have changed considerably over the course of his political career. As a candidate for office in Massachusetts, Romney repeatedly claimed<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ |work=Boston Globe|title=Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |date=2005-02-23}}</ref><ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/us/politics/08romney.html |work=New York Times|title=Romney’s Tone on Gay Rights Is Seen as Shift |date=2007-09-08}}</ref> to hold liberal or moderate views on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. As a candidate for the Republican nomination for President, Romney has expressed views more in line with traditional conservative ones on social issues, and now portrays himself as a social conservative.<ref> {{citenews|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6362249.stm |work=BBC|title=Profile: Mitt Romney |date=2007-02-15}}</ref><ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Romney_Agenda_10.15.07 |work=Mitt Romney.Com|title=The Romney Agenda: The Three-Legged Republican Stool |date=2007-10-15}}</ref> | ||
Romney has explained his changing views as a process of evolution, contending that he has gradually come to agree with the conservative position on numerous social issues.<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17023959/ |work=MSNBC|title=Mitt Romney says he opposes abortion |date=2007-02-07}}</ref><ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/11/_a_republican_g.html |work=Boston Globe|title=GOP group to slam Romney on abortion |date=2007-11-28}}</ref> Critics of Romney, on the left and the right, are less flattering and portray Romney as an opportunist. Democratic ] ] of ], once said of Romney "The real Romney is clearly an extraordinarily ambitious man with no perceivable political principle whatsoever. He is the most ] human being in the history of politics."<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/daily_briefing/index.php/2007/06/11/ |work=Boston Herald|title=Congressman Frank blasts the 'real Romney' |date=2007-06-11}}</ref> Fellow Republican presidential candidate Senator ] also criticized Romney, saying "Maybe I should wait a couple of weeks and see if it changes because it's changed in less than a year from his position before."<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.latestpolitics.com/blog/2007/05/mccain-hits-romney.html |work=LatestPolitics.Com|title=McCain Hits Romney Hard |date=2007-05-21}}</ref><ref> {{citenews|url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/channel-08/2007/05/mccain_jabs_romney_on_immigrat.html |work=Washington Post|title=McCain Jabs Romney on Immigration |date=2007-05-22}}</ref |
Romney has explained his changing views as a process of evolution, contending that he has gradually come to agree with the conservative position on numerous social issues.<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17023959/ |work=MSNBC|title=Mitt Romney says he opposes abortion |date=2007-02-07}}</ref><ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/11/_a_republican_g.html |work=Boston Globe|title=GOP group to slam Romney on abortion |date=2007-11-28}}</ref> Critics of Romney, on the left and the right, are less flattering and portray Romney as an opportunist. Democratic ] ] of ], once said of Romney "The real Romney is clearly an extraordinarily ambitious man with no perceivable political principle whatsoever. He is the most ] human being in the history of politics."<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/daily_briefing/index.php/2007/06/11/ |work=Boston Herald|title=Congressman Frank blasts the 'real Romney' |date=2007-06-11}}</ref> Fellow Republican presidential candidate Senator ] also criticized Romney, saying "Maybe I should wait a couple of weeks and see if it changes because it's changed in less than a year from his position before."<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.latestpolitics.com/blog/2007/05/mccain-hits-romney.html |work=LatestPolitics.Com|title=McCain Hits Romney Hard |date=2007-05-21}}</ref><ref> {{citenews|url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/channel-08/2007/05/mccain_jabs_romney_on_immigrat.html |work=Washington Post|title=McCain Jabs Romney on Immigration |date=2007-05-22}}</ref> | ||
Romney now believes that ''Roe v. Wade'' should be overturned and believes a constitutional amendment is appropriate when America is ready for it and that abortion is wrong except to save the life of the mother.<ref>http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Values</ref> Romney has made pro-choice comments in the past, but now says he has reversed his position.<ref>http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Values</ref |
Romney now believes that ''Roe v. Wade'' should be overturned and believes a constitutional amendment is appropriate when America is ready for it and that abortion is wrong except to save the life of the mother.<ref>http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Values</ref> Romney has made pro-choice comments in the past, but now says he has reversed his position.<ref>http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Values</ref> | ||
As governor of Massachusetts, Romney opposed amending the constitution to codify only traditional marriage, believing it unnecessary. He changed his mind in 2003, however, when the ] ruled in favor of legalized same-sex marriage, Romney lobbied for a state constitutional amendment.<ref>{{citenews | first=Frank | last=Phillips | coauthors= | title= Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.boston.com/news/specials/gay_marriage/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ | work=LifesiteNews | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref |
As governor of Massachusetts, Romney opposed amending the constitution to codify only traditional marriage, believing it unnecessary. He changed his mind in 2003, however, when the ] ruled in favor of legalized same-sex marriage, Romney lobbied for a state constitutional amendment.<ref>{{citenews | first=Frank | last=Phillips | coauthors= | title= Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.boston.com/news/specials/gay_marriage/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ | work=LifesiteNews | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref> | ||
Romney supported the invasion of Iraq<ref>{{citenews | first=Amy| last=Lorentzen| coauthors= | title= Romney:U.S. is angry about Iraq|date=], ] | publisher= Houston Chronicle| url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5007252.html | work=American Spectator | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref>, and supports the "]," though in summer 2007 he said that it was still too early to gauge its success.<ref>https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Iraq_Statement_1_10_07 Press release from official Mitt Romney website</ref> Upon hearing the ] of ], Romney reemphasized his agreement with current policy in Iraq and has called for a "Surge of Support" for the military. Romney has called for increased military spending to at least 4 percent of the United States ] and wishes to increase the size of the military by at least 100,000 troops<ref>http://mittromney.com/News/In-The-News/Defense_Energy_Research_Spending</ref>. |
Romney supported the invasion of Iraq<ref>{{citenews | first=Amy| last=Lorentzen| coauthors= | title= Romney:U.S. is angry about Iraq|date=], ] | publisher= Houston Chronicle| url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5007252.html | work=American Spectator | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref>, and supports the "]," though in summer 2007 he said that it was still too early to gauge its success.<ref>https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Iraq_Statement_1_10_07 Press release from official Mitt Romney website</ref> Upon hearing the ] of ], Romney reemphasized his agreement with current policy in Iraq and has called for a "Surge of Support" for the military. Romney has called for increased military spending to at least 4 percent of the United States ] and wishes to increase the size of the military by at least 100,000 troops<ref>http://mittromney.com/News/In-The-News/Defense_Energy_Research_Spending</ref>. | ||
Romney has focused on tax relief for "middle income Americans" and has advocated eliminating the ] for all those who earn less than $200,000 per year. <ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=200399-1&tID=5 |work=CSPAN|title=Mitt Romney Iowa Straw Poll Speech |date=2007-11-08}}</ref> Romney has also advocated eliminating the ],<ref>{{citenews |publisher=Boston Globe| date=2007-08-10|title = Romney rolls through business plan in hopes of winning Iowa | http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/10/romney_rolls_through_business_plan_in_hopes_of_winning_iowa/}}</ref> signed a pledge to oppose "any and all efforts" to increase income taxes,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2007/01/05/romney_finds_no_new_taxes_promise_suits_him_after_all/ |title = Romney finds 'no new taxes' promise suits him after all | last = Helman | first = Scott | work = Boston Globe | date= 2007-01-05}}</ref> and promises to control spending by Congress. |
Romney has focused on tax relief for "middle income Americans" and has advocated eliminating the ] for all those who earn less than $200,000 per year. <ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=200399-1&tID=5 |work=CSPAN|title=Mitt Romney Iowa Straw Poll Speech |date=2007-11-08}}</ref> Romney has also advocated eliminating the ],<ref>{{citenews |publisher=Boston Globe| date=2007-08-10|title = Romney rolls through business plan in hopes of winning Iowa | http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/10/romney_rolls_through_business_plan_in_hopes_of_winning_iowa/}}</ref> signed a pledge to oppose "any and all efforts" to increase income taxes,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2007/01/05/romney_finds_no_new_taxes_promise_suits_him_after_all/ |title = Romney finds 'no new taxes' promise suits him after all | last = Helman | first = Scott | work = Boston Globe | date= 2007-01-05}}</ref> and promises to control spending by Congress. | ||
Romney currently supports the ], ]s, and sentencing under the ].<ref>{{citenews | first=Raphael | last=Lewis | coauthors= | title= Romney files death penalty bill |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/04/29/romney_files_death_penalty_bill?pg=full | work=Boston Globe | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{citenews | first=Maria | last=Sacchetti | coauthors= | title= Romney plan would greatly boost charter schools |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/01/romney_plan_would_greatly_boost_charter_schools/ | work=Boston Globe | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{citenews | first= | last= | coauthors= | title= Mitt Romney on crime |date=, ] | publisher= | url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Crime.htm | work=OnTheIssues | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref> | Romney currently supports the ], ]s, and sentencing under the ].<ref>{{citenews | first=Raphael | last=Lewis | coauthors= | title= Romney files death penalty bill |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/04/29/romney_files_death_penalty_bill?pg=full | work=Boston Globe | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{citenews | first=Maria | last=Sacchetti | coauthors= | title= Romney plan would greatly boost charter schools |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/01/romney_plan_would_greatly_boost_charter_schools/ | work=Boston Globe | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{citenews | first= | last= | coauthors= | title= Mitt Romney on crime |date=, ] | publisher= | url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Crime.htm | work=OnTheIssues | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref> | ||
Romney has called for secure borders through reforming current immigration laws. Romney welcomes increased ] and supports implementing a mandatory ]-enabled, tamper-proof documentation and employment verification system. Romney said that he would like to see illegal immigrants register with the government and apply for citizenship.<ref>http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Immigration</ref> Romney supports the use of "]"<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8NKiz18k4o</ref> but says that he opposes the use of ].<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=200399-1&tID=5 |work=CSPAN|title=Mitt Romney Iowa Straw Poll Speech |date=2007-11-08}}</ref |
Romney has called for secure borders through reforming current immigration laws. Romney welcomes increased ] and supports implementing a mandatory ]-enabled, tamper-proof documentation and employment verification system. Romney said that he would like to see illegal immigrants register with the government and apply for citizenship.<ref>http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Immigration</ref> Romney supports the use of "]"<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8NKiz18k4o</ref> but says that he opposes the use of ].<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=200399-1&tID=5 |work=CSPAN|title=Mitt Romney Iowa Straw Poll Speech |date=2007-11-08}}</ref> | ||
==Electoral history== | ==Electoral history== |
Revision as of 06:00, 13 December 2007
Mitt Romney | |
---|---|
70th Governor of Massachusetts | |
In office January 2, 2003 – January 4, 2007 | |
Lieutenant | Kerry Healey |
Preceded by | Jane M. Swift (acting) |
Succeeded by | Deval Patrick |
Personal details | |
Born | (1947-03-12) March 12, 1947 (age 77) Detroit, Michigan |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Ann Romney |
Children | 5 |
Alma mater | Brigham Young University, Harvard University |
Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12 1947) is an American, businessman, and politician from the state of Michigan and later Massachusetts. Formerly the 70th Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Romney is currently seeking the Republican nomination in the 2008 United States presidential election.
Romney is a former CEO of Bain & Company, a management consulting firm, and the co-founder of Bain Capital, a private equity investment firm. After a life in business and as the CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Romney was elected as Massachusetts Governor in 2002. Romney served one term and did not seek re-election in 2006; his term expired January 4, 2007.
Early life and education
Mitt Romney is the son of former Michigan Governor and 1968 presidential candidate George W. Romney, and 1970 U.S. Senate candidate Lenore Romney. He was named "Willard" after hotel magnate J. Willard Marriott, his father's best friend. Mitt, his middle name, comes from his father's cousin Milton, who played quarterback for the Chicago Bears from 1925 to 1929. Mitt Romney has three older siblings: Lynn Romney Keenan, Jane Romney Robinson, and G. Scott Romney.
Mitt Romney graduated from the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (now Cranbrook Kingswood School). After attending Stanford University for two quarters, Romney served in France for 30 months as a missionary for LDS Church. In June 1968, Romney was involved in a serious car accident while driving fellow missionaries in southern France. Another vehicle hit Romney's car head on; the fault for the accident, which left one person dead, has been attributed to the driver of the other vehicle.
Romney has been married to high school girlfriend Ann Davies since 1969. They have five sons and eleven grandchildren.
After his mission service, Romney attended Brigham Young University, where he graduated as valedictorian, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in 1971. In 1975, Romney graduated from a joint JD/MBA program coordinated between Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. He graduated cum laude from the law school and was named a Baker Scholar for graduating in the top five percent of his business school class.
Religious background
Mitt Romney is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), more commonly known as Mormons. His great-great-grandfather, Parley P. Pratt, was among the first leaders of the religion in the early 1800s. Mitt's wife Ann converted to Mormonism before they were married in 1969. Ann's family could not attend their wedding ceremony that was held at a temple, due to a rule preventing non-Mormons from entering LDS temples, but they attended another ceremony held for non-Mormons. In addition to his missionary work in France, Romney has also served as a bishop and stake president in his church. Romney does not drink alcohol, smoke, or swear.
Romney's religion has played a major role in his 2008 presidential campaign, with polls indicating that a quarter of Republican voters are "less likely" to vote for a presidential candidate who is Mormon. However, some social conservatives and evangelicals criticize Romney for not being Mormon enough, regarding social policy. He has avoided speaking publicly about specific church doctrines, and has pointed out that the U.S. Constitution prohibits religious tests for public office. Declining to discuss details about his religion also reduces the risk that doctrinal differences will alienate evangelical Christian voters. Romney has instead addressed religion in general, saying that as president he would "need the prayers of the people of all faiths," and that he would "serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States." Mormonism was not an issue in his father's presidential campaign in 1968 because he was eliminated in the New Hampshire primary before it could become an issue. Other presidential aspirants of that faith have included Joseph Smith, Morris Udall, and Orrin Hatch.
Romney's church has been criticized for policies that some perceive as sexist or racist; for example, males of African descent could not be ordained to the priesthood until 1978. However, Romney participated in pro-civil rights marches with his father and "hoped that the time would come when the leaders of the church would receive the inspiration to change the policy."
Romney has denounced polygamy and is a proponent of monogamous marriage. Like his ancestor Parley Pratt, Romney's paternal great-grandparents practiced plural marriage, and they fled to Mexico in 1884 after an 1878 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld laws banning polygamy. Subsequent generations of Romney's paternal lineage have been monogamous and none of his mother's Mormon ancestors appear to have been polygamists. Due to legal pressure by the U.S. federal government, the LDS church renounced polygamy in 1890. Mitt's father, George, was born in Mexico in 1907, and was brought to the United States in 1912 by Mitt's grandparents.
Business career
After graduation Romney went to work for the Boston Consulting Group, where he had interned during the summer of 1974. From 1978 to 1984, Romney was a vice president of Bain & Company, Inc., another Boston-based management consulting firm. In 1984, Romney left Bain & Company to co-found a Bain & Company spin-off private equity investment firm called Bain Capital. During the 14 years he headed the company, Bain Capital's average annual internal rate of return on realized investments was 113 percent, making money primarily through leveraged buyouts. He invested in or bought many well-known companies such as Staples, Brookstone, Domino's, Sealy Corporation and Sports Authority.
In 1990, Romney was asked to return to Bain & Company, which was facing financial collapse. As CEO, Romney managed an effort to restructure the firm's employee stock-ownership plan, real-estate deals and bank loans, while increasing fiscal transparency. Within a year, he had led Bain & Company through a highly successful turnaround and returned the firm to profitability without layoffs or partner defections.
Romney left Bain Capital in 1998 to head the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games Organizing Committee. He and his wife have a net worth of between 190 and 250 million USD.
CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee
Romney served as president and CEO of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games held in Salt Lake City. In 1999, the event was running $379 million short of its revenue benchmarks. Plans were being made to scale back the games in order to compensate for the fiscal crisis. The Games were also damaged by allegations of bribery involving top officials, including then Salt Lake Olympic Committee (SLOC) President and CEO Frank Joklik. Joklik and SLOC vice president Dave Johnson were forced to resign.
On February 11, 1999, Romney was hired as the new president and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. Romney revamped the organization's leadership and policies, reduced budgets and boosted fundraising. He also worked to ensure the safety of the Games following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 by coordinating a $300 million security budget. Despite the initial fiscal shortfall, the Games ended up clearing a profit of $100 million, not counting the $224.5 million in security costs contributed by outside sources.
Romney contributed $1 million to the Olympics, and donated the $825,000 salary he earned as President and CEO to charity. He wrote a book about his experience called Turnaround (ISBN 978-1-59698-514-8).
Massachusetts political campaigns
Campaign for United States Senate, 1994 election
In 1994, Romney won the Massachusetts Republican Party's nomination for U.S. Senate after defeating businessman John Lakian in the primary. Romney's mother had run for the Senate in 1970. Some early polls showed Romney close to the Senator Ted Kennedy. One Boston Herald/WCVB-TV poll taken after the September 20, 1994 primary showed Romney ahead 44 percent to 42 percent, within the poll's sampling margin of error. Kennedy, who typically faced only "token" GOP opposition for his senate seat was more vulnerable than usual in 1994, in part because of the unpopularity of the Democratic Congress as a whole and also because this was Kennedy's first election since the William Kennedy Smith trial in Florida, in which Ted Kennedy had taken some public relations hits regarding his character. President Bill Clinton traveled to Massachusetts to campaign for Kennedy.
After Romney touted his business credentials and his record at creating jobs within his company, Kennedy ran campaign ads showing an Indiana company bought out by Romney's firm, Bain Capital, and interviews with its union workers who had been fired and criticized Romney for the loss of their jobs, one saying, "I don’t think Romney is creating jobs because he took every one of them away." Although both Kennedy and Romney supported the abortion rights established under Roe v. Wade, Kennedy accused Romney of being "multiple choice" on the issue, rather than "pro choice" (a shot at what he stated were Romney's flip flops on the issue). According to figures in The Almanac of American Politics 1996, which relies on official campaign finance reports, Romney spent over $7 million of his own money, with Kennedy spending more than $10 million from his campaign fund, mostly in the last weeks of the campaign (this was the second-most expensive race of the 1994 election cycle, after the Dianne Feinstein vs. Michael Huffington Senate race in California). Kennedy won the election with 58 percent of the vote to Romney's 41 percent, the smallest margin in Kennedy's nine elections to the Senate through 2006.
Campaign for Governor, 2002 election
Main article: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002In 2002, Republican Lieutenant Governor Jane Swift was expected to campaign for the governor's office. Swift had served as acting governor after Republican Governor Paul Cellucci resigned upon being appointed U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Swift was viewed as an unpopular executive, and her administration was plagued by political missteps and personal scandals. Many Republicans viewed her as a liability and considered her unable to win a general election against a Democrat. Prominent GOP activists campaigned to persuade Romney to run for governor. One poll taken at this time showed that Republicans favored Romney over Swift by more than 50 percentage points. Swift decided not to seek her party's nomination.
Massachusetts Democratic Party officials claimed that Romney was ineligible to run for governor, citing residency issues. The Massachusetts Constitution requires seven consecutive years of residency prior to a run for office. Romney claimed residency in Utah from 1999 to 2002, during his time as president of the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee. In 1999 he listed himself as a part-time Massachusetts resident. The Massachusetts Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission, which eventually ruled that Romney was eligible to run for office. The ruling was not challenged in court.
Supporters of Romney hailed his business record, especially his success with the 2002 Olympics, as that of one who would be able to bring in a new era of efficiency into Massachusetts politics. Romney contributed $6.3 million to his own campaign during the election, at the time a state record. Romney was elected Governor in November 2002 with 50 percent of the vote over Democratic candidate Shannon O'Brien, who received 45 percent of the vote.
Governor of Massachusetts, 2003–2007
Main article: Governorship of Mitt RomneyRomney was sworn in as the 70th governor of Massachusetts on January 2, 2003. Upon entering office, Romney faced a projected $3 billion deficit, but a previously enacted $1.3 billion capital gains tax increase and $500 million in unanticipated federal grants decreased the deficit to $1.2 billion. Through a combination of spending cuts and lower taxes, and removal of tax loopholes, the State had a $700 million surplus by 2006. Romney supported raising various fees by $500 million per year, including raising fees for driver's licenses, marriage licenses, and gun licenses. Romney increased the state gasoline tax by 2 cents per gallon, generating about $60 million per year in additional tax revenue. Romney also closed a tax loopholes that brought in another $181 million from businesses over the next two years; The state legislature with Romney's support also 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 tuition by 63%. Romney sought additional cuts in his last year as Massachusetts governor by vetoing nearly 250 items in the state budget. All of those vetoes were overturned by the legislature.
According to an analysis by the Tax Foundation, the state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased from 10 percent to 10.6 percent of per capita income during Romney's governorship.
On April 12, 2006, Romney signed the Massachusetts health reform law which mandates nearly all Massachusetts residents to buy health insurance coverage or else face a substantial penalty in the form of an additional income tax assessment. The bill also establishes means-tested state subsidies for people without adequate employer insurance and who make below an income threshold by using funds previously designated to compensate for the health costs of the uninsured. He vetoed 8 sections of the health care legislation, including an employer assessment and provisions providing health coverage to senior and disabled legal immigrants not eligible for federal Medicaid. The legislature overrode all eight vetoes. Romney's communications director Eric Fehrnstrom responded saying "These differences with the Legislature are not essential to the goal of getting everyone covered with insurance."
At the beginning of his governorship, Romney opposed same-sex marriage and civil unions. Faced with the dilemma of choosing between same-sex marriage or civil unions after the November 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision legalizing same-sex marriages (Goodridge v. Department of Public Health), 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. In May 2004 Romney 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, no marriage licenses were to be issued to out-of-state same-sex couples not planning to move to Massachusetts. 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. Instead, Romney 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. In 2006 he urged the U.S. Senate to vote in favor of the Marriage Protection Amendment.
On December 14, 2005, Romney announced that he would not seek re-election for a second term as governor. Romney left office with a favorability rating of 43%. Romney filed papers to establish a formal exploratory presidential campaign committee the next to last day in office as governor. Romney's term ended January 4, 2007.
Campaign for United States President, 2008 election
Template:Future election candidate
Main article: Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2008Since the 2004 Republican National Convention, Romney had been discussed as a potential 2008 presidential candidate. On January 3 2007, two days before he stepped down as governor of Massachusetts, Romney filed to form a presidential exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission. On February 13, 2007 Romney formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2008.
In August, 2007, Romney won the Ames Straw Poll with 31% of the vote. His closest rival in the Straw Poll, Mike Huckabee, received 18% of the total vote. Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and the then-unofficial candidate Fred Thompson, did not attend. Romney also won the Illinois Straw Poll with 40.35% of the vote, with Fred Thompson coming in 2nd with 19.96% of the total vote.
Romney has been criticized for comparing his sons' campaign service to service in the military. Said Romney, "one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected.” Neither Romney nor his five sons have served in the military. Romney later apologized and said he misspoke and that there is no comparison to the sacrifice that military persons make.
Another criticism of Romney is that he is the Republican version of John Kerry. Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, one of his main rivals, compared him to Kerry. For example, Romney is seen to have changed his views on gay rights because of his previous support for Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy". . Also like Kerry, Mitt Romney is financing much of his campaign with his own personal fortune, contributing over $17 million to the campaign.
As of September 2007, state-by-state polls for the 2008 Republican nomination show that Romney has electoral support in the key early states of Iowa, and New Hampshire as well as polling strongly in Nevada, Michigan (which may be a key early state), Utah and Idaho.
Political positions
Main article: Political positions of Mitt RomneyMitt Romney's political positions have changed considerably over the course of his political career. As a candidate for office in Massachusetts, Romney repeatedly claimed to hold liberal or moderate views on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. As a candidate for the Republican nomination for President, Romney has expressed views more in line with traditional conservative ones on social issues, and now portrays himself as a social conservative.
Romney has explained his changing views as a process of evolution, contending that he has gradually come to agree with the conservative position on numerous social issues. Critics of Romney, on the left and the right, are less flattering and portray Romney as an opportunist. Democratic U.S. Represenative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, once said of Romney "The real Romney is clearly an extraordinarily ambitious man with no perceivable political principle whatsoever. He is the most intellectually dishonest human being in the history of politics." Fellow Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain also criticized Romney, saying "Maybe I should wait a couple of weeks and see if it changes because it's changed in less than a year from his position before."
Romney now believes that Roe v. Wade should be overturned and believes a constitutional amendment is appropriate when America is ready for it and that abortion is wrong except to save the life of the mother. Romney has made pro-choice comments in the past, but now says he has reversed his position.
As governor of Massachusetts, Romney opposed amending the constitution to codify only traditional marriage, believing it unnecessary. He changed his mind in 2003, however, when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor of legalized same-sex marriage, Romney lobbied for a state constitutional amendment.
Romney supported the invasion of Iraq, and supports the "troop surge," though in summer 2007 he said that it was still too early to gauge its success. Upon hearing the testimony of David Petraeus, Romney reemphasized his agreement with current policy in Iraq and has called for a "Surge of Support" for the military. Romney has called for increased military spending to at least 4 percent of the United States GDP and wishes to increase the size of the military by at least 100,000 troops.
Romney has focused on tax relief for "middle income Americans" and has advocated eliminating the capital gains tax for all those who earn less than $200,000 per year. Romney has also advocated eliminating the inheritance tax, signed a pledge to oppose "any and all efforts" to increase income taxes, and promises to control spending by Congress.
Romney currently supports the death penalty, charter schools, and sentencing under the three strikes law. Romney has called for secure borders through reforming current immigration laws. Romney welcomes increased legal immigration and supports implementing a mandatory biometrically-enabled, tamper-proof documentation and employment verification system. Romney said that he would like to see illegal immigrants register with the government and apply for citizenship. Romney supports the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" but says that he opposes the use of torture.
Electoral history
- 2002 Race for Governor, Massachusetts
- Mitt Romney (R), 50%
- Shannon O'Brien (D), 45%
- Jill Stein (J), 3%
- Carla Howell (L), 1%
- Barbara Johnson (U), 1%
- 1994 Race for U.S. Senate, Massachusetts
- Edward Kennedy (D) (incumbent), 58%
- Mitt Romney (R), 41%
- Lauraleigh Dozier (L), 0.7%
- William Ferguson, 0.2%
See also
- Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2008
- Political positions of Mitt Romney
- Governorship of Mitt Romney
- Presidents and Prophets: the Story of America's Presidents and the LDS Church
References
- Romney formally announces run for president Boston Globe, February 13, 2007
- Phillips, Frank and Helman, Scott. "It's 1 term for Romney; he says 'future is open'" The Boston Globe, December 15, 2005), retrieved October 28, 2006.
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- All-Time Roster, Chicago Bears.
- "Mitt Romney". nndb.com. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
- Miller, John J. "Matinee Mitt." National Review, June 20 2005.-
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(help) - Hugh Hewitt, A Mormon in the White House, March 2007
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- "Mitt Romney Wants to Re-Tool Washington; Mike Wallace Interviews the Contender for the GOP Presidential Nomination", 60 Minutes, CBS News, May 13, 2006 (retrieved December 3, 2007).
- Jill Lawrence, "Will Mormon Faith Hurt Bid for White House?", USA Today, March 12, 2007.
- ^ Linda Feldmann, "Romney moves to allay Mormon concerns directly", Christian Science Monitor, December 11, 2007.
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- ^ Daniel Nasaw, "He hasn't been Mormon enough", The Guardian, December 6, 2007.
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- David Kirkpatrick, “Romney, Searching and Earnest, Set His Path in ’60s”, New York Times, November 15, 2007.
- Douglas Kmiec, Revising Kennedy, National Review, November 14 2007. To quote Romney: "There is nothing more awful, in my view, than the violation of the marriage covenant that one has with one’s wife. The practice of polygamy is abhorrent, it’s awful, and it drives me nuts that people who are polygamists keep pretending to use the umbrella of my church....My church abhors it, it excommunicates people who practice it, and it's got nothing to do with my faith."
- Jennifer Dobner and Glen Johnson. Romney's family tree has polygamy branch Associated Press via Boston Globe. February 24 2007.
- “Polygamy Prominent in GOP Presidential Hopeful Mitt Romney's Family Tree”, Associated Press via Fox News, February 24, 2007.
- Neil Swidey and Michael Paulson,“Privilege, tragedy, and a young leader”, Boston Globe, June 24, 2007.
- Salt Lake Herald, 1889-10-27, quoted in Richard S. Van Wagoner (1989, 2d ed.). Mormon Polygamy: A History (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books) p. 136. When asked by a reporter what the Church's attitude was toward the anti-polygamy laws, church president Wilford Woodruff stated in 1889, "we mean to obey it. We have no thought of evading it or ignoring it."
- Dahleen Glanton and Margaret Ramirez, Romney a hard sell for evangelicals, Chicago Tribune, December 9, 2007.
- Thomas Burr. Could ancestors haunt Romney? Salt Lake Tribune, August 21 2006, via archive.org. Retrieved on 2007-12-10.
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- Kirkpatrick, David (2007-06-04). "Romney's Fortunes Tied to Business Riches". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
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(help) - "Bain Capital's Romney aiming for politics after Olympics" from BizJournals.com
- Mitt Romney Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Official web page of Governor Romney) (no date) via The Internet Archive (retrieved July 22, 2007) Mitt Romney
- Kuhnhenn, Jim (2007-08-13). "Romney Worth As Much As $250 Million". Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
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(help) - Carp, Steve (July 22, 2001). "Romney's efforts credited for saving Salt Lake Games". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
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(help) - "Salt Lake Olympics rocked by resignations, evidence of payments" CNN.com, January 8, 1999, retrieved October 28, 2006.
- Call, Jeff "'The Fire Within" BYU Magazine, Winter 2002, retrieved October 28, 2006.
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- Derek Jensen (October 20, 2001). "SLOC has plenty to fund security, organizers say". Deseret News. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
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(help) - "SLOC plotting how to dole out Olympics profits". Associated Press. ESPN. September 17, 2002. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
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(help) - Eastland, Terry "In 2008, Will It Be Mormon in America?" The Weekly Standard June 6, 2005, retrieved October 28, 2006.
- Gizzi, John "Romney and Rebellion" Human Events Publishing, May 17, 2004; retrieved October 29, 2004
- "The Real Romney?". YouTube. October, 1994. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
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(help) - Gordon, Al. "Kennedy in Fight Of His Political Life" Newsday (Nassau and Suffoklk edition), pg. A04, October 2, 1994; retrieved October 29, 2006.
- Hall, Mike (May 31, 2007). "Romney's 'Business Experience': Firing Workers, Hiring Them Back at Lower Wages". AFL/CIO. AFL/CIO Blog. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
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(help) - Miller, Jerry (April 24, 2000). "Record Fundraising". CNSNews. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
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(help) - Taranto, James Latter-day President?: A Mitt Romney candidacy would test the religious right The Wall Street Journal Saturday, December 31, 2005; retrieved October 29, 2006.
- Associated Press. "Massachusetts's first female governor takes office, under heavy statewide scrutiny" The Daily Texan, April 11, 2001; retrieved October 29, 2006.
- Frank, Mitch. "Jane Swift Takes One For the Team:The Massachusetts GOP took a risk by choosing Mitt Romney over the more progressive Swift. Will their decision come back to haunt them?" Time Magazine, Mar. 21, 2002; retrieved Octover 29, 2006.
- Berwick Jr., Bob and Roch, Lisa Riley. "Boston GOP beseeching Mitt: But hero of S.L. Games is coy about his future" Deseret News, February 22, 2002; retrieved November 1, 2006.
- "Swift exits, Romney joins Mass. governor's race" Cable News Network, March 19, 2002; retrieved October 30, 2006.
- Mcelhenny, John (Associated Press) "Romney defends right to run for governor" Portsmouth Herald", Tuesday, June 18, 2002, retrieved November 1, 2006.
- Belluck, Pam. "Massachusetts Ballot Panel Allows Race By Republican" New York Times (Abstract) (Page A-17, Col. 4), June 26, 2002, retrieved November 1, 2006.
- "Vote 2002: Massachusetts Governor's Race" PBS Online News Hour (No Date); retrieved November 1, 2006.
- "Gabrieli surpasses spending record" Brian C. Mooney Boston Globe; August 22, 2006, Retrieved November 20, 2006.
- "2002 Election Results, Governor" 'CNN.com; retrieved November 1, 2006.
- More Mitt Missteps, Factcheck.org, July 9, 2007
- "Mr Smooth of Massachusetts". The Economist. 2007-07-07.
- "Mitt Romney on Tax Reform". Ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
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(help) - ^ Mooney, Brian (June 29, 2007). "Taking office, remaining an outsider". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
- "Property taxes still on rise in Mass". Matt Viser, Boston Globe.
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- Crook, Clive (2006-06-27). "The Massachusetts Experiment". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2006-11-21.
- An Act Providing Access to Affordable, Quality, Accountable Health Care. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Acts of 2006 (Session Laws), Chapter 58. Retrieved January 2, 2007.
- Dembner, Alice. Outline for new insurance plan proposed Boston Globe. January 19, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
- Scott S. Greenberger (2005-11-04). "House approves healthcare overhaul: Tax at odds with plans by Romney, Travaglini". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
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(help) - http://www.thetranscript.com/headlines/ci_3706699
- http://news.bostonherald.com/localPolitics/view.bg?articleid=134877
- McElhenny, John. "Shannon O'Brien supports gay marriage" Daily Collegian October 16, 2002. Retrieved December 10, 2006.
- "Mitt Romney on the Issues" Romney for Governor 2002. Retrieved December 11, 2006.
- Phillips, Frank (February 23, 2005). "Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire". Retrieved 2006-12-08.
- "Will the State of Massachusetts Ever Permit Same-Sex Out-of-Staters to Marry?". FindLaw.
- Greenberger, Scott S. (May 21, 2004). "History suggests race was the basis". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
- Lewis, Raphael (June 17, 2005). "Romney backs new effort to prohibit gay marriages". Retrieved 2006-12-08.
- Romney, Mitt (June 2, 2006). "Letter to the US Senate" (PDF). mass.gov. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
- "Testimony of Honorable Mitt Romney, Governor, Massachusetts". US Senate Committee on the Judiciary. June 22, 2004. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
- Phillips, Frank (2005-12-14). "Romney to announce he won't seek re-election". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2006-11-21.
- http://wbztv.com/local/local_story_137120921.html
- Estes, Andrea; and Helman, Scott. Romney exits with pomp, ambition: Ends term, takes 1st formal step for White House bid Boston Globe. January 4, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2007.
- Bradley, Nina "Is Romney ready for the big time?: Mass. Gov. gets plum prime-time speaking spot during convention MSNBC, August 29, 2004; retrieved October 29, 2006
- "FEC statement of candidacy". Retrieved 2007-10-21.
- Romney Takes Step Toward an ’08 Run New York Times, January 4, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2007.
- http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293003,00.html
- http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aj67AMOxCXYo&refer=us
- http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/16/mitt-romney-wins-illinois-straw-poll/
- http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/08/questions-about-romneys-sons-and-military-service/
- http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293030,00.html
- http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/10/ghosts-of-2004-in-latest-giuliani-romney-skirmish/
- Michael Luo (2007-09-08). "Romney's Tone on Gay Rights Is Seen as Shift". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
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(help) - "Mitt Romney's campaign finances". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
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(help) - Opinion polling for the Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008#Iowa
- Opinion polling for the Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008#New Hampshire
- Opinion polling for the Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008#Nevada
- Opinion polling for the Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008#Michigan
- Opinion polling for the Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008#Utah
- Opinion polling for the Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008#Idaho
- "Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire". Boston Globe. 2005-02-23.
- "Romney's Tone on Gay Rights Is Seen as Shift". New York Times. 2007-09-08.
- "Profile: Mitt Romney". BBC. 2007-02-15.
- "The Romney Agenda: The Three-Legged Republican Stool". Mitt Romney.Com. 2007-10-15.
- "Mitt Romney says he opposes abortion". MSNBC. 2007-02-07.
- "GOP group to slam Romney on abortion". Boston Globe. 2007-11-28.
- "Congressman Frank blasts the 'real Romney'". Boston Herald. 2007-06-11.
- "McCain Hits Romney Hard". LatestPolitics.Com. 2007-05-21.
- "McCain Jabs Romney on Immigration". Washington Post. 2007-05-22.
- http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Values
- http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Values
- Phillips, Frank (February 23, 2005). "Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire". LifesiteNews. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
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(help) - Lorentzen, Amy (July 27, 2007). "Romney:U.S. is angry about Iraq". American Spectator. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
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(help) - https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Iraq_Statement_1_10_07 Press release from official Mitt Romney website
- http://mittromney.com/News/In-The-News/Defense_Energy_Research_Spending
- "Mitt Romney Iowa Straw Poll Speech". CSPAN. 2007-11-08.
- "Romney rolls through business plan in hopes of winning Iowa". Boston Globe. 2007-08-10.
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: Text "http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/10/romney_rolls_through_business_plan_in_hopes_of_winning_iowa/" ignored (help) - Helman, Scott (2007-01-05). "Romney finds 'no new taxes' promise suits him after all". Boston Globe.
- Lewis, Raphael (April 29, 2005). "Romney files death penalty bill". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
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(help) - Sacchetti, Maria (February 1, 2005). "Romney plan would greatly boost charter schools". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
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(help) - "Mitt Romney on crime". OnTheIssues. , 1994. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
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(help) - http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Immigration
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8NKiz18k4o
- "Mitt Romney Iowa Straw Poll Speech". CSPAN. 2007-11-08.
External links
- Official
- Mitt Romney's Official Agenda Statement
- Mitt Romney's Supporters (French Blog)
- Romney Supporters on MySpace
- Mitt Romney for President 2008 Website
- Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC
- Official Mitt Romney MySpace Site
- Mitt TV
- Official Romney YouTube Site Campaign videos and advertisements.
- Official Romney for President community on Zigvid.com Campaign videos and exclusive interviews with Romney sons
- Official Mitt Romney supporters forum.
- Speeches, multimedia and transcripts
- The Making of Mitt Romney Video from The Boston Globe
- Romney 2002 Gubernatorial debate
- C-Span Archives—Speeches in S.C., N.H., & Mich (RealPlayer required)
- MIT Keynote Address
- Healthcare Reform Speech at the Heritage Foundation video
- Governor Romney Speaks To Spartanburg SC Event
- Interviews
- May 13, 2007 Mitt Romney Wants To Re-Tool Washington interview by Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes
- March 13, 2007 Mitt Romney on State of Campaign, Conservative Credentials Interview by Fox News's Sean Hannity
- December 28, 2006 Mitt Romney Discusses Iraq War, Reagan's Influence and Gay Marriage by Robert Bluey
- December 17, 2006 National Review Q&A with Mitt Romney
- June 5, 2006 Charlie Rose Interview Guest Host Judy Woodruff
- March 19, 2006 C-Span Q&A video and transcript
- Mitt Romney Interview on Fox News Radio
- Databases and information
- Romney Facts voter information supplied by the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
- Press Releases while Governor of Massachusetts
- Federal Election Commission - Mitt Romney campaign finance reports and data
- Follow the Money - Mitt Romney campaign contributions
- NewsMeat - Campaign Contributions Made by Mitt Romney
- OpenSecrets.org - Mitt Romney campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart voter information
- NewsHour with Jim Lehrer - Vote 2008: Mitt Romney
- New York Times - Mitt Romney news and commentary
- Template:Dmoz
- Genealogy of Mitt Romney
- Mitt Romney biography, National Governors Association
- Media coverage
- The Republicans' Mr. Fix-it from CNNMoney.com
- The Making of Mitt Romney The Boston Globe, June 24, 2007 through July 1, 2007. A seven part series of articles with photo galleries.
- Mitt Romney's Top Ten Gaffe's (2007) from TIME.com
- "Romney Rides High" The Wall Street Journal, September 25 2006
- "Mitt Romney's Problem" The Economist, September 28 2006
- Mighty Mitt Romney The American Spectator, March 2006
- "Yepsen: So far, Romney's been most impressive Republican" Des Moines Register 11 July 2006
- "Is America ready for a Mormon president?" Reuters, 23 November 2006
- Mitt Romney's Evangelical Problem, The Washington Monthly, September, 2005
- "Activist rains on Romney's parade: Says the candidate is not conservative" The Boston Globe, 22 January 2007
- Hugh Hewitt, A Mormon in the White House?: 10 Things Every American Should Know about Mitt Romney, Regnery Press, 2007. ISBN 159698502X
- Ana Marie Cox, "Romney's Cruel Canine Vacation", Time, Jun. 27, 2007
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded byJane Swift as Acting Governor |
Governor of Massachusetts January 2, 2003 – January 4, 2007 |
Succeeded byDeval Patrick |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded byArgeo Paul Cellucci | Massachusetts Republican Party gubernatorial candidate 2002 |
Succeeded byKerry Healey |
- 1947 births
- American Latter Day Saints
- Bishops of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Brigham Young University alumni
- Cranbrook alumni
- Governors of Massachusetts
- Harvard Law School alumni
- Harvard Business School alumni
- Living people
- Massachusetts Republicans
- Mormon missionaries in France
- People from Detroit
- People from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
- People from Massachusetts
- Mitt Romney
- Pratt-Romney family
- Stanford University alumni
- United States presidential candidates
- United States presidential candidates, 2008