Former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, who failed to land the Republican Party's nomination to take on Barack Obama in the 2008 race for the White House, announced on June 2, 2011 he is back trying for the 2012 nomination. While that candidacy is settled, the former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is keeping mum on her intentions.
Romney, who spent loads of his own dollars - the Boston Globe reports over $40 million - in a failed effort to beat John McCain in that 2008 race, says he's in it to beat a "failed" President Obama. "Now, in the third year of his four-year term, we have more than slogans and promises to judge him by. Barack Obama has failed America," Mr. Romney said in Stratham, New Hampshire, where he made his announcement.
Romney Running as Sarah Palin Tours Eastern U.S.
Recent polls have Romney as the front runner to gain the nomination with Palin the potential candidate that often polls second. Palin launched what she calls her 'One Nation Tour' last Sunday and said she intends to visit "...historic sites, patriotic events and diverse cultures" on her travels; she has not said if she will then declare or officially drop out.
In his speech to announce his candidacy, Mr. Romney acknowledged that the country was in a recession before the last election but still blamed President Obama for what he called the poor state of the Nation's economy. He also blamed the President for unemployment figures and said if elected he would create more U.S. jobs.
"Three years later, over 16 million Americans are out of work or have just quit looking," Romney told a crowd at the Bittersweet Farms in New Hampshire. "Millions more are underemployed. Three years later, unemployment is still above 8%, a figure he said his stimulus would keep from happening."
Romney Enters Republican Race Not Yet Crowded
The businessman, a Mormon, made much of his wealth as the CEO of 'Bain and Company,' a management consulting firm with offices in countries all over the world. He and his wife Ann have 5 children, all boys. His father, George Romney, was governor of Michigan.
To date Romney is the third major candidate to announce. The speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich and former governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty have also announced. Herman Cain and Ron Paul are in and Rick Santorum is expected to announce in the days to come.
Michele Bachman and Palin are among others who may declare. High-profile potential candidate Donald Trump announced he will not run. The 2012 Republican National Convention is slated for Tampa, Florida from August 27-30, 2012 and the U.S. election follows on Tuesday, November 6.
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