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{{Short description|US presidential campaign}}
{{Future election candidate|Romney, Mitt}}
{{Infobox U.S. federal election campaign
{{Mitt Romney}}
| committee = Mitt Romney for President 2008
] is a ] primary candidate in the ]. On ] ], two days before he stepped down as governor of Massachusetts, Romney filed to form a presidential ] with the ].<!-- note: find original reference on the article's history, and fix this footnote. Please do not delete this item.
| logo = ]
--><ref name="010307-FiledwithFEC" /><ref> ''New York Times,'' January 4, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2007.</ref> Subsequently, on ], ], he formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2008.<ref>Crowley, Candy "Romney kicks off White House bid" ''CNN'', ], ]; retrieved ], ]</ref>
| campaign = ]
| candidate = ''']'''<br>{{small|]<br> ''(2003–2007)''}}
| cand_id = P80003353
| fec_date = 2007-12-31
| status = Announced February 13, 2007<br>Withdrew February 7, 2008
| affiliation = ]
| headquarters = ], Massachusetts
| key_people = Beth Myers {{small|(Manager)}} <br /> ] {{small|(Political Director)}} <br /> ] {{small|(Communications Director)}} <br /> ] {{small|(Senior Advisor)}}
| receipts = 88.5
| receipts_footnote = {{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}
| slogan = True Strength for America's Future
| homepage = <br>(archived - January 15, 2008)
}}
{{Mitt Romney series}}
The '''Mitt Romney presidential campaign of 2008''' began on January 3, 2007, two days before ] left office as governor of ], when he filed to form an ] with the ] to run for ] as a ] in the ].<!-- note: find original reference on the article's history, and fix this footnote. Please do not delete this item.
--><ref name="010307-FiledwithFEC" /> Subsequently, on February 13, 2007, he formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2008.<ref>Crowley, Candy ''CNN'', February 13, 2007; retrieved March 29, 2007.</ref> He did so at the ] in ], as an emblem of American ingenuity.<ref name="bg-ann"/>


In the first few months of the campaign, Romney had been considered a top-tier candidate in his bid for the Republican nomination. However, in a nationwide poll released on ], ], Romney was struggling in fourth place, behind ], ], and ], in that order.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071207/ap_po/presidential_race_ap_poll|title= Huckabee rises to 2nd in GOP race|accessdate=2007-12-07|author= Alan Fram}}</ref> Romney was considered a top-tier candidate in his bid for the Republican nomination, despite hurdles such as low name recognition and questions about his ] faith. Romney partly financed his campaign with his own personal fortune, having contributed over $35 million of the $90 million raised by his campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/romney-gave-35m-to-campaign-in-07/ |title=Romney Gave $35M To Campaign In '07 |publisher=CBS News |access-date=September 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119020248/http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-250_162-3777300.html |archive-date=January 19, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite that, he also raised more money than any other Republican primary candidate.


In a nationwide poll conducted on January 2, 2008, Romney placed first among Republican voters nationally.<ref name="Rasmussen"> Archived September 3, 2012.</ref> However, he came in second in the ] to ]. Romney followed up with his first win of the campaign season in the ], although it received little media attention. He then lost the ] to ], but won the ] with 51 percent of the vote, with ] in second place and ] third, and won the ] by 9 percentage points, leaving the nomination result up in the air. He then finished fourth in the ] and finished second to McCain in the hotly contested Florida primary, a result which gave McCain the lead in delegates and the status of "frontrunner" heading in to ].<ref name=mccain> Reuters, February 1, 2008.</ref>
== Campaign development ==
]


On February 7, 2008, two days after McCain posted strong gains in the Super Tuesday primaries, Romney announced the end of his campaign.<ref name=suspension>{{cite news|last=Sidoti |first=Liz |title=McCain seals GOP nod as Romney drops out |date=2008-02-07 |access-date=September 3, 2012 |agency=Associated Press |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-02-06-2354800962_x.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224000548/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-02-06-2354800962_x.htm |archive-date=February 24, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A week later he endorsed McCain.
== Pre-announcement events ==
Romney spent a considerable amount of time giving political speeches in key primary battleground states. Romney traveled the country during the 2006 election cycle to campaign for gubernatorial candidates as chairman of the ], spending over 200 days outside Massachusetts.<ref>Mooney, Brian C. ''Boston Globe'', ], ]</ref> While he did not run for reelection as governor, in 2004 Romney set up a federal ] (PAC) called the Commonwealth PAC,<ref name="Commonwealth PAC"></ref> which raised ]$2.71 million during the 2006 election cycle.<ref name="Commonwealth PAC Report 2006"> ''Opensecrets.com,'' Center for Responsive Politics. Retrieved ], ].</ref><ref name="Commonwealth PAC Report 2004"> ''Opensecrets.com.'' Center for Responsive Politics. Retrieved ], ]. </ref>
] (c) for the 2006 ] with ] (l) in ], ]. Romney unofficially announced his run for presidency to the Michigan GOP office in late 2006.]]


==Before the announcement==
While testing the waters for his campaign in 2005 and 2006, then Governor Romney was accompanied by Massachusetts State Troopers on his cross-country trips. The cost of the Governor's security detail for out-of-state trips increased from $63,874 in ] 2005 to a cost of $103,365 in the first 11&nbsp;months of fiscal year 2006. Romney's use of state troopers for security during his campaign trips was criticized by former Governor ], who never traveled with state troopers during his 1988 presidential run, and Mary Boyle of ] who complained that "he people of Massachusetts are essentially funding his presidential campaign, whether they like it or not."<ref name="taxleap">{{citenews | first=Frank | last=Phillips | coauthors=Brian C. Mooney | title= Taxpayers face leap in governor's travel costs |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/06/21/taxpayers_face_leap_in_governors_travel_costs/ | work=Boston Globe | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref> A Romney spokesman noted that Romney did not accept a salary while he was Governor and that he paid for his personal and political travel, while the superintendent of the State Police pointed out that the Governor never requested the security and that the security detail followed the Governor on all trips.<ref name="taxleap"/>
Romney spent a considerable amount of time giving political speeches in key primary battleground states. Romney traveled the country during the 2006 election cycle to campaign for gubernatorial candidates as chairman of the ], spending over 200 days outside Massachusetts.<ref>Mooney, Brian C. ''Boston Globe'', December 24, 2006.</ref> While he did not run for reelection as governor, in 2004 Romney set up a federal ] (PAC) called the Commonwealth PAC,<ref name="Commonwealth PAC"></ref> which raised $2.71 million during the 2006 election cycle.<ref name="Commonwealth PAC Report 2006"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115032907/http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strID=C00403022&cycle=2006 |date=2007-01-15 }} ].</ref><ref name="Commonwealth PAC Report 2004"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512094919/http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strID=C00403022&cycle=2004 |date=2007-05-12 }} ]</ref>


While testing the waters for his campaign in 2005 and 2006, then Governor Romney was accompanied by Massachusetts state troopers on his cross-country trips. The cost of the Governor's security detail for out-of-state trips increased from $63,874 in ] 2005 to a cost of $103,365 in the first 11&nbsp;months of fiscal year 2006. Romney's use of state troopers for security during his campaign trips was criticized by former Governor ], who never traveled with state troopers during his 1988 presidential run, and Mary Boyle of ] who complained that "he people of Massachusetts are essentially funding his presidential campaign, whether they like it or not."<ref name="taxleap">{{Cite news| first=Frank | last=Phillips |author2=Brian C. Mooney | title= Taxpayers face leap in governor's travel costs |date=June 21, 2006 | url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/06/21/taxpayers_face_leap_in_governors_travel_costs/ | work=Boston Globe | access-date = 2007-04-20 }}</ref> A Romney spokesman noted that Romney did not accept a salary while he was Governor and that he paid for his personal and political travel, while the superintendent of the State Police pointed out that the Governor never requested the security and that the security detail followed the Governor on all trips in the post 9/11 world.<ref name="taxleap"/>
On ], ], his next-to-last day in office as governor of Massachusetts, Romney filed to form a presidential ] with the ].<ref name="010307-FiledwithFEC"> ''New York Times,'' ], ]. Retrieved ], ].</ref> Via the campaign committee press release announcing the establishment of the exploratory committee, Romney made it clear that it is a mere formality to announce a run for president, and that an announcement merely entails changing the name of the existing reporting entity, from "Romney for President Exploratory Committee, Inc." to "Romney for President Committee, Inc." and that money raised by the exploratory committee is the same account and entity as the money raised after any announcement, and of no consequence to the ].<ref> Press Release. Wednesday, Jan 03, 2007. Retrieved ], ].</ref>


On January 3, 2007, his next-to-last day in office as governor of Massachusetts, Romney filed to form a presidential ] with the ].<ref name="010307-FiledwithFEC"> ''New York Times,'' January 4, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2007.</ref> Via the campaign committee press release announcing the establishment of the exploratory committee, Romney made it clear that it is a mere formality to announce a run for president, and that an announcement merely entails changing the name of the existing reporting entity, from "Romney for President Exploratory Committee, Inc." to "Romney for President Committee, Inc." and that money raised by the exploratory committee is the same account and entity as the money raised after any announcement, and of no consequence to the ].<ref> Press Release. Wednesday, Jan 03, 2007. Retrieved January 30, 2007. Archived January 6, 2007.</ref>
== Republican primary campaign events ==


==Announcement==
On ], ], Romney formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. Romney made his announcement at ] in ], ].<ref> ''Boston Globe,'' ], ]</ref>
On February 13, 2007, Romney formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. Romney made his announcement at ] of Innovation in ].<ref name="bg-ann"> '']'', February 13, 2007.</ref>


In his speech, Romney frequently invoked his father, former Michigan Governor ] (whose ]), and the stage included a ], the car his father had made famous as an automobile executive.<ref name="bg-ann"/> Romney stressed the variety of his own experiences that brought him to this point:
Romney has held numerous "Ask Mitt Anything" sessions in his 2008 campaign. The first "Ask Mitt Anything" session was held on ], ], in ], ], and his second the following day in ], ].<ref name="ask_anything"></ref> The sessions are open forums that allow opportunities for locals to ask Romney questions pertaining to his views and policies.<ref name="ask_anything"/> Sessions have been held across the nation in almost every state Romney has visited, including locations such as town halls,<ref name="ask_anything"/> restaurants,<ref></ref> universities,<ref></ref> hotels,<ref>http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=349206</ref> and music halls.<ref></ref> In preparation for the ], Romney held a three-day, 14-city "Ask Mitt Anything" Iowa tour leading up to the poll.<ref>http://www.messengernews.net/News/articles.asp?articleID=11710</ref>


<blockquote>Throughout my life, I have pursued innovation and transformation. It's taught me the vital lessons that come only from experience, from failures and from successes, from the private, public and voluntary sectors, from small and large enterprise, from leading a state, from actually being in the arena, not just talking about it.<ref name="bg-ann"/></blockquote>
In June 2007, a section of a four-part series on Romney from the '']'' documented how during a family vacation taken in 1983, Romney strapped a kennel with his dog Seamus to the roof of his station wagon for the 12-hour trip from Massachusetts to ]. Presented in the articles as an example of Romney's ability to deal with trying circumstances, the incident received nationwide media attention when journalists and animal activists criticized Romney's strapping of the dog to the roof for a 12-hour summer trip.<ref name="seamusyahoo">{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070629/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail;_ylt=AubS9_TUF3E9pGE1bQx2I79p24cA|title=Brownback writes of 'hatred' of Clintons|accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref><ref name="seamustime">{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1638065,00.html|title=Romney's Cruel Canine Vacation|accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> Romney said that the dog had a windshield and he "jumped right in" and loved the ride.


Overall, Romney struck an optimistic tone for his candidacy and for the future of the country. His wife ] also spoke at the announcement event.<ref name="bg-ann"/>
On ] ], the Romney campaign officially launched the "Mitt Mobile, A Five Brothers Bus", referring to Romney's five sons and his official campaign blog, . The RV, a ] made in ],<ref></ref> had a large map of Iowa on the back and a Romney family portrait on the side with the label "Mitt Mobile", "A Five Brothers Bus". The Mitt Mobile was planned to visit all of Iowa's ninety-nine counties . Each county was checked off on the large map on the back of the RV once it was visited.<ref>http://fivebrothers.mittromney.com/blog/comments/149</ref> On August 11, 2007, the Mitt Mobile visited Iowa's ninety-ninth county at the ].<ref>http://fivebrothers.mittromney.com/blog/comments/205</ref> The Mitt Mobile is planned to also tour ], ], ], and other key primary states.<ref>Craig Romney, "". ''Five Brothers'', ], ]. </ref> The Mitt Mobile has been a large success in attracting attention, and was even featured on ]' ]. Susteren interviewed Matt, Josh, and Craig Romney and toured and drove the Mitt Mobile.<ref>{{cite web|title=On the Road with the Romney Brothers |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,291536,00.html |date=July 31, 2007 |first=Greta |last=Van Susteren |publisher=Fox News}}</ref>


==Campaign developments 2007==
On ], ], Mitt Romney won the ].<ref name="foxnews_wins_Iowa_poll"></ref> He received 31.5% of the vote at the Straw Poll. ] came in second and received 18%, a larger margin than that of ] and ] in the 2000 election, which had a margin of 10%.<ref name="bloomberg_wins_Iowa"></ref> However, by December 7, 2007, Romney had slipped behind ] in polls conducted nationally as well as in Iowa.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071207/ap_po/presidential_race_ap_poll|title= Huckabee rises to 2nd in GOP race|accessdate=2007-12-07|author= Alan Fram}}</ref>
Romney on March 3, 2007, won the ] (CPAC) Straw Poll. He received 21% of the vote. ] received 17%, Senator ] received 15%, and Senator ] received 12%. 1,705 attendees voted.<ref> March 3, 2007. ''New York Sun''.</ref>


Romney held numerous "Ask Mitt Anything" sessions in his 2008 campaign. The first "Ask Mitt Anything" session was held on April 3, 2007, in ], and his second the following day in ].<ref name="ask_anything"></ref> The sessions were open forums that allow opportunities for locals to ask Romney questions pertaining to his views and policies.<ref name="ask_anything"/> One of the first "Ask Mitt Anything" events in ] was held at ] as seen in the adjacent image.<ref>, George Washington University. Retrieved January 14, 2012.</ref> Sessions were held in almost every state Romney visited, including locations such as town halls,<ref name="ask_anything"/> restaurants,<ref> Tipton Conservative. August 15, 2007.</ref> universities,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48729028_mitt_romney_mitt_romney_will_mitt_romney_support_sooner_students_or_president_bush |title=Mitt Romney: Will Mitt Romney Support Sooner Students or President Bush? |access-date=2007-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223857/http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48729028_mitt_romney_mitt_romney_will_mitt_romney_support_sooner_students_or_president_bush |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> hotels,<ref></ref> and music halls.<ref> Nashua Telegraph. August 16, 2007.</ref> In preparation for the ], Romney held a three-day, 14-city "Ask Mitt Anything" Iowa tour leading up to the poll.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.messengernews.net/News/articles.asp?articleID=11710 |title=The Messenger - Fort Dodge, Iowa |access-date=2007-08-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927033209/http://www.messengernews.net/News/articles.asp?articleID=11710 |archive-date=2007-09-27 }}</ref>
=== Advertisements ===


In June 2007, a section of a four-part series on Romney from the '']'' documented how during a family vacation taken in 1983, Romney strapped a kennel with his dog ] to the roof of his station wagon for the 12-hour trip from Massachusetts to ]. Presented in the articles as an example of Romney's ability to deal with trying circumstances, the incident received nationwide media attention when journalists and animal activists criticized Romney's strapping of the dog to the roof for a 12-hour summer trip.<ref name="seamusyahoo">{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070629/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail;_ylt=AubS9_TUF3E9pGE1bQx2I79p24cA|title=Brownback writes of 'hatred' of Clintons|access-date=2007-07-08 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="seamustime">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1638065,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930065311/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1638065,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2007|title=Romney's Cruel Canine Vacation|access-date=2007-07-08 | magazine=Time | date=June 27, 2007}}</ref> Romney said that the dog had a windshield and he "jumped right in" and loved the ride.
Mitt Romney was the first candidate in the ] to begin airing TV and radio advertisements, beginning in February 2007. His advertisements, most of which focus primarily on Romney's conservative credentials, have aired mainly in ] and ], which experts credit with helping his early lead <ref></ref> in those and other early primary states. Romney's campaign advisors explained that their early advertisement push was to make up for Romney being relatively unknown compared to contenders ], ], and ]. On ], ], Romney was estimated to have spent $2 million in advertisements in Iowa and New Hampshire.<ref>http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/romney-goes-up-with-ads-in-sc/</ref>


On July 4, 2007, the Romney campaign officially launched the "Mitt Mobile, A Five Brothers Bus", referring to Romney's five sons and his official campaign blog, . When asked why his sons were not fighting in Iraq, Romney replied that his sons were supporting America by riding from town to town in the "Five Brothers Bus," saying "One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected."<ref>{{cite web | title=Should Romney's Sons Go to Iraq? | date=2007-08-17 | access-date=2007-12-10 | work=Digg | url=http://digg.com/politics/Should_Romney_s_sons_go_to_Iraq_Poll | archive-url=https://archive.today/20110518223723/http://digg.com/politics/Should_Romney_s_sons_go_to_Iraq_Poll | url-status=dead | archive-date=2011-05-18 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Romney: Sons Serve Country By Campaigning |date=2007-08-08 | access-date = 2007-12-08 | work=CBS News | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/romney-sons-serve-country-by-campaigning/ }}</ref> Romney later apologized and said he misspoke and that there is no comparison to the sacrifice that military persons make.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/highlights-mitt-romney-on-fox-news-sunday | work=Fox News | title=Highlights: Mitt Romney on 'FOX News Sunday' | date=August 12, 2007}}</ref> The RV, a ] made in ],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070817%2FNEWS01%2F708170366%2F1043%2FNEWS01 |title=Mitt & Rudy, an odd couple |access-date=2020-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119020248/http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070817%2FNEWS01%2F708170366%2F1043%2FNEWS01 |archive-date=2016-01-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> had a large map of Iowa on the back and a Romney family portrait on the side with the label "Mitt Mobile", "A Five Brothers Bus". The Mitt Mobile was planned to visit all of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. Each county was checked off on the large map on the back of the RV once it was visited.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fivebrothers.mittromney.com/blog/comments/149 |title=Five Brothers: The Romney Campaign Blog<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070801193823/http://fivebrothers.mittromney.com/blog/comments/149 |archive-date=2007-08-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On August 11, 2007, the Mitt Mobile visited Iowa's ninety-ninth county at the ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fivebrothers.mittromney.com/blog/comments/205 |title=Five Brothers: The Romney Campaign Blog<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815185639/http://fivebrothers.mittromney.com//blog/comments/205 |archive-date=2007-08-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Mitt Mobile is planned to also tour ], ], ], and other key primary states.<ref>Craig Romney, " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822184915/http://fivebrothers.mittromney.com//blog/comments/223 |date=2007-08-22 }}". ''Five Brothers'', August 21, 2007.</ref> The Mitt Mobile has been a large success in attracting attention, and was even featured on ]' ]. Susteren interviewed Matt, Josh, and Craig Romney and toured and drove the Mitt Mobile.<ref>{{cite news|title=On the Road with the Romney Brothers |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/on-the-road-with-the-romney-brothers |date=July 31, 2007 |first=Greta |last=Van Susteren |publisher=Fox News}}</ref>
In mid-August 2007, Romney began broadcasting advertisements in Iowa and New Hampshire that criticized what he called the ] policies of several cities. "Immigration laws don't work if they're ignored. That's the problem with cities like Newark, San Francisco and New York City that adopt amnesty policies." He went on to say, "Sanctuary cities become magnets that encourage illegal immigration and undermine secure borders." The '']'' termed the ad a "thinly veiled attack on ] presidential rival Rudy Giuliani who is competing for conservatives who want a crackdown on illegal immigration."<ref>Kirsten Dang and Celeste Katz, "Mitt Catches Heat for Ads," ''New York Daily News,'' August 22, 2077, p. 15</ref>


].]]
Romney, on ], ], began advertising in ], the early primary state where he was doing the poorest. During the second week of September, he expanded his advertising to ], showing the "Energy" ad which he debuted in Iowa and New Hampshire and also began showing in South Carolina. The ad features Romney jogging and highlights his career as governor of Massachusetts, running the Salt Lake Olympics, and the private sector.<ref>http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/romneys-energy-hits-the-airwaves-in-florida/</ref>
On August 11, 2007, Romney won the ].<ref name="foxnews_wins_Iowa_poll"></ref> He received 31.5% of the vote at the Straw Poll. ] came in second and received 18%, a larger margin than that of ] and ] in the 2000 election, which had a margin of 10%.<ref name="bloomberg_wins_Iowa"></ref> However, by December 7, 2007, Romney had slipped behind ] in polls conducted nationally as well as in Iowa.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071207/ap_po/presidential_race_ap_poll|title= Huckabee rises to 2nd in GOP race|access-date=2007-12-07|author= Alan Fram |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071213003010/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071207/ap_po/presidential_race_ap_poll |archive-date = December 13, 2007}}</ref>


In his "Faith in America" address, Romney claimed "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King." In a December 16, 2007, interview with ], Romney repeated his claim that his "dad marched with Martin Luther King." An article published by '']'' on December 19, 2007, argues that while David S. Broder "references a 1967 book he co-authored on the Republican Party, which included a chapter on George Romney a one-line statement that the senior Romney 'has marched with Martin Luther King through the exclusive Grosse Pointe suburb of Detroit'," historical sources found by ''The Phoenix'' found no references to George Romney having marched with Martin Luther King and that it was unlikely that a governor and former presidential candidate would go unnoticed. ''The Phoenix'' also discovered that Dr. King did not visit ] until after Broder's book was published.<ref>David S. Bernstein, , ''The Phoenix'', December 19, 2007.</ref> The '']'' reported on December 20, 2007, that the Romney campaign later asserted that when Romney made these two statements to a national audience about his father marching with King that he was "speaking figuratively, not literally."<ref></ref> Subsequently, ] reported that at least two witnesses ''did'' remember George Romney and King marching together.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7524.html | title=Witnesses recall Romney-MLK march | author=Mike Allen | publisher=] | date=2007-12-21 | access-date=2007-12-22}}</ref> and the Romney campaign put out a string of citations affirming them appearing together and George Romney's commitment to civil rights in general.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Romney_King | title=Gov. George Romney And Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. | publisher=Mitt Romney for President | date=2007-12-20 | access-date=2007-12-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117195941/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Romney_King | archive-date=2008-01-17 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In November 2007, the ''New York Times'' reported that Romney had participated with his father in civil rights marches.<ref>{{citation |author= Kirkpatrick, David D. |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/us/politics/15romney.html?pagewanted=all |title= Romney, Searching and Earnest, Set His Path in '60s |newspaper= New York Times |date= November 15, 2007 |quote= Mitt Romney had walked in civil rights marches with his father and said he shared his concern for racial equality.}}</ref>
=== Campaign Advisors ===
* ], campaign manager (worked for Karl Rove in the 1980s, and has long been a campaign advisor)
*], chief of staff to the campaign manager
*], Vice Chairman of ] as Counter-Terrorism Policy Advisor


===Advertisements===
See for more people
Romney was the first candidate in the ] to begin airing TV and radio advertisements, beginning in February 2007. His advertisements, most of which focus primarily on Romney's conservative credentials, have aired mainly in ] and ], which experts credit with helping his early lead<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Luo|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/us/politics/13ads.html |title=Romney Steps Up Advertising Push |newspaper= New York Times |date=June 13, 2007 |access-date=January 14, 2012 }}</ref> in those and other early primary states. Romney's campaign advisors explained that their early advertisement push was to make up for Romney being relatively unknown compared to contenders ], ], and ]. On September 4, 2007, Romney was estimated to have spent $2 million in advertisements in Iowa and New Hampshire.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/romney-goes-up-with-ads-in-sc/ | work=The New York Times | title=Romney Goes Up With Ads in S.C | first=Michael | last=Luo | date=September 4, 2007 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref>


In mid-August 2007, Romney began broadcasting advertisements in Iowa and New Hampshire that criticized what he called the ] policies of several cities. "Immigration laws don't work if they're ignored. That's the problem with cities like Newark, San Francisco and New York City that adopt amnesty policies." He went on to say, "Sanctuary cities become magnets that encourage illegal immigration and undermine secure borders." The '']'' termed the ad a "thinly veiled attack on ] presidential rival Rudy Giuliani who is competing for conservatives who want a crackdown on illegal immigration."<ref>Kirsten Dang and Celeste Katz, ''New York Daily News,'' August 22, 2077, p. 15.</ref>
On ], ], news organizations reported that one of Romney's top campaign aides was being investigated for having possibly impersonated a state trooper in Massachusetts. Jay Garrity, director of campaign operations for Romney, was named in the investigation by state police. Garrity had been investigated three years earlier for possessing police equipment and lights, while he was an aide to Governor Romney.<ref name="statepolice">{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/06/22/romney_aide_is_the_focus_of_probe/|title=Romney aide is the focus of probe|accessdate=2007-06-23}}</ref> The ''Associated Press'' also reported that the New Hampshire attorney general was opening an investigation into Garrity possibly pulling over a ''New York Times'' reporter in that state and saying that he had run the reporter's license plate. The Romney campaign denied the incident.<ref name="statepolice"/>


Romney, on September 5, 2007, began advertising in ], the early primary state where he was doing the poorest. During the second week of September, he expanded his advertising to ], showing the "Energy" ad which he debuted in Iowa and New Hampshire and also began showing in South Carolina. The ad features Romney jogging and highlights his career as governor of Massachusetts, running the Salt Lake Olympics, and the private sector.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/romneys-energy-hits-the-airwaves-in-florida/ | work=The New York Times | title=Romney's 'Energy' Hits the Airwaves in Florida | first=Michael | last=Luo | date=September 12, 2007 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref>
== Fundraising ==
On ], ], Romney held his first ] for his presidential campaign committee, bringing in $6.5 million, exceeding the amounts raised by other Republican Party contenders for the nomination; ] and ] were reported to have raised $2 million and $1 million respectively.<ref> ''ABC News.com'', Jan. 9, 2007</ref> In Romney's 2002 run in the Massachusetts election, Mitt Romney contributed 65% of $9,456,557 raised for the Governor's race.<ref>''Follow the Money'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>


In late January 2008, the Romney campaign aired advertisements that cited McCain's calling Massachusetts Democratic Senator ] "a very close friend of mine. We've been friends for years. Obviously, I would entertain it ."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Ad_Democrats_Favorite_Republican |title=Romney For President Launches New Web Ad, "Democrats' Favorite Republican" |access-date=2008-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131091939/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Ad_Democrats_Favorite_Republican |archive-date=2008-01-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
=== First quarter results ===
On ], ], Romney's campaign released first quarter 2007 fundraising information. Romney led the Republican field by raising over $23 million, which was less than Democratic contenders ] and ], who reported raising $26 million and $25 million, respectively, in the same period. Romney also reported a $2.35 million personal contribution to his campaign committee. Romney, a former venture capitalist with significant personal wealth (at least $250 million)<ref name="moremoney">
CNN Political Ticker blog, June 25, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
</ref> and assets, had previously dismissed the notion of substantially self-funding his campaign but justified the expenditure in the interest of "seeding" interest in his candidacy.<ref>
"Romney for President" April 2, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
</ref><ref>
"CNN News" April 2, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
</ref><ref>
</ref> Romney raised the most money from ] of all presidential candidates during the first quarter, with $1.9 million raised.<ref name="wallstreet">{{cite news | url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=acvNLOAG2lw0 | title = Giuliani, Once Wall Street Crime Fighter, Seeks Funds | first = Catherine | last = Dodge | work = Bloomberg | date= 2007-06-22 | accessdate = 2007-06-26}}</ref>


==Campaign staff and advisors==
], CEO of ], signed on as a financial co-chairwoman of his presidential campaign.<ref> Press Release. ], ] Retrieved ], ]</ref> She is a former co-worker of Romney's at ].
*], vice chairman of ] as counter-terrorism policy advisor<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Cofer_Black_Joins_Romney_Campaign |title=Former Top Counterterrorism Official Cofer Black Joins Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206174700/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Cofer_Black_Joins_Romney_Campaign |archive-date=2007-12-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*], daughter of Vice President ], as senior foreign policy advisor<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/27/AR2008012700796.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Cheney's Daughter Joins Romney Camp }}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}
*], who worked for ] in the 1980s and had been a Romney campaign advisor, as campaign manager
{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*


On June 22, 2007, news organizations reported that one of Romney's top campaign aides was being investigated for having possibly impersonated a state trooper in Massachusetts. Jay Garrity, director of campaign operations for Romney, was named in the investigation by state police. Garrity had been investigated three years earlier for possessing police equipment and lights, while he was an aide to Governor Romney.<ref name="statepolice">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/06/22/romney_aide_is_the_focus_of_probe/|title=Romney aide is the focus of probe|access-date=2007-06-23 | work=The Boston Globe | date=June 22, 2007 | first1=Stephanie | last1=Ebbert | first2=Scott | last2=Helman}}</ref> The ''Associated Press'' also reported that the New Hampshire attorney general was opening an investigation into Garrity possibly pulling over a ''New York Times'' reporter in that state and saying that he had run the reporter's license plate. The Romney campaign denied the incident.<ref name="statepolice"/> Garrity was ultimately exonerated in both investigations: Prosecutors in Massachusetts found "no evidence" to connect Garrity with the still unknown individual who impersonated a state trooper;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view.bg?articleid=1071871 |title=Ex-Romney staffer cleared of posing as statie<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522024456/http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view.bg?articleid=1071871 |archive-date=2011-05-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office issued a release stating that "the investigation into Garrity reveals that no crime was committed with respect to Garrity's encounter"<ref>{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
=== Second quarter results ===
On June 25, 2007, five days before the end of the second quarter of fundraising on June 30, Romney announced that he was again lending his campaign a significant amount of money.<ref name="moremoney"/> He declined to say how much the second contribution would be, but that it was needed in order to run more advertising in battleground states. He said, "It would be nice not to have to loan or contribute to your own campaign... If other people are making sacrifices, I sure have to as well. It’s not a dream come true. In some respects, it’s kind of a nightmare to write checks from your own bank account." Romney asserted that his campaign had already spent $3 million on television advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire since February 2007.<ref name="moremoney"/>


==Caucus and primary results 2008==
When fundraising results from the second quarter were released, Romney had lent a total of $8.9 million to his campaign from his personal funds. From April to June, he spent $20.7 million, more than any other Republican candidate.<ref name="lentmoney">{{cite web |url= http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/16/mccain-warchest-larger-than-expected/|title= McCain warchest larger than expected|author= AP|date= 2007-07-16|publisher= CNN}}</ref>
{{Main|Results of the 2008 Republican presidential primaries}}
In the January 3 ], the first contest of the primary elections, Romney received 25% of the vote and placed second to Mike Huckabee, who received 34%. The result was seen as disappointing as Romney spent about five times more than the former Arkansas governor in Iowa and had banked on wins in both Iowa and New Hampshire to propel him to an overall victory.<ref>Michael D. Shear, WashingtonPost.com, January 4, 2008.</ref><ref> NBC News, Jan 3, 2008.</ref><ref> Boston Globe, January 3, 2008.</ref><ref>Elizabeth Holmes, Wall Street Journal, January 4, 2008.</ref> Twelve of Iowa's delegates were awarded to Romney for his second-place finish.


Two days later, Romney won the ] with 67% of the vote and the first delegate to the ] by receiving eight of the twelve delegates for the state.<ref>Adam Clymer, NYTimes.com, January 5, 2008.</ref><ref>AP, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107060850/http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/05/wyoming-republicans-seek-political-spotlight-with-early-caucus/ |date=2008-01-07 }} Fox News.com, January 5, 2008.</ref>
=== 2008 Presidential Campaign Finance Summary ===
Romney has raised $62,829,069 for his campaign for presidency. Private donors have given $44,485,017 toward his campaign, PACs have given $298,700, and no money has come from other sources. 62% of the PAC contributions came from business groups, 0% from labor groups, and the final 38% from ideological organizations. So far 18.4% of his finances have be disclosed, while 81.6% has not. Romney has $9,216,517 on hand, has spent $62,829,069, and has a total of $17,350,000 in debts. <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?ID=N00000286&Cycle=2008 | title = Mitt Romney Presidential Finance Report | accessdate = 2006-10-23 }}</ref>


Three days after the Wyoming caucus, Romney placed second, gathering 32% of the vote to John McCain's 37%, in the ] and received four of New Hampshire's twelve delegates. On the day of the New Hampshire primary, Romney had reached a new high in support according to one daily tracking poll.<ref name="Rasmussen" />
== Political positions ==
{{main|Political positions of Mitt Romney}}
Romney currently holds a ] platform, though in 1994 he promised not to infringe upon ] in Massachusetts, which he says was a result of having a sister-in-law die as the result of an illegal abortion.<ref> February 7, 2007</ref><ref></ref><ref> Tumulty, Karen ''Time Magazine,'' May 10, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2007. </ref>
In the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign, he was endorsed by the ] coalition.<ref name="Globe_Ebbert_abortion_stance"> Ebbert, Stephanie. ''The Boston Globe,'' July 3, 2005.
</ref>
In a ] ] interview with ], Romney explained that while governor he adapted his political position on abortion on ], ] when he met with an embryonic stem cell researcher and the idea of ] human embryos for the purpose of harvesting ] was discussed in the meeting and such became an issue of debate in his state, but has made some comment that affirmed his previous pro-choice position months after he says that he had become pro-life.<ref>Larry King Live, March 15, 2007</ref>


]
During his 1994 run for the senate against Kennedy, Romney sent a letter to the ], where he was quoted as saying he would be more supportive of gay rights than Kennedy himself. His letter included the phrase "We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern."<ref name="NYTimes gay rights">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/09/us/politics/09romney.html?ex=1323320400&en=a1848ee252cfecaf&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |title=Romney’s Gay Rights Stance Draws Ire |work=New York Times |date=2006-12-09 |accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref> However, he opposed both ] and ]s in Massachusetts; when the ] ordered such marriages be permitted, he lobbied for a constitutional amendment to overturn the decision. He has since renounced his past support for ] benefits.<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><ref>{{citenews | first=Phillip | last=Klein | coauthors= | title= When Romney Attacks |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://theamericanprowler.com/dsp_article.asp?art_id=11120 | work=American Spectator | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref>
On January 15, Romney won the ] taking 39% and 24 delegates.<ref></ref> He collected over 325,000 votes, more than any candidate in any primary up until that point. Romney gained another win in the ] on January 19 with 51% of the vote,<ref> NBC News, January 19, 2008.</ref> but came in fourth in ] with 15% of the vote.<ref> CNN.com.</ref>


On January 29, Romney came in second to John McCain in the ]. McCain gained 36% of the vote to Romney's 31%.<ref> CNN.com</ref> The race was contentious, with each candidate labeling the other a "liberal".<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706142712/http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/28/mccain-romney-trade-insult-youre-a-liberal/ |date=2008-07-06 }} FoxNews.com, January 28, 2008.</ref> After Florida, McCain was the clear frontrunner for the nomination, and had the most delegates to the national convention heading in to the possibly-decisive February 5 ] contests.<ref name=mccain/> 21 states would hold Republican primaries that day.
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 he said it is still too early to gauge its success.<ref>, press release from official Mitt Romney website</ref>


On February 2, Romney won the ] with 52% of the votes.<ref></ref>
Romney has advocated eliminating the capital gains tax for "middle and moderate income Americans."<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> At the Iowans for Taxpayer Relief Forum, Romney went into more detail, clarifying that there was no income ceiling to his definition of "moderate income Americans." Other than a general call to eliminate "entitlement programs" , no additional details were given on avoiding growth of the ] and ] of the ].<ref>{{citenews |publisher=CSPAN | date=2007-06-30|title = Republican Presidential Candidates Forum | url=http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=199501-1&tID=5&highlight=iowa}}</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> and has 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>


On February 4, ] one of Romney's rivals in the primary accused Romney of ], saying that Romney and his political surrogates should stop telling voters "a vote for Huckabee is a vote for ]", Romney's other chief rival.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/feb/04/huckabee-visits-chattanooga-calls-romneys-comments/?breakingnews |title=Chattanooga Times Free Press {{!}} Huckabee visits Chattanooga; calls Romney’s comments ‘voter suppression’<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717061204/http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/feb/04/huckabee-visits-chattanooga-calls-romneys-comments/?breakingnews |archive-date=2011-07-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Huckabee also said Romney was being "presumptuous and arrogant" thinking his supporters would vote for Romney if Huckabee left the race.<ref></ref>
Romney supports the ], ], 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 praised the executive branch for not giving Guantanamo prisoners access to the judiciary.<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>


On February 5, ], Romney won in the Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Utah caucuses and primaries. ] won West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. However, ] strengthened his lead by winning Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Oklahoma.
Following his victory in the ], Romney repeatedly criticized former ] mayor ] for sustaining what he called ] policies in New York City.
<ref>Libby Quaid, "". ]. August 15, 2007.</ref>


Romney won 11 state primaries and caucuses, 4.7 million votes and 291 delegates.<ref></ref>
=== John McCain's response to Romney ===
In February 2007, Romney's advisor Gary Marx sent an email to 100 influential social conservatives questioning ]'s pro-life record (McCain has been consistently pro-life on abortion, while supporting stem-cell research) since 2000. Commentators criticized the Romney campaign for portraying McCain as not having had a pro-life record when Romney ran on a pro-choice platform as Governor of Massachusetts.<ref>''Politico blog'' Retrieved ], ].</ref><ref>''American Spectator'' Retrieved ], ].</ref><ref>''American Spectator'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>


===Presidential bid suspension and withdrawal===
After Romney criticized McCain for his stance on immigration, McCain said, "In the case of Governor Romney, you know, 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. And maybe his solution will be to get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn."<ref name="skirmishmcromney"/><ref name="mccain3"/> In addition to Romney's hunting statements, McCain's reply also referenced reports that a landscaping company Romney had hired illegal Guatemalan immigrants to do the work. It is important to note, that Romney said he didn't ask them what their legal status was for fear of a lawsuit. He said that you don't just go up and ask things like that. He said it while at the Sept. 5th Republican debate. At the second debate, in South Carolina, McCain said he hadn't changed his views "because of the different offices that I may be running for."<ref name="skirmishmcromney">''New York Times'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
On February 7, 2008, two days after the ] primaries and caucuses, Romney announced that he was suspending his presidential campaign.<ref name=suspension/><ref>{{cite news |title=GOP sources: Romney to suspend campaign |work=CNN |date=2008-02-07 |first=John |last=King |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/07/romney.campaign/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Romney to Quit Race |first=Mark |last=Halperin |work=The Page |publisher=Time Magazine |date=2008-02-07 |url=http://thepage.time.com/2008/02/07/sources-romney-to-quit-race/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208191643/http://thepage.time.com/2008/02/07/sources-romney-to-quit-race/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 8, 2008}}</ref> He argued that a protracted battle between him and his GOP rivals would weaken the party,<ref></ref> that he needed to "…stand aside, for our party and our country",<ref name=suspension/> and that "…in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror."<ref name=suspension/>


On February 14, 2008, Romney endorsed McCain as his choice for the GOP's presidential nominee, and urged his supporters to do likewise<ref>http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNxTApa2sQRu0Xx99P3jt2bEXw7gD8UQCL4G0{{dead link|date=November 2012|bot=Legobot}}</ref>
=== Time on Marriott board ===
Romney has criticized what he calls the "cesspool" of ]. However, in July 2007, ] of the ], the president of the ], and Daniel Weiss, media analyst for ]'s ] said Romney had not prevented ] from making pornography available in its hotel rooms when he served on the hotel chain's board from 1992 to 2001. In an ''Associated Press'' interview, Romney said he was unaware of how much revenue the hotels generated from pornography, although he had served on the board's financial audit committee.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wnbc.com/politics/13629915/detail.html |title=Conservatives Link Romney, Pornography |work=''WNBC'' |date=]}}</ref>


===Delegate counts===
Less than two weeks later, Romney began running ads in key early primary states of New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina saying that children should not be exposed to destructive influences. Romney said, "I am not pursuing an effort to try and stop adults from being able to acquire or see things that I find objectionable; that's their right. But I do vehemently oppose practices or business procedures that will allow kids to be exposed to obscenity."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/16/romney-blasts-pornography-drugs-violence-in-new-ad/ |title=Romney blasts pornography, drugs, violence in new ad |work=''CNN'' |date=]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ '''2008 Republican presidential primaries delegate count'''<br /><small>As of June 10, 2008</small>
=== Health Care Plan ===
|-
On ], ], Mitt Romney announced the formation of a committee of health care advisors that will help him define his health care plan. The advisory council is led by co-chairmen ], ] congressman, and ], currently president of ] and formally Romney's secretary of health and humane services in ].<ref></ref> The four other members are Georgia ], domestic policy expert ], ] ], and Romney aide ].<ref></ref>
! Candidates

! Actual<br />pledged ]s<sup>1</sup><br /><small>(1,780 of 1,917)</small>
On ], ], Romney unveiled his national health care plan. His plan allowed the states to choose individual health care plans for their respective states.<ref></ref>
! Estimated total delegates<sup>2</sup><br /><small>(2,159 of 2,380;<br />1,191 needed to win)</small>

|- style="background-color:#fdc46a;"
== Religious beliefs ==
| ] || '''1,378''' ||| '''1,575'''
Romney is a member of ] (commonly referred to as the ] church). The practice of ] has been officially forbidden by the LDS church since 1890,<ref>{{cite web
|- style="background-color:#D8D8D8;"
|url=http://scriptures.lds.org/od/1
| ] || 240 || 278
|title=Official Declaration 1
|- style="background-color:#D8D8D8;"
|publisher=]
| Mitt Romney || 148 || 271
|date=1890-10-06
|- style="background-color:#D8D8D8;"
|accessdate=2007-12-07
| ] || 14 || 35
}}</ref> and Romney personally described it as "bizarre".<ref>Jason Szep, , ], ], ]. Accessed ], ].</ref>
|- style="background-color:#FFFFFF;"
|colspan="5"|
{| align="left"
|'''Color key:'''
|
|style="background-color:#fdc46a;width:75px"| '''1st place'''
|style="background-color:#D8D8D8;width:75px"| <small>Candidate has<br />withdrawn</small>
|}
|-
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:left;" |<small>Sources:<br><sup>1</sup> {{cite news | title= Primary Season Election Results | date= September 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916170904/http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/gopdelegates/index.html|archive-date=September 16, 2008 | url = http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/gopdelegates/index.html | work = ] }}<br /><sup>2</sup> {{cite news | title= Election Center 2008 - Republican Delegate Scorecard | date= June 4, 2008|access-date=December 26, 2013 | url = http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#R | work = ] }}</small><br>
|}


==Fundraising==
Some media outlets have reported that voter perceptions of Romney's campaign may be influenced by the fact that his paternal great-grandparents emigrated to Mexico in the nineteenth century, where they would not be subject to laws banning their polygamous practices.<ref> ''Associated Press,'' ] ] via ''Boston Globe''.</ref><ref name="ancestors"> ''Salt Lake Tribune,'' ] ], via archive.org.</ref> Romney has denounced plural marriage, and is a proponent of traditional monogamous marriage.<ref>Douglas Kmiec, , ''National Review'', ] ], quoting 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>
] ]]
On January 8, 2007, Romney held his first ] for his presidential campaign committee, bringing in $6.5 million,<ref>{{cite news|title=Romney Raises $6.5 Million in One-Day Blitz|author=Cillizza, Chris|newspaper=]|date=2007-01-09|page=A06|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/08/AR2007010801710.html|access-date=September 3, 2012}}</ref> exceeding the amounts raised by other Republican Party contenders for the nomination; ] and ] were reported to have raised $2 million and $1 million respectively. In Romney's 2002 run in the Massachusetts election, he contributed 65% of $9,456,557 raised for the Governor's race.<ref>''Follow the Money'' Retrieved February 8, 2006.</ref>


===First quarter results===
If Romney wins the nomination, he would be the first Mormon on a major party's presidential ticket. In pursuing the Republican Party presidential nomination, he is following in the footsteps of his father, ], who ran for the White House in 1968 and lost; fellow Mormon ] of Utah, who ran in 2000 and lost; and ], who ran in 1844 but was eliminated from the race when he was killed by a mob.<ref></ref> In contrast to Hatch's 2000 attempt or Smith's 1844 attempt, Romney was felt to be a major contender until he slipped to number four in national polls, and so the effect his religion would have on the election came under serious consideration by pundits.<ref name="washingtonmonthly_evangelical"></ref> Whether it will hurt or help his candidacy remains to be seen; as of September 2007, 75% of the American electorate professes that Mormonism in a candidate would not affect their vote.<ref name="pollingreport.com"></ref>
On April 2, 2007, Romney's campaign released first quarter 2007 fundraising information. Romney led the Republican field by raising over $23 million, which was less than Democratic contenders ] and ], who reported raising $26 million and $25 million, respectively, in the same period. Romney also reported a $2.35 million personal contribution to his campaign committee. Romney, a former venture capitalist with significant personal wealth (at least $250 million)<ref name="moremoney"> CNN Political Ticker blog, June 25, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2007.</ref> and assets, had previously dismissed the notion of substantially self-funding his campaign but justified the expenditure in the interest of "seeding" interest in his candidacy.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509203443/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/First_Quarter_Receipts |date=2007-05-09 }} "Romney for President" April 2, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.</ref><ref> "CNN News" April 2, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.</ref> Romney raised the most money from ] of all presidential candidates during the first quarter, with $1.9 million raised.<ref name="wallstreet">{{cite news | url = https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=acvNLOAG2lw0 | title = Giuliani, Once Wall Street Crime Fighter, Seeks Funds | first = Catherine | last = Dodge | work = Bloomberg |date=2007-06-22 | access-date = 2007-06-26}}</ref>


], CEO of ], signed on as a financial co-chairwoman of his presidential campaign.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502220427/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Finance_Team_CA_Announce |date=2007-05-02 }} Press Release. March 15, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2007.</ref> She is a former co-worker of Romney's at ].
Romney may be challenged by voters with the concern that a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would take commandments from the president of the church who is regarded as a living prophet. In an interview aired on ] Romney said, "America has a political religion, which is to place the oath of office, an oath to abide by a nation of laws and the Constitution, above all others. And there's no question that I make that my primary responsibility." <ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,186080,00.html</ref> Mike Otterson, an LDS spokesman, said, "The suggestion that a Mormon leader would dictate policy to a President Romney is absurd. I can't imagine any president that would allow that."<ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7245768</ref> During the 1960 presidential campaign of ], similar allegations were made that a ] would take orders from the ]. <ref> http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/66.htm </ref>


===Second quarter results===
Romney's campaign speeches contain a standard response to the religion issue as a whole: "I believe in God. I believe in the family. I believe in America's future. It has a great role to preserve the peace on the planet. So the kinds of values I have are very much in line with those of the American people. My guess is as they get to know me better, there will be other faults that they find more troubling."<ref> ''Salt Lake Tribune'' Linda Fantin, ], ]</ref>
On June 25, 2007, five days before the end of the second quarter of fundraising on June 30, Romney announced that he was again lending his campaign a significant amount of money.<ref name="moremoney"/> He declined to say how much the second contribution would be, but that it was needed in order to run more advertising in battleground states. He said, "It would be nice not to have to loan or contribute to your own campaign... If other people are making sacrifices, I sure have to as well. It's not a dream come true. In some respects, it's kind of a nightmare to write checks from your own bank account." Romney asserted that his campaign had already spent $3 million on television advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire since February 2007.<ref name="moremoney"/>


When fundraising results from the second quarter were released, Romney had lent a total of $8.9 million to his campaign from his personal funds. From April to June, he spent $20.7 million, more than any other Republican candidate.<ref name="lentmoney">{{cite news |url= http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/16/mccain-warchest-larger-than-expected/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070809053506/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/16/mccain-warchest-larger-than-expected/#more-861|url-status= dead|archive-date= August 9, 2007|title= McCain warchest larger than expected|agency= Associated Press|date=2007-07-16|publisher= CNN}}</ref>
In October 2006, Romney asked to meet with a group of influential Christian leaders, including ], ], Gary Bauer, and Paula White to discuss his presidential candidacy. About a dozen accepted and traveled at their own expense to Boston, gathering at Romney's home in Belmont, Mass. <ref>http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Evangelicals+for+Romney%3a+a+major+question+of+the+coming+period.-a0156045388</ref> A prominent Evangelical leader, Dr. James Dobson, has not ruled out supporting him, while at the same time, Dobson has ruled out supporting Fred Thompson, John McCain, and most strikingly, Rudy Giuliani.<ref>http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/</ref>


===2008 presidential campaign finance summary===
Mitt Romney gave a speech Thursday, December 6 at the George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Library in Texas. The speech, entitled "Faith in America", outlined the role of religion in American society and politics and that he would not allow any authorities from any religion, including his own, to influence Presidential decisions. He avoided speaking about specific Mormon doctrines as he stated that by forcing him to become the spokesperson for his faith, it would be enabling "the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution." Instead, he addressed religion in general, saying "Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom."<ref></ref>. ''Washington Post'' ] has argued that Romney implied that nonreligious people cannot be proper Americans, and called that assertion "a form of bigotry." <ref>] on '']'', December 7, 2007. A clip containing this comment can be found </ref>
As of September 30, 2007, Romney has raised $62,829,069 for his campaign for presidency. Private donors have given $44,485,017 toward his campaign, PACs have given $298,700, and no money has come from other sources. Romney himself has given $17,413,736 to his campaign. 62% of PAC contributions came from business groups, and the final 38% from ideological organizations. So far 18.4% of his finances have been disclosed, while 81.6% has not. Romney has $9,216,517 on hand, has spent $62,829,069, and has a total of $17,350,000 in debts.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?ID=N00000286&Cycle=2008 | title = Mitt Romney Presidential Finance Report | access-date = 2006-10-23 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070508223823/http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?id=N00000286&cycle=2008 | archive-date = 2007-05-08 | url-status = dead }}</ref>


==Political positions==
{{Main|Political positions of Mitt Romney}}


== Speeches == ==Religion==
{{wikisource|Governor Romney's "Faith In America" Address}} {{wikisource|Governor Romney's "Faith In America" Address}}
{{See also|Public image of Mitt Romney#Religion}}
''Media Matters'' pointed out that in an April 10 speech, Romney criticized House Speaker ] for her "partisan" trip to Syria, but he did not mention that a Republican was a member of her delegation, or that a separate Republican-led delegation had met with the Syrian President three days before Pelosi did.<ref>"", ''Media Matters'', April 12, 2007</ref>
Romney is a member of ] (LDS Church). Though Romney did not win the nomination in 2008, Romney became the first Mormon on a major party's presidential ticket when he won the nomination in ]. In pursuing the Republican Party presidential nomination, he was following in the footsteps of his father, ], who ]; fellow Latter-day Saint ] of Utah, who ran in 2000 and lost; and ], who ran in 1844 but was killed by a mob.<ref></ref> In contrast to Hatch's 2000 attempt or Smith's 1844 attempt, Romney was felt to be a major contender and so the effect his religion would have on the election came under serious consideration by pundits.<ref name="washingtonmonthly_evangelical">{{Cite web |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0509.sullivan1.html |title=Mitt Romney's Evangelical Problem |access-date=2007-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602131544/http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0509.sullivan1.html |archive-date=2007-06-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of September 2007, 75% of the American electorate professed that Mormonism in a candidate would not affect their vote.<ref name="pollingreport.com"></ref>


Romney may have been challenged by voters with the concern that a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would take commandments from the president of the church who is regarded as a contemporary prophet. In an interview aired on ] Romney said, "America has a political religion, which is to place the oath of office, an oath to abide by a nation of laws and the Constitution, above all others. And there's no question that I make that my primary responsibility."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/transcript-mass-gov-mitt-romney-on-fns | work=Fox News | title=Transcript: Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney on 'FNS | date=February 27, 2006}}</ref> ], an LDS spokesman, said, "The suggestion that a Mormon leader would dictate policy to a President Romney is absurd. I can't imagine any president that would allow that."<ref></ref> During the 1960 presidential campaign of ], similar allegations were made that a ] would take orders from the ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/66.htm |title=Address to Southern Baptist Leaders (1960) |access-date=2007-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016053343/http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/66.htm |archive-date=2007-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On ], ], in a graduation speech at ], a conservative Christian institution founded by evangelist ], Romney extolled marriage and the family and criticized those who choose to remain single because they enjoy "the single life." He added, ”It seems that Europe leads Americans in this way of thinking. In France, for instance, I’m told that marriage is now frequently contracted in seven-year terms where either party may move on when their term is up. How shallow and how different from the Europe of the past.”<ref>"," Washington Post, May 6. 2007</ref>
In 2006, the ] reported that Mitt Romney's son, Josh Romney, and a member of Romney's political action committee in his Salt Lake City office September 19, 2007, did meet with ], an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to discuss Romney's campaign.<ref>Scott Helman and Michael Levenson, , '']'', 2006-10-19.</ref> According to the Church, the meeting was a courtesy call and that Jeffrey R. Holland reminded the Romneys of the Church's longstanding policy of political neutrality.


] in ]]]
== Debates ==
Romney's campaign speeches sometimes contained a standard response to the religion issue as a whole: "I believe in God. I believe in the family. I believe in America's future. It has a great role to preserve the peace on the planet. So the kinds of values I have are very much in line with those of the American people. My guess is as they get to know me better, there will be other faults that they find more troubling."<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010051058/http://origin.sltrib.com/news/ci_5271112 |date=2007-10-10 }} ''Salt Lake Tribune'' Linda Fantin, February 21, 2007.</ref>
Romney participated in the first 2008 Republican Presidential Candidates Debate on ], ] at the ] along with the other Republican presidential contenders. The debate was sponsored by ], ], the Reagan Presidential Library, and ].<ref>
</ref>


In October 2006, Romney asked to meet with a group of influential Christian leaders, including ], ], Gary Bauer, and Paula White to discuss his presidential candidacy. About a dozen accepted and traveled at their own expense to Boston, gathering at Romney's home in Belmont, Mass.<ref></ref> A prominent Evangelical leader, Dr. James Dobson, has not ruled out supporting him, while at the same time, Dobson has ruled out supporting Fred Thompson, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.<ref></ref>
Romney also participated in the second 2008 Republican Candidates Debate on ], ] at the ]. When ] asked about the use of "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques" including ] on captured terrorists, Romney replied that the real key is prevention through counterintelligence, adding that "we ought to double Guantanamo." His full quote is:
<blockquote>"Now you said the person was going to be on Guantanamo. I'm glad they're on Guantanamo. I don't want them on our soil. I want them on Guantanamo, where they don't get the access to lawyers that they get when they're on our soil. I don't want them in our prisons. I want them there. Some people have said we ought to close Guantanamo. My view is we ought to double Guantanamo.
"We ought to make sure that the terrorists... and there's no question but that in a setting like that where you have the ticking bomb, that the President of the United States - not the CIA interrogator - the President of the United States has to make the call. And Enhanced Interrogation Techniques have to be used - not torture, but enhanced interrogation techniques. Yes."<ref>(Video is available )</ref>
</blockquote>


Romney gave a speech entitled "Faith in America," Thursday, December 6, at the ] in Texas, with the former president providing introductory remarks. The speech, which was widely regarded as referencing that of then-Senator ]'s September 1960 pledge not to allow Catholic doctrine to inform policy, discussed the role of religion in American society and politics; Romney said he would not allow any authorities from any religion, including his own, to influence presidential decisions. He avoided speaking about specific Latter-day Saint doctrines, as he stated that by forcing him to become the spokesperson for his faith, it would be enabling "the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution." Instead, he addressed religion in general, saying "Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom.".<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208015944/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/06/499942.aspx |date=December 8, 2007 }}</ref>
During the debate Romney also said, "There is a global jihadist effort. And they’ve come together as ] and ] and ] and ] and the ] and ] with that intent."{{Fact|date=July 2007}}


In December 2007, rival candidate, Mike Huckabee, when asked by the New York Times if he personally considered the LDS faith a cult or a religion, Huckabee said he believed it was a religion despite his lack of knowledge, but then followed up by asking, "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?"<ref>, New York Times Magazine, December 12, 2007.</ref>
=== New Hampshire debate ===
In the June 5 New Hampshire debate, in response to a question asking if Iraq should have been invaded in hindsight, ] and '']'' pointed out that Romney's answer to the question was incorrect. He said that if events occurred differently, with ] allowing UN inspectors into his country, Iraq would not have had to have been invaded. It was pointed out by watchers in the media that Hussein did in fact allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq, and they found little evidence of weapons of mass destruction.<ref name="gaffeNH">{{cite news|url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200706060013 |date=], ] |accessdate=2007-06-17 |title=Ignoring Romney's Iraq falsehood, Wash. Post called Huckabee's Reagan remark the "Gaffe of the Night"}}</ref> CNN analyst ] said the misstatement would disqualify Romney if it had occurred in a general election debate, and it was akin to saying "the Mexicans bombed Pearl Harbor."<ref name="gaffeNH"/> Romney's full statement was:


Thereafter on December 12, upon the conclusion of a Republican debate in Iowa, Huckabee personally apologized to Romney. The next morning on MSNBC Huckabee said, "It was never my intention to denigrate his faith... I raised it not to create a story. I thought we were having a simple, casual conversation... I don't think his Mormon faith should have anything to do with him being elected."
<blockquote>"Well, the question is kind of a non sequitur, if you will. And what I mean by that—or a null set—and that is that if you're saying, let's turn back the clock and Saddam Hussein had opened up his country to IAEA inspectors and they'd come in and they'd found that there were no weapons of mass destruction—had Saddam Hussein therefore not violated United Nations resolutions—we wouldn't be in the conflict we're in. But he didn't do those things, and we knew what we knew at the point we made the decision to get in."<ref name="gaffeNH"/></blockquote>


But then Mr. Huckabee accused Mr. Romney of running a negative campaign. "We run a positive campaign, more so frankly than Mitt, who's running ads against me and dropping fliers in Iowa," he said.
In his own defense, Governor Romney clarified that he was not meaning that Saddam had completely denied allowing inspectors in, but he was referring to the specific times where inspectors were prevented from entering several of Saddam's palaces for inspection. He was referring to these moments that led to the suspicion that Saddam's regime was hiding weapons they did not want to be found.


An opinion piece in the December 14 New York Times quotes ], director of the ], describing such apologies as "nonapology apologies.... They're proving they're not sincere by continuing to raise the subjects. Once you apologize, you should avoid the subject like the plague... It's no accident they continue to bring these things up... There is a strong prejudice among many fundamentalist Christians against Mormonism."<ref></ref>
=== YouTube debate ===
{{POV}}
After the Democratic CNN/YouTube debate in July 2007, Romney said that he was not inclined to participate in the Republican YouTube debate scheduled for September 2007. However, Romney then flip-flopped and participated in the debate anyway. Romney had said earlier, "There is a degree of respectfulness that ought to be associated with the process for selecting a nominee. From what I've heard, that level of respectfulness was breached...I don't know that it makes sense to have people running for president answering questions posed from snowmen."<ref name="noyoutubedebate">{{cite news|url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/07/28/romney_will_skipyoutube_forum.html |date=], ] |accessdate=2007-07-30 |title=Romney May Debate After All}}</ref> A question on ] featured in the Democrats' YouTube debate was posed by a snowman.


In January 2008, fellow presidential candidate ] expressed concerns that Romney's religion might be affecting how the other candidates treat him. "One thing I'm a little bit afraid of is that they might be doing that for religious reasons, and I don't like that."<ref>{{cite news| title=When Ron Paul Met Jay Leno|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/10814/when-ron-paul-met-jay-leno| work=National Review| date=January 8, 2008| access-date=September 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Broadcast: January 7, 2008.</ref>
== Polls ==
<!-- All text about polls should have a date. Not acceptable are the terms "now" "currently" "recently" -->{{main | Opinion polling for the United States presidential election, 2008| Opinion polling for the Republican Party (United States) 2008 presidential candidates |l1= General Election Polling |l2= GOP Primary Polling}}


According to political scientist and commentator ], "One reason Romney pulled out of South Carolina was that he could not overcome the palpable prejudice that evangelical Christians have about his religion, and South Carolina's view is shared throughout much of the South and elsewhere. Partly as a consequence, Romney shows up in national polls as the weakest of the major Republican candidates...."<ref> by Larry Sabato, Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia.</ref>
=== First seven Republican primaries and caucuses, California and New York ===


==== Iowa ==== ==Speeches==
''Media Matters'' pointed out that in an April 10, 2007, speech, Romney criticized House Speaker ] for her "partisan" trip to Syria, but he did not mention that a Republican was a member of her delegation, or that a separate Republican-led delegation had met with the Syrian President three days before Pelosi did.<ref>"", ''Media Matters'', April 12, 2007.</ref>
]<ref>]</ref>
See also


On May 5, 2007, in a graduation speech at ], a conservative Christian institution founded by evangelist ], Romney extolled marriage and the family and criticized those who choose to remain single because they enjoy "the single life." He added, "It seems that Europe leads Americans in this way of thinking. In France, for instance, I'm told that marriage is now frequently contracted in seven-year terms where either party may move on when their term is up. How shallow and how different from the Europe of the past."<ref>"," Washington Post, May 6. 2007.</ref>
==== Michigan ====
]
<ref>]</ref>
See also
==== South Carolina ====
]
<ref>]</ref>
See also
==== Nevada ====
]
<ref>]</ref>
See also


==Debates==
==== New Hampshire ====
Romney participated in the first 2008 Republican Presidential Candidates Debate on May 3, 2007, at the ] along with the other Republican presidential contenders. The debate was sponsored by ], ], the Reagan Presidential Library, and ].<ref></ref>
]
<ref>]</ref>
See also


Romney also participated in the second 2008 Republican Candidates Debate on May 15, 2007, at the ]. When ] asked about the use of "]" including ] on captured terrorists, Romney replied that the real key is prevention through counterintelligence, adding that "we ought to double Guantanamo." His full quote is:
==== Florida ====
]
<ref>]</ref>
See also


{{blockquote|Now you said the person was going to be on Guantanamo. I'm glad they're on Guantanamo. I don't want them on our soil. I want them on Guantanamo, where they don't get the access to lawyers that they get when they're on our soil. I don't want them in our prisons. I want them there. Some people have said we ought to close Guantanamo. My view is we ought to double Guantanamo.
==== California ====
]
<ref>]</ref>
See also


We ought to make sure that the terrorists... and there's no question but that in a setting like that where you have the ticking bomb, that the President of the United States - not the CIA interrogator - the President of the United States has to make the call. And Enhanced Interrogation Techniques have to be used - not torture, but enhanced interrogation techniques. Yes.<ref>(Video is available )</ref>}}
==== New York ====
]
<ref>]</ref>
See also


During the debate Romney also said, "There is a global jihadist effort. And they've come together as ] and ] and ] and ] and the ] and ] with that intent."<ref>{{cite news |title=Republican Presidential Debate in South Carolina (Published 2007) |work=The New York Times |date=15 May 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/15/us/politics/16repubs-text.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2}}</ref>
=== National polls ===


===New Hampshire debate – Saint Anselm College===
A ], ] opinion poll conducted by ] showed that 35% of the American public viewed Mitt Romney favorably, up from 29% the month before. About 34% of the respondents had no opinion. These polling numbers suggest that it may be an "uphill battle" for Romney to win the presidency, but that he was gaining popularity. It is important to note, however, that before launching his presidential campaign, Romney had almost no national attention.<ref> ''Rasmussen Reports,'' ], ]. Retrieved ], ].</ref> National polls in January and February 2007 showed Romney with consistent support at or just above 10%.{{Fact|date=June 2007}}
In the June 5th debate held at the Dana Center for the Humanities at ]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/debates/republicans/index.html | work=CNN | title=Election Center 2008 - Election & Politics News from CNN.com | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> near ], Romney responded to a question that asked if within hindsight, should Iraq have been invaded. ] contributor ] criticized this remark and called it " huge mistake, a gaffe that -- that's, if this were a general election debate, would be a disqualifier," pointing out that inspectors had been allowed into Iraq.<ref>''Anderson Cooper 360'', CNN: </ref>


===YouTube debate===
A ] poll taken August 13–16, 200] (two days after Romney won the ]) showed Romney (14%) overtaking ] (11%) but behind ] (32%) and ] (19%). Romney had been stagnant in national polls until this time and the presumption was that his improvement was because of his victory in ], but the poll showed that only a third of ] were aware of Romney's win. The same poll showed Romney's favorability at 49% (up 13% from the previous week) and unfavorability at 16% (down 4%).<ref></ref>
After the Democratic CNN/YouTube debate in July 2007, Romney said that he was not inclined to participate in the Republican YouTube debate scheduled for September 2007.<ref name="noyoutubedebate">{{cite news|url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/07/28/romney_will_skipyoutube_forum.html |date=July 28, 2007 |access-date=2007-07-30 |title=Romney May Debate After All | newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> (There were some unusual questions, including a question on ] posed by an animated snowman.)


However, Romney soon changed his stance, and he did participate in the debate, held in ], on September 5, 2007. This debate was cosponsored by ] rather than CNN and was somewhat more conventional than the earlier debate on CNN.
==== Hypothetical presidential matchups ====
===== Clinton v. Romney =====
]
===== Edwards v. Romney =====
]
===== Obama v. Romney =====
]


=== Straw polls === ==Endorsements==
On ], ] Mitt Romney won the ] (CPAC) Straw Poll. He received 21% of the vote. ] received 17%, Senator ] received 15%, and Senator ] received 12%. 1,705 attendees voted.<ref></ref><!-- This just links to their main page, not to this poll as of June 25, 2007, please fix-->

Mitt Romney benefited in the polls from voters' confusion with Rudy Giuliani's abortion stance following the first Republican debate.<ref> Bayou Buzz, May 7, 2007</ref>

In July 2007, Romney won the straw poll at the ] at 46%, in front of ]'s 28% and ]'s 10%.<ref></ref>

On ], ], Mitt Romney won the ].<ref name="foxnews_wins_Iowa_poll"/> He received 31% of the vote at the Straw Poll. His closest rival received 18%, a larger margin than that of Gov. Bush and Steve Forbes, which had a margin of 10% in 1999.<ref name="bloomberg_wins_Iowa"/>

On ], ], Mitt Romney won the ] Straw Poll with 40.35% of the vote. Fred Thompson placed second with 19.96%, and Ron Paul in third with 18.87%.<ref> ''CNN Political Ticker'' August 16, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2007</ref>

On ], ], Mitt Romney won the ] Straw Poll with 39% of the vote. John McCain placed second with 27 percent.<ref> WXYZ 7. September 24, 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2007</ref>

== Endorsements ==
<!-- Note: <!-- Note:
Adding endorsers, supporters and collaborators Adding endorsers, supporters and collaborators
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subjects the addition to removal. subjects the addition to removal.
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{{See also|Newspaper endorsements in the United States presidential primaries, 2008}}
As of November 5, 2007, '']'''s running tally of endorsements from members of Congress showed Romney leading McCain 38 to 28 for the lead among Republican candidates.<ref>{{cite news| title =Endorsements '08| newspaper =]| date =2007-04-10| url =http://hill6.thehill.com/endorsements-2008.html| access-date =2007-07-26| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071114165749/http://hill6.thehill.com/endorsements-2008.html| archive-date =2007-11-14| url-status =dead}}</ref> Conservatives in the Republican coalesced around Romney after the January 29 Florida primary. Former Pennsylvania Senator ] endorsed Romney on the talk radio show of ]. The ] community, ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] endorsed Romney, in an anti-McCain move. In spite of their efforts, Romney was out of the race and McCain became the presumptive nominee less than two weeks after Florida.<ref></ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rightontheright.com/node/3109 |title=Ingraham and Santorum Endorse Romney {{!}} Right On The Right<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713124555/http://www.rightontheright.com/node/3109 |archive-date=2010-07-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.case.edu/conservativemovement/2008/02/01/santorum_hannity_ingraham_endorse_romney |title=College Conservative Movement: Santorum, Hannity, Ingraham endorse Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708235113/http://blog.case.edu/conservativemovement/2008/02/01/santorum_hannity_ingraham_endorse_romney |archive-date=2008-07-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.plnewsforum.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/28770/ |title=Power Line Forum {{!}} Hannity, Levin, Reagan, Endorse Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222080709/http://www.plnewsforum.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/28770/ |archive-date=2016-02-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated5>{{Cite web |url=http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDEzMDYzZjBkMDNhYjk0ZjdhZmJlZWNkMWQ1NjI4MGI |title=Mark R. Levin on Mitt Romney & Super Tuesday on National Review Online<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201173048/http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDEzMDYzZjBkMDNhYjk0ZjdhZmJlZWNkMWQ1NjI4MGI |archive-date=2008-02-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (See also ].)


{{Endorsements box
As of ], ], '']'''s running tally of endorsements from members of Congress showed Romney leading McCain 33 to 28 for the lead among Republican candidates (not counting McCain's endorsement of himself).<ref>{{cite web| title =Endorsements '08| publisher ='']''| date =]| url =http://hill6.thehill.com/endorsements-2008.html | accessdate =2007-07-26}}</ref> (See also ].)
| title = Incumbent and former United States Senators and Congressmen endorsing Mitt Romney

| columns = 2
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*Sen. ] (R-CO)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418194025/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Allard |date=2007-04-18 }} Press Release. April 16, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved April 16, 2007.</ref>
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*Sen. ] (R-UT)<ref>{{cite web |title=McCain Leads Chase for Senate Support |website=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307215607/https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2769.html |archive-date=2014-03-07 |url-status=live |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2769.html}}</ref>
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*Sen. ] (R-MS)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Cochran |title=Senator Thad Cochran Endorses Governor Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123211142/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Cochran |archive-date=2008-01-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
'''List of People endorsing Mitt Romney'''
*Sen. ] (R-SC)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329231635/http://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=176345 |date=2007-03-29 }} ''Boston Herald,'' January 10, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2007.</ref>
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*Sen. ] (R-NH)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030032844/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Gregg |date=2007-10-30 }} Press Release. October 29, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved October 30, 2007.</ref>
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*Sen. ] (R-UT)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328193458/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Hatch_Endorsement |date=2007-03-28 }} ''Press Release'' March 11, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved March 19, 2007.</ref>
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*Sen. ] (R-AK)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206090857/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Murkowski |date=2008-02-06 }} Press Release. February 2, 2008 ''Romney for President, Inc''.</ref>

*Rep. ] (R-AL)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101084742/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Aderholt_Support |date=2007-11-01 }} Press Release. February 8, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007.</ref>
Romney's endorsers include:
*Rep. ] (R-LA)<ref name="Romney whip team"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101084746/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Whip_Team |date=2007-11-01 }} Press Release. February 6, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved October 30, 2007.</ref>
* Former Speaker of the House ],<ref>, ], ]</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-CA)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203101416/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Bilbray |date=2008-02-03 }} Press Release. January 31, 2008 ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved February 1, 2008.</ref>
* Senator ] of ],<ref></ref>
* Senator ] of ],<ref> ''Press Release'' ], ] ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ]</ref> *Rep. ] (R-UT)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206223019/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Bishop |date=2008-02-06 }} Press Release. February 1, 2008 ''Romney for President, Inc''.</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-TN)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130215343/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Blackburn |date=2008-01-30 }} Press Release. January 28, 2008 ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved February 1, 2008.</ref>
* Senator ] of ],<ref> ''Boston Herald,'' ], ]. Retrieved ], ]</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-FL)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Senator ] of ].<ref> Press Release. ], ] ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ]</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-MI)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Senator ] of ]. <ref> Press Release. ], ] ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ]</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-CA)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>

* Rep. ] (R-Ala.) <ref> Press Release. February 8, 2007 Retrieved October 31, 2007</ref> *Rep. ] (R-UT)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108004746/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Cannon |date=2007-11-08 }} ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. November 1, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2007.</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-La.) <ref name="Romney whip team"> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ]</ref> *Rep. ] (R-TX)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226215351/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Carter |date=2007-12-26 }} ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. December 20, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2007.</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-NC)<ref> WXII February 4, 2008.</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-Fla.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/>
*Rep. ] (R-TX)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101084502/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Rep_Mike_Conway |date=2007-11-01 }} Press Release. March 7, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007.</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-Mich.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/>
*Rep. ] (R-FL)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124014040/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Crenshaw |date=2008-01-24 }} Press Release. January 21, 2008 Retrieved January 31, 2008.</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-Calif.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Utah) <ref> ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. November 1, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2007</ref> *Rep. ] (R-MI)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101065623/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/US_Rep_Vernon_Ehlers_Endorses |date=2007-11-01 }} Press Release. August 14, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007.</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-FL)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Texas) <ref> Press Release. March 7, 2007 Retrieved October 31, 2007</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-Mich.) <ref> Press Release. August 14, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007</ref> *Rep. ] (R-NJ)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206223026/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Ferguson |date=2008-02-06 }} Press Release. February 2, 2008 ''Romney for President, Inc''.</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-NC)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226215318/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Foxx |date=2007-12-26 }}''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. December 21, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2007.</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-Fla.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Ga.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/> *Rep. ] (R-GA)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-TX) <ref> ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. September 25, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007</ref> *Rep. ] (R-TX)<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215042925/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Granger_Endorsement |date=2008-02-15 }} ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. September 25, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007.</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-CA)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226215308/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Herger |date=2007-12-26 }} ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. December 21, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007.</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-Mich.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Mich.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/> *Rep. ] (R-MI)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
*Rep. ] (R-GA)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219205027/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Kingston |date=2007-12-19 }} ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. December 18, 2007. Retrieved December 18, 2007.</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-Ky.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Ga.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/> *Rep. ] (R-MI)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
*Rep. ] (R-KY)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Fla.) <ref> ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. October 17, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-FL)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031205524/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Mack |date=2007-10-31 }} ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. October 17, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007.</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-La.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Calif.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/> *Rep. ] (R-LA)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
*Rep. ] (R-CA)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-WI) <ref> Press Release. August 27, 2007 Retrieved October 31, 2007</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-WI)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101065455/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Petri_Endorsement |date=2007-11-01 }} Press Release. August 27, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007.</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-Ga.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Ohio) <ref name="Romney whip team"/> *Rep. ] (R-GA)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Ky.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/> *Rep. ] (R-OH)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Ala.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/> *Rep. ] (R-KY)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Pa.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/> *Rep. ] (R-AL)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
*Rep. ] (R-CA)<ref></ref>
* Rep. ] (R-Idaho) <ref name="Romney whip team"/>
*Rep. ] (R-PA)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* Rep. ] (R-Texas) <ref> Press Release. July 25, 2007 Retrieved October 31, 2007</ref>
* Rep. ] (R-Ky.) <ref name="Romney whip team"/> *Rep. ] (R-ID)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
*Rep. ] (R-TX)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>

*Rep. ] (R-CO)<ref> ''Des Moines Register'' December 20, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2007.</ref>
In addition, he has been endorsed by:
* ] Governor ]; <ref> Press Release. April 26, 2007 Retrieved October 31, 2007</ref> *Rep. ] (R-GA)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206222747/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Westmoreland |date=2008-02-06 }} Press Release. February 1, 2008 ''Romney for President, Inc''.</ref>
*Rep. ] (R-KY)<ref name="Romney whip team"/>
* ] Governor ]<ref> Press Release. ], ] ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ]</ref>
* Fmr. Speaker of the House ] (R-IL)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125113842/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Hastert_Support |date=2007-01-25 }}, January 23, 2007.</ref>
* Former ] ] ];<ref></ref>
* Former Massachusetts Governor ]<ref>Mooney, Brian. "Boston Globe", ], ]. Retrieved ], ].</ref> * Fmr. Sen. ] (R-MO)<ref>, February 2, 2007.</ref>
*Former Montana Governor ]<ref name=Montana> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * Fmr. Sen. ] (R-TN)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206222156/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Brock |date=2008-02-06 }} Press Release. February 1, 2008 ''Romney for President, Inc''.</ref>
* Former ] Governor ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President Exploratory Committee, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * Fmr. Sen. ] (R-PA) Senator<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205043936/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Santorum |date=2008-02-05 }} Press Release. February 1, 2008 ''Romney for President, Inc''.</ref>
* Fmr. Rep. ] (R-NC)<ref name="Latin American"/>
* Former ] Senator ]<ref>, ], ]</ref>
* Virginia Lt. Governor ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * Fmr. Rep. ] (R-CO) and 2006 Republican Gubernatorial nominee<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714034218/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Beauprez_Endorsement |date=2007-07-14 }} Press Release. July 10, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved July 13, 2007.</ref>
* Utah Lt. Governor ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * Fmr. Rep. ] (R-TX)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620193259/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Bonilla_Endorsement |date=2007-06-20 }} Press Release. June 14, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved June 14, 2007.</ref>
* Idaho Lt. Governor ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * Fmr. Rep. ] (R-IN)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418211721/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Statewide_Indiana_Finance_Committee_Names |date=2007-04-18 }} Press Release. April 5, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved April 5, 2007.</ref>
* Alaska Lt. Governor ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * Fmr. Rep. ] (R-MN)<ref>; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210092542/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Vin_Weber_Announcement |date=2007-02-10 }} Press Release. January 16, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved March 10, 2007.</ref>
* Former Massachusetts Lt. Governor and 2006 Republican Gubernatorial nominee ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * Late Fmr. Rep. ] (R-WA)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627192702/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Dunn_Endorsement |date=2007-06-27 }} Press Release. June 26, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2007.</ref>
}}
* Former Michigan Lt. Governor and 2002 Republican Gubernatorial nominee ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
{{Endorsements box
* Former Michigan Lt. Governor ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
| title = State legislators, former state legislators, Governors, former Governors, and state officials endorsing Mitt Romney
* Former Florida Lt. Governor ]<ref name="fla. women"> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
| columns = 2
* Colorado Attorney General ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
| list =
* Indiana Secretary Of State ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* State Sen. ] (R-CA)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418211703/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/California_Leadership_Team |date=2007-04-18 }} Press Release. April 11, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved April 11, 2007.</ref>
* Montana Secretary of State ]<ref name=Montana/>
* State Sen. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206202007/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/TN_Leadership |date=2008-02-06 }} Press Release. Feb 4, 2008. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved Feb 5, 2008.</ref>
* Former Florida Secretary of State ]<ref name="fla. women"/>
* State Sen. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* Republican Leader of the California State Senate ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* Missouri House Speaker ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * State Sen. ] (R-MA)<ref name="ma leaders"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220044256/http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/MA_Leaders_Endorse |date=2007-02-20 }} Press Release. February 15, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved February 15, 2007.</ref>
* State Sen. ] (R-ME)<ref name="me legislators">{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/ME_Steering |title=Governor Mitt Romney Announces Maine Statewide Steering Committee<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117045535/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/ME_Steering |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Former U.S. Representative (R-CO) and 2006 Republican Gubernatorial nominee ]<ref> Press Release. ], ] ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* Former U.S. Representative (R-IN) ]<ref> Press Release. ], ] ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * State Sen. ] (R-OH)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912171542/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Coughlin_Endorsement |date=2007-09-12 }} Press Release. September 12, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved September 14, 2007.</ref>
* State Sen. ] (R-AZ)<ref name=Arizona/>
* Former U.S. Representative (R-TX) ]<ref> Press Release. ], ] ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* State Sen. ], ] (R-NV)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Heck |title=Nevada State Senator Joe Heck Joins Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124013804/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Heck |archive-date=2008-01-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Former U.S. Representative (R-MN) ]<ref>; Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* Former U.S. Representative (R-NC) ]<ref name="Latin American"/> * State Sen. ] (R-MA)<ref name="ma leaders" />
* State Senator ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* Late Former U.S. Representative (R-WA) ]<ref> Press Release. ], ] Retrieved ], ]</ref>
* State Senate President Pro Tempore ] (R-GA)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Eric_Johnson |title=Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson Endorses Governor Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124045000/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Eric_Johnson |archive-date=2008-01-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Sheriff of ], ] and 2006 Republican U.S. Senate nominee ]<ref> Press Release. ], ] ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* State Sen. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* ] Mayor ] <ref name=Jacksonville>Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* State Sen. ] (R-NJ)<ref name="New Jersey"/>
* ] Sheriff ]<ref>; Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* New Jersey Senate Minority Leader ] <ref name="New Jersey"> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * State Senate Minority Leader ] (R-NJ)<ref name="New Jersey"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919180308/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/NJ_Steering_Committee |date=2007-09-19 }} Press Release. September 12, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved September 14, 2007.</ref>
* State Sen. ] (R-ME)<ref name="me legislators"/>
* Former Iowa Senate Majority Leader Stewart Iverson<ref>, Press Release. ], ]</ref>
* Illinois State Senator and 2006 Republican nominee for Secretary of State ]<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * State Sen. ] (R-MO)<ref name="mo legislators"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822192953/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/MO_Legislators_Endorsements |date=2007-08-22 }} Press Release. August 20, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved August 22, 2007.</ref>
* State Sen. ] (R-IL)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523200605/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Dan_Rutherford_Illinois |date=2007-05-23 }} Press Release. May 23, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved May 23, 2007.</ref>
* State Sen. ] (R-ME)<ref name="me legislators"/>
* State Sen. ] (R-ME)<ref name="me legislators"/>
* State Sen. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* State Sen. ] (R-ME)<ref name="me legislators"/>
* State Rep. ] (R-AZ)<ref name=Arizona/>
* State Rep. ] (R-DE)<ref name=autogenerated4>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/DE_GOP_Leaders |title=Delaware Republican Leaders Join Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206222206/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/DE_GOP_Leaders |archive-date=2008-02-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* State Rep. ] (R-AZ)<ref name=Arizona/>
* State Rep. Chris Crider (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* State Rep. ] (R-FL)<ref name=Jacksonville/>
* State Rep. ] (R-ND)<ref name=autogenerated2> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206222541/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/ND_Leaders |date=2008-02-06 }} Press Release. February 3, 2008. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved February 4, 2008.</ref>
* State Rep. ] (R-IA)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_De_Boef |title=Governor Mitt Romney Announces Support Of Iowa State Representative Betty De Boef<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117093433/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_De_Boef |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* State Rep. ] (R-FL)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Dorworth |title=Governor Mitt Romney Announces Support Of Florida State Representative Chris Dorworth<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117103215/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Dorworth |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* State Rep. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* State Representative ] (R-CO)<ref name=autogenerated6> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206201827/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/CO_Leaders |date=2008-02-06 }}. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. Feb 4, 2008. Retrieved Feb 5, 2008.</ref>
* House Speaker ] (R-MO)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430190907/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Missouri_Matt_Blunt_Rod_Jetton_Endorsements |date=2007-04-30 }} Press Release. April 26, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved April 27, 2007.</ref>
* State Rep. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* State Rep. Phillip Johnson (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* State Rep. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* State Rep. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* House Leader ] (R-CO)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206222442/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_May |date=2008-02-06 }} Press Release. February 2, 2008. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved February 2, 2008.</ref>
* State Rep. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* State Rep. ] (R-SC)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Mulvaney |title=Representative Mick Mulvaney Endorses Mitt Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117112707/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Mulvaney |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* State Rep. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* State Rep. ] (R-MO)<ref name="mo legislators"/>
* State Rep. ] (R-MI)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Robertson |title=Michigan State Representative Dave Robertson Endorses Governor Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117103235/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Robertson |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* State Rep. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* State Rep. ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* State Assemblywoman ] (R-NV)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Gansert |title=Republican Leader Heidi Gansert Joins Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118025109/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Gansert |archive-date=2008-01-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Assembly Republican Caucus Chairman ] (R-CA)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Huff |title=Assembly Republican Caucus Chairman Bob Huff Endorses Governor Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124021500/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Huff |archive-date=2008-01-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Fmr. State Senate Majority Leader ] (R-IA)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317232205/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Stewart_Iverson |date=2007-03-17 }}, Press Release. March 15, 2007.</ref>
* Fmr. Speaker Pro Tem Rep. ] (R-MO)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Bearden |title=Former Missouri Speaker Pro Tem Joins Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203101410/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Bearden |archive-date=2008-02-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Fmr. State Rep. & Republican National Committeeman ] (R-ME)<ref name="me legislators"/>
* Fmr. State Sen. ] (R-ME)<ref name="me legislators"/>
* Fmr. State Rep. ] (R-MO)
* 9 Georgia State Representatives and one State Senator<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/GA_Statewide_Leadership |title=Romney For President Announces Georgia Statewide Leadership Team<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117112156/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/GA_Statewide_Leadership |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 3 Georgia State Senators and eight additional State Representatives<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/GA_State_Legislators_1.24 |title=Georgia Legislators Join Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127023255/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/GA_State_Legislators_1.24 |archive-date=2008-01-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 16 members of the Iowa State Legislature<ref name="states">{{cite news|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/endorsements/candidates/mitt-romney/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 12, 2010 |title=Mitt Romney |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720060925/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/endorsements/candidates/mitt-romney/ |archive-date=July 20, 2009 }}</ref>
* 18 Republican Massachusetts state representatives<ref name="ma leaders" />
* 40 members of the Michigan State Legislature<ref name="states"/>
* 5 Nevada State Legislators<ref name="states"/>
* 29 Republican State Representatives and one State Senator from New Hampshire<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/NH_Legislative_Leadership |title=Governor Romney Announces The New Hampshire Legislative Leadership Team<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117103148/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/NH_Legislative_Leadership |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 10 other South Carolina State Legislators<ref name="states"/>
* Governor ] (R-MO)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430190907/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Missouri_Matt_Blunt_Rod_Jetton_Endorsements |date=2007-04-30 }} Press Release. April 26, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007.</ref>
* Governor ] (R-RI)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325152806/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Carcieri |date=2007-03-25 }} Press Release. March 13, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved March 13, 2007.</ref>
* Governor ] (R-NE)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219221652/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Heineman |date=2007-12-19 }} Press Release. December 13, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved December 14, 2007.</ref>
* Lt. Governor ] (R-VA)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070801202413/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Bolling_Endorsement |date=2007-08-01 }} Press Release. July 31, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved August 1, 2007.</ref>
* Lt. Governor ] (R-UT)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418212036/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Utah_Endorsements |date=2007-04-18 }} Press Release. February 20, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved March 7, 2007.</ref>
* Lt. Governor ] (R-AK)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013100649/http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Parnell |date=2007-10-13 }} Press Release. October 12, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved October 13, 2007.</ref>
* Lt. Governor ] (R-ID)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523200556/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Idaho_Leadership_Team |date=2007-05-23 }} Press Release. May 22, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved May 22, 2007.</ref>
* Fmr. Governor ] (R-MT)<ref name=Montana> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627192048/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Montana_Leadership_Team |date=2007-06-27 }} Press Release. June 21, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved June 22, 2007.</ref>
* Fmr. Governor ] (R-TN)<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* Fmr. Governor ] (R-SC)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418235156/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Charleston_Leaders |date=2007-04-18 }} Press Release. January 29, 2007. ''Romney for President Exploratory Committee, Inc.'' Retrieved February 15, 2007.</ref>
* Fmr. Governor ] (R-NV)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Nevada_Finance |title=Governor Mitt Romney Announces Nevada Finance Steering Committee<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117162038/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Nevada_Finance |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Fmr. Governor ] (R-CO)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.elephantbiz.com/2007/01/owens_endorses_romney.html |title=Owens Endorses Romney |access-date=2007-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008121842/http://www.elephantbiz.com/2007/01/owens_endorses_romney.html |archive-date=2007-10-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Fmr. Governor ] (R-MA)<ref>Mooney, Brian. "Boston Globe", January 9, 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2007.</ref>
* Fmr. Lt. Governor ] (R-MI)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Binsfeld |title=Former Lieutenant Governor of Michigan Connie Binsfeld Endorses Governor Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010214050/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Binsfeld |archive-date=2007-10-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Fmr. Lt. Governor ] (R-MA)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620211357/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/MA_Steering |date=2007-06-20 }} Press Release. June 18, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved June 22, 2007.</ref>
* Fmr. Lt. Governor ] (R-FL)<ref name="fla. women"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070801202820/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/FL_Women_For_Mitt |date=2007-08-01 }} Press Release. July 27, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref>
* Fmr. Lt. Governor ] (R-MI)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629030320/http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Posthumus |date=2007-06-29 }} Press Release. June 27, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved June 28, 2007.</ref>
* Wisconsin Republican National Committeewoman ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Buestrin |title=Governor Mitt Romney Announces Support Of Wisconsin RNC Committeewoman Mary Buestrin<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130220018/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Buestrin |archive-date=2008-01-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Kentucky Secretary of State ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Grayson |title=Kentucky Secretary Of State Trey Grayson Endorses Governor Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117132045/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Grayson |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Fmr. Florida Secretary of State ]<ref name="fla. women"/>
* Montana Secretary of State ]<ref name=Montana/>
* Indiana Secretary Of State ]<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418211655/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/SOS_Rokita |date=2007-04-18 }} Press Release. March 14, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved March 14, 2007.</ref>
* Colorado Attorney General ]<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070725184349/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/CO_Attorney_General |date=2007-07-25 }} Press Release. July 19, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved July 21, 2007.</ref>
* Fmr. Delaware Republican Party Executive Director Garrett Wozniak<ref name=autogenerated4 />
* Fmr. New Hampshire First Lady ]<ref></ref>
* Fmr. South Carolina First Lady ]<ref name=app>{{cite news|title=Governor Romney Announces First Women's Leadership Team in South Carolina |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=96186 |work=] American Presidency Project |date=2007-03-08 |access-date=2014-07-13}}</ref>
* Republican District Chairman ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/ND_Director |title=Romney For President Announces North Dakota State Director<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117112222/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/ND_Director |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ] (R-ND), Tax Commissioner<ref name=autogenerated2 />
}}
{{Endorsements box
| title = Mayors and municipal officials, local officials endorsing Mitt Romney
| columns = 2
| list =
* Sheriff ] (R-AZ)<ref name="joe-arpaio"></ref>
* ] Sheriff ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Bezotte |title=Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte Joins Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115204436/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Bezotte |archive-date=2008-01-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ] Sheriff and 2006 Republican U.S. Senate nominee ] (R-MI)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070725193442/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/MI_Bouchard |date=2007-07-25 }} Press Release. July 23, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved July 23, 2007.</ref>
* Sheriff ] (R-MA)<ref name="ma leaders" />
* District Attorney Tim Cruz (R-MA)<ref name="ma leaders" />
* Sheriff James Cummings (R-MA)<ref name="ma leaders" />
* ] County Supervisor ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Firestone |title=Santa Barbara County Board Of Supervisors Chair Brooks Firestone Endorses Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117112400/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Firestone |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Sheriff ] (R-MA)<ref name="ma leaders" />
* ] Mayor ] (R-MI)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Kirksey |title=Livonia Mayor Jack Kirksey Joins Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115204441/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Kirksey |archive-date=2008-01-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ] Mayor ] (R-MA)
* Fmr. ] Mayor Ray Martinez<ref name=autogenerated6 />
* District Attorney Michael O'Keefe (R-MA)<ref name="ma leaders" />
* ] Mayor ] (R-FL)<ref name=Jacksonville> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919180302/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Peyton_Endorsement |date=2007-09-19 }} Press Release. September 12, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved September 13, 2007.</ref>
* ] Mayor ] (R-CO)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Rivera |title=Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera Endorses Governor Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124022405/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Rivera |archive-date=2008-01-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ] Sheriff ]<ref>; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210092542/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Vin_Weber_Announcement |date=2007-02-10 }} Press Release. November 13, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved November 13, 2007.</ref>
* ] Mayor Tom Shope (R-AZ)<ref name=Arizona> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822192016/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/AZ_Mayor_Endorsement |date=2007-08-22 }} Press Release. August 20, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved August 22, 2007.</ref>
* ] Art Sanders<ref name=Arizona/>
* District Attorney ] (R-MA)<ref name="ma leaders" />
* ], 2006 Republican Candidate for ] Governor * ], 2006 Republican Candidate for ] Governor
* ], 2002 Republican Candidate for ] Governor, Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party from 2003-2005. * ], 2002 Republican Candidate for ] Governor, Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party from 2003 to 2005.
* California Republican Assembly, California's oldest and largest Republican volunteer organization<ref>{{usurped|1=}} ''California Republican Assembly'' Retrieved November 16, 2007.</ref>
*Two of Massachusetts's five Republican state senators (Scott Brown, Robert Hedlund) as well as eighteen of the nineteen Republican Massachusetts state representatives<ref name="ma leaders"> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* ], Executive Director for Christian Coalition of Florida and former Florida State Representative for District 24<ref name="fla leaders">{{Cite web |url=http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/da9e687e-b5ed-4933-98bd-069a5bb36f0a |title=Townhall.com::Blog<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080125081405/http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/da9e687e-b5ed-4933-98bd-069a5bb36f0a |archive-date=2008-01-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Also in Massachusetts, one of two Republican mayors (], ]), three of four Republican ]s (Frank Cousins, James Cummings, Tom Hodgson), and all three Republican ]s (Tim Cruz, Michael O'Keefe, Elizabeth Scheibel)<ref name="ma leaders"/>
* ], Executive Director of Florida Family Association<ref name="fla leaders"/>
* Missouri State Senator ]<ref name="mo legislators"> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* Carole Griffin, a social conservative lobbyist in Tallahassee who heads the Eagle Forum in Florida<ref name="fla leaders"/>
* Missouri State Representative Bryan Pratt<ref name="mo legislators"/>
* Anthony Verdugo, the president of Christian Family Coalition<ref name="fla leaders"/>
* Former Missouri State Representative Jack Jackson.
}}
* Arizona Sheriff ],<ref name="joe-arpaio"></ref>
{{Endorsements box
* ], ] Mayor Tom Shope<ref name=Arizona> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
| title = Miscellaneous public figures endorsing Mitt Romney
* ], ] Art Sanders<ref name=Arizona/>
| columns = 2
* Arizona State Senator Chuck Gray <ref name=Arizona/>
| list =
* Arizona State Representative Mark Anderson<ref name=Arizona/>
* ], Coach of the ] and fellow ]<ref>{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* Arizona State Representative Rich Crandall<ref name=Arizona/>
* ], Pundit and weblogger<ref></ref>
* Florida State Representative ]<ref name=Jacksonville/>
* Ohio State Senator Kevin Coughlin <ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * ], President of The Leadership Institute<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Blackwell |title=Morton Blackwell Endorses Governor Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127000507/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Blackwell |archive-date=2008-01-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ], Pro-Life attorney<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070402232235/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Bopp_Support |date=2007-04-02 }} Press Release. January 30, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved March 10, 2007.</ref>
* New Jersey State Senator Joe Kyrillos<ref name="New Jersey"/>
* Economist, Brian Reardon<ref>Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * Judge ], former Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court nominee.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219221405/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Bork |date=2007-12-19 }} Press Release. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' December 15, 2007. Retrieved December 16, 2007.</ref>
* ], Former ] of the United States and President of ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Buchanan |title=Bay Buchanan Joins Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117150523/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Buchanan |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Pro-life attorney James Bopp Jr.<ref> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref>
* Alberto R. Cardenas, international business consultant and GOP adviser<ref name="Latin American"> Press Release. ], ]. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved ], ].</ref> * ], international business consultant and GOP adviser<ref name="Latin American"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302201923/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Latin_American_Policy_Advisory |date=2007-03-02 }} Press Release. February 28, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved March 10, 2007.</ref>
* Former ] to the ] ]<ref name="Latin American"/> * ], Former ]<ref name="Latin American"/>
* ], daughter of Vice President ] and former State Department official<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Cheney |title=Liz Cheney Joins Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130004910/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Cheney |archive-date=2008-01-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ], Conservative columnist<ref></ref>
* ], noted pro-life leader and Founder and President of Catholics in the Public Square<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Elwell |title=Michigan Conservative Leader Marlene Elwell Endorses Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117045229/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Elwell |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ], Conservative broadcaster<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206090903/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/ICYMI_1.31 |date=2008-02-06 }} Press Release. January 31, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2008.</ref>
* ], Conservative broadcaster<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206222211/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/ICYMI_Ingraham_2.1 |date=2008-02-06 }} Press Release. February 1, 2008 ''Romney for President, Inc.''</ref>
* ], Chancellor and former President of ]<ref> ''The Washington Times'' October 16, 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2007.</ref>
* ] Chairman Of the ]<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206031352/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Keene |date=2007-12-06 }} ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. November 29, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2007.</ref>
* ], Conservative broadcaster and National Review Contributor<ref name=autogenerated5 />
* ], Conservative broadcaster<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130213930/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/index |date=2008-01-30 }} Press Release. February 1, 2008 ''Romney for President, Inc.''</ref>
* ], a noted business man and philanthropist<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Monaghan |title=Tom Monaghan Joins Romney For President<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118050408/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Monaghan |archive-date=2008-01-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ], Fmr. ] to the ]<ref name="Latin American"/>
* ], Businessman and former presidential candidate<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/94827/page/2 |title=Ross Perot Slams McCain {{!}} Newsweek Voices - Jonathan Alter {{!}} Newsweek.com<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=] |access-date=2008-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120111127/http://www.newsweek.com/id/94827/page/2 |archive-date=2008-01-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref></ref>
* ], author, radio host and Founder and President of the Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny (BOND)<ref></ref>
* Brian Reardon, Economist<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418212054/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Brian_Reardon |date=2007-04-18 }} Press Release. March 7, 2007. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Retrieved March 10, 2007.</ref>
* ], Former ambassador to ]<ref name="Latin American"/>
* ], Former ambassador to ]<ref name=Jacksonville/>
* ], actor {{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}
* ], chief council for ]<ref> '']'' Rachel Zoll. May 4, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007.</ref>
* Ambassador Jose S. Sorzano, former deputy representative at the ]<ref name="Latin American"/> * Ambassador Jose S. Sorzano, former deputy representative at the ]<ref name="Latin American"/>
* Former ambassador to ] V. Manuel Rocha<ref name="Latin American"/>
* Former ambassador to ] ] <ref name=Jacksonville/>
* Former Assistant Secretary Of State for International Narcotics And Law Enforcement Affairs Robert Charles<ref name="Latin American"/>
* ], chief council for ]<ref> '']'' ]. ], ] Retrieved ], ]</ref>
* ] founder of the ] and the ], and Chairman and CEO of the ] <ref> Press Release. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' November 05, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2007</ref>
* Dr. John Willke, former president of the ], and current President of Life Issues Institute, Inc., and International Right to Life Federation. <ref> Press Release. ], ] Retrieved ], ]</ref>
* ] Chairman Of the ] <ref> ''Romney for President, Inc.'' Press Release. ], ] Retrieved ], ]</ref>
* ], CEO of ].<ref> Press Release. ], ] Retrieved ], ]</ref>
* ], actor {{Fact|date=July 2007}}
* ], Chancellor and former President of ] <ref> ''The Washington Times'' October 16, 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2007</ref>
* Robert R. Taylor, dean of ] college of arts and sciences * Robert R. Taylor, dean of ] college of arts and sciences
* ], co-founder of ] and the ], and chairman and CEO of the ]<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107203950/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Weyrich |date=2007-11-07 }} Press Release. ''Romney for President, Inc.'' November 05, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2007.</ref>
* ], California’s oldest and largest Republican volunteer organization <ref> ''California Republican Assembly'' Retrieved November 16, 2007</ref>
* ], CEO of ].<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502220427/https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Finance_Team_CA_Announce |date=2007-05-02 }} Press Release. March 15, 2007. Retrieved May 4, 2007.</ref>

* Dr. ], former president of the ], and current President of Life Issues Institute, Inc., and International Right to Life Federation.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227112415/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Willke |date=2007-12-27 }} Press Release. October 20, 2007. Retrieved October 22, 2007.</ref>
<!-- = = = don't edit next three lines for Navbox below = = = -->
* Bruce Wilson, Conservative author and blogger<ref></ref>
|-
* Dr. ], Former Chairman Of The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association<ref></ref>
| style="text-align:center;" |''</span>''
|} }}
{{Endorsements box
<!-- = = = don't edit the above three lines = = = -->
| title = Newspapers endorsing Mitt Romney

| columns = 2
== References ==
| list =
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref> and </ref> tags and the <references/> tag below -->
* ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19152755&BRD=2703&PAG=461&dept_id=555106&rfi=6 |title=SW Iowa News - Sunday's Our View: Nonpareil endorses Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919112035/http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19152755&BRD=2703&PAG=461&dept_id=555106&rfi=6 |archive-date=2008-09-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (IA)
{{reflist|2}}
* ]<ref></ref> (IA)
* ]<ref>http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/12/23/news_opinion/editorial/93535d48867cbc68862573b9006595e3.txt
''Sioux City Journal''. December 24, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.</ref> (IA)
* ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mlive.com/elections/michigan/index.ssf/2008/01/press_editorial_board_endorses.html |title=MLive.com: We've Moved!<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114025650/http://www.mlive.com/elections/michigan/index.ssf/2008/01/press_editorial_board_endorses.html |archive-date=2008-01-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (MI)
* ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/011108/opi_20080111161.shtml |title=The Oakland Press: Opinions<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118085631/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/011108/opi_20080111161.shtml |archive-date=2008-01-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (MI)
* ]<ref></ref> (NV)
* ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080117%2FNEWS18%2F80117043%2F1232%2FNEWS19 |title=RGJ.com: Endorsement: Romney is GOP’s best candidate<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2018-09-20 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080203102905/http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080117/NEWS18/80117043/1232/NEWS19 |archive-date=2008-02-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (NV)
* ]<ref></ref> (NV)
* ]<ref name="127 newspapers">{{Cite web |url=http://mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/ICYMI_1.27 |title=In Case You Missed It: Newspapers From Across The Nation Endorse Governor Mitt Romney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130081405/http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/ICYMI_1.27 |archive-date=2008-01-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (GA)
* ]<ref name="127 newspapers"/> (CT)
* ]<ref name="127 newspapers"/> (UT)
* ]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_8133751 | work=Denver Post | title=GOP nominee: Romney would be a better executive | date=February 1, 2008}}</ref>
* ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_8151434 |title=Press-Telegram - A complete list of the P-T's Election endorsements<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208191009/http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_8151434 |archive-date=2008-02-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (CA)
}}


== See also == ==See also==
*]
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==References==
== External links ==
{{Reflist|2}}


==External links==
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* Official website: * Official website:
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* Vote 2008: - Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer * Vote 2008: - Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
* Polls: * Polls:
* Campaign bio piece in GQ Magazine: by Robert Draper
* {{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Candidates_and_Campaigns/Presidential/2008/Candidates/Romney,_Mitt/}}
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Latest revision as of 04:24, 21 December 2024

US presidential campaign
Mitt Romney for President 2008
[REDACTED]
Campaign2008 United States presidential election
CandidateMitt Romney
70th Governor of Massachusetts
(2003–2007)
AffiliationRepublican Party
StatusAnnounced February 13, 2007
Withdrew February 7, 2008
HeadquartersBoston, Massachusetts
Key peopleBeth Myers (Manager)
Carl Forti (Political Director)
Matt Rhoades (Communications Director)
Alex Castellanos (Senior Advisor)
ReceiptsUS$88.5 (2007-12-31)
SloganTrue Strength for America's Future
Website
www.mittromney.com
(archived - January 15, 2008)
This article is part of
a series aboutMitt Romney

Personal
Governor of Massachusetts
Presidential campaigns
U.S. Senator from Utah
Mitt Romney's signature

The Mitt Romney presidential campaign of 2008 began on January 3, 2007, two days before Mitt Romney left office as governor of Massachusetts, when he filed to form an exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission to run for President of the United States as a Republican in the 2008 election. Subsequently, on February 13, 2007, he formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. He did so at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, as an emblem of American ingenuity.

Romney was considered a top-tier candidate in his bid for the Republican nomination, despite hurdles such as low name recognition and questions about his Mormon faith. Romney partly financed his campaign with his own personal fortune, having contributed over $35 million of the $90 million raised by his campaign. Despite that, he also raised more money than any other Republican primary candidate.

In a nationwide poll conducted on January 2, 2008, Romney placed first among Republican voters nationally. However, he came in second in the Iowa caucuses to Mike Huckabee. Romney followed up with his first win of the campaign season in the Wyoming caucus, although it received little media attention. He then lost the New Hampshire primary to John McCain, but won the Nevada caucuses with 51 percent of the vote, with Ron Paul in second place and John McCain third, and won the Michigan primary by 9 percentage points, leaving the nomination result up in the air. He then finished fourth in the South Carolina primary and finished second to McCain in the hotly contested Florida primary, a result which gave McCain the lead in delegates and the status of "frontrunner" heading in to Super Tuesday.

On February 7, 2008, two days after McCain posted strong gains in the Super Tuesday primaries, Romney announced the end of his campaign. A week later he endorsed McCain.

Before the announcement

Romney spent a considerable amount of time giving political speeches in key primary battleground states. Romney traveled the country during the 2006 election cycle to campaign for gubernatorial candidates as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, spending over 200 days outside Massachusetts. While he did not run for reelection as governor, in 2004 Romney set up a federal political action committee (PAC) called the Commonwealth PAC, which raised $2.71 million during the 2006 election cycle.

While testing the waters for his campaign in 2005 and 2006, then Governor Romney was accompanied by Massachusetts state troopers on his cross-country trips. The cost of the Governor's security detail for out-of-state trips increased from $63,874 in fiscal year 2005 to a cost of $103,365 in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2006. Romney's use of state troopers for security during his campaign trips was criticized by former Governor Michael Dukakis, who never traveled with state troopers during his 1988 presidential run, and Mary Boyle of Common Cause who complained that "he people of Massachusetts are essentially funding his presidential campaign, whether they like it or not." A Romney spokesman noted that Romney did not accept a salary while he was Governor and that he paid for his personal and political travel, while the superintendent of the State Police pointed out that the Governor never requested the security and that the security detail followed the Governor on all trips in the post 9/11 world.

On January 3, 2007, his next-to-last day in office as governor of Massachusetts, Romney filed to form a presidential exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission. Via the campaign committee press release announcing the establishment of the exploratory committee, Romney made it clear that it is a mere formality to announce a run for president, and that an announcement merely entails changing the name of the existing reporting entity, from "Romney for President Exploratory Committee, Inc." to "Romney for President Committee, Inc." and that money raised by the exploratory committee is the same account and entity as the money raised after any announcement, and of no consequence to the Federal Elections Commission.

Announcement

On February 13, 2007, Romney formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. Romney made his announcement at The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village of Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan.

In his speech, Romney frequently invoked his father, former Michigan Governor George W. Romney (whose own presidential campaign had come undone forty years earlier), and the stage included a Nash Rambler, the car his father had made famous as an automobile executive. Romney stressed the variety of his own experiences that brought him to this point:

Throughout my life, I have pursued innovation and transformation. It's taught me the vital lessons that come only from experience, from failures and from successes, from the private, public and voluntary sectors, from small and large enterprise, from leading a state, from actually being in the arena, not just talking about it.

Overall, Romney struck an optimistic tone for his candidacy and for the future of the country. His wife Ann Romney also spoke at the announcement event.

Campaign developments 2007

Romney on March 3, 2007, won the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Straw Poll. He received 21% of the vote. Rudy Giuliani received 17%, Senator Sam Brownback received 15%, and Senator John McCain received 12%. 1,705 attendees voted.

Romney held numerous "Ask Mitt Anything" sessions in his 2008 campaign. The first "Ask Mitt Anything" session was held on April 3, 2007, in Derry, New Hampshire, and his second the following day in Urbandale, Iowa. The sessions were open forums that allow opportunities for locals to ask Romney questions pertaining to his views and policies. One of the first "Ask Mitt Anything" events in New Hampshire was held at Saint Anselm College as seen in the adjacent image. Sessions were held in almost every state Romney visited, including locations such as town halls, restaurants, universities, hotels, and music halls. In preparation for the Ames Straw Poll, Romney held a three-day, 14-city "Ask Mitt Anything" Iowa tour leading up to the poll.

In June 2007, a section of a four-part series on Romney from the Boston Globe documented how during a family vacation taken in 1983, Romney strapped a kennel with his dog Seamus to the roof of his station wagon for the 12-hour trip from Massachusetts to Ontario. Presented in the articles as an example of Romney's ability to deal with trying circumstances, the incident received nationwide media attention when journalists and animal activists criticized Romney's strapping of the dog to the roof for a 12-hour summer trip. Romney said that the dog had a windshield and he "jumped right in" and loved the ride.

On July 4, 2007, the Romney campaign officially launched the "Mitt Mobile, A Five Brothers Bus", referring to Romney's five sons and his official campaign blog, Five Brothers. When asked why his sons were not fighting in Iraq, Romney replied that his sons were supporting America by riding from town to town in the "Five Brothers Bus," saying "One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected." Romney later apologized and said he misspoke and that there is no comparison to the sacrifice that military persons make. The RV, a Winnebago made in Iowa, had a large map of Iowa on the back and a Romney family portrait on the side with the label "Mitt Mobile", "A Five Brothers Bus". The Mitt Mobile was planned to visit all of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. Each county was checked off on the large map on the back of the RV once it was visited. On August 11, 2007, the Mitt Mobile visited Iowa's ninety-ninth county at the Ames Straw Poll. The Mitt Mobile is planned to also tour Florida, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and other key primary states. The Mitt Mobile has been a large success in attracting attention, and was even featured on Fox News' On the Record with Greta Van Susteren. Susteren interviewed Matt, Josh, and Craig Romney and toured and drove the Mitt Mobile.

Mitt Romney surrounded by supporters during the September 2007 Milford Labor Day parade in Milford, New Hampshire.

On August 11, 2007, Romney won the Ames Straw Poll. He received 31.5% of the vote at the Straw Poll. Mike Huckabee came in second and received 18%, a larger margin than that of George W. Bush and Steve Forbes in the 2000 election, which had a margin of 10%. However, by December 7, 2007, Romney had slipped behind Mike Huckabee in polls conducted nationally as well as in Iowa.

In his "Faith in America" address, Romney claimed "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King." In a December 16, 2007, interview with Tim Russert, Romney repeated his claim that his "dad marched with Martin Luther King." An article published by The Phoenix on December 19, 2007, argues that while David S. Broder "references a 1967 book he co-authored on the Republican Party, which included a chapter on George Romney a one-line statement that the senior Romney 'has marched with Martin Luther King through the exclusive Grosse Pointe suburb of Detroit'," historical sources found by The Phoenix found no references to George Romney having marched with Martin Luther King and that it was unlikely that a governor and former presidential candidate would go unnoticed. The Phoenix also discovered that Dr. King did not visit Grosse Pointe until after Broder's book was published. The Detroit Free Press reported on December 20, 2007, that the Romney campaign later asserted that when Romney made these two statements to a national audience about his father marching with King that he was "speaking figuratively, not literally." Subsequently, The Politico reported that at least two witnesses did remember George Romney and King marching together. and the Romney campaign put out a string of citations affirming them appearing together and George Romney's commitment to civil rights in general. In November 2007, the New York Times reported that Romney had participated with his father in civil rights marches.

Advertisements

Romney was the first candidate in the 2008 election to begin airing TV and radio advertisements, beginning in February 2007. His advertisements, most of which focus primarily on Romney's conservative credentials, have aired mainly in Iowa and New Hampshire, which experts credit with helping his early lead in those and other early primary states. Romney's campaign advisors explained that their early advertisement push was to make up for Romney being relatively unknown compared to contenders Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Fred Thompson. On September 4, 2007, Romney was estimated to have spent $2 million in advertisements in Iowa and New Hampshire.

In mid-August 2007, Romney began broadcasting advertisements in Iowa and New Hampshire that criticized what he called the sanctuary city policies of several cities. "Immigration laws don't work if they're ignored. That's the problem with cities like Newark, San Francisco and New York City that adopt amnesty policies." He went on to say, "Sanctuary cities become magnets that encourage illegal immigration and undermine secure borders." The New York Daily News termed the ad a "thinly veiled attack on GOP presidential rival Rudy Giuliani who is competing for conservatives who want a crackdown on illegal immigration."

Romney, on September 5, 2007, began advertising in South Carolina, the early primary state where he was doing the poorest. During the second week of September, he expanded his advertising to Florida, showing the "Energy" ad which he debuted in Iowa and New Hampshire and also began showing in South Carolina. The ad features Romney jogging and highlights his career as governor of Massachusetts, running the Salt Lake Olympics, and the private sector.

In late January 2008, the Romney campaign aired advertisements that cited McCain's calling Massachusetts Democratic Senator John Kerry "a very close friend of mine. We've been friends for years. Obviously, I would entertain it ."

Campaign staff and advisors

On June 22, 2007, news organizations reported that one of Romney's top campaign aides was being investigated for having possibly impersonated a state trooper in Massachusetts. Jay Garrity, director of campaign operations for Romney, was named in the investigation by state police. Garrity had been investigated three years earlier for possessing police equipment and lights, while he was an aide to Governor Romney. The Associated Press also reported that the New Hampshire attorney general was opening an investigation into Garrity possibly pulling over a New York Times reporter in that state and saying that he had run the reporter's license plate. The Romney campaign denied the incident. Garrity was ultimately exonerated in both investigations: Prosecutors in Massachusetts found "no evidence" to connect Garrity with the still unknown individual who impersonated a state trooper; and the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office issued a release stating that "the investigation into Garrity reveals that no crime was committed with respect to Garrity's encounter"

Caucus and primary results 2008

Main article: Results of the 2008 Republican presidential primaries

In the January 3 Iowa caucus, the first contest of the primary elections, Romney received 25% of the vote and placed second to Mike Huckabee, who received 34%. The result was seen as disappointing as Romney spent about five times more than the former Arkansas governor in Iowa and had banked on wins in both Iowa and New Hampshire to propel him to an overall victory. Twelve of Iowa's delegates were awarded to Romney for his second-place finish.

Two days later, Romney won the Wyoming caucuses with 67% of the vote and the first delegate to the Republican National Convention by receiving eight of the twelve delegates for the state.

Three days after the Wyoming caucus, Romney placed second, gathering 32% of the vote to John McCain's 37%, in the New Hampshire primary and received four of New Hampshire's twelve delegates. On the day of the New Hampshire primary, Romney had reached a new high in support according to one daily tracking poll.

Romney at a rally on January 12, 2008

On January 15, Romney won the Michigan primary taking 39% and 24 delegates. He collected over 325,000 votes, more than any candidate in any primary up until that point. Romney gained another win in the Nevada caucus on January 19 with 51% of the vote, but came in fourth in South Carolina primary with 15% of the vote.

On January 29, Romney came in second to John McCain in the Florida primary. McCain gained 36% of the vote to Romney's 31%. The race was contentious, with each candidate labeling the other a "liberal". After Florida, McCain was the clear frontrunner for the nomination, and had the most delegates to the national convention heading in to the possibly-decisive February 5 Super Tuesday contests. 21 states would hold Republican primaries that day.

On February 2, Romney won the Maine Republican Caucus with 52% of the votes.

On February 4, Mike Huckabee one of Romney's rivals in the primary accused Romney of voter suppression, saying that Romney and his political surrogates should stop telling voters "a vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain", Romney's other chief rival. Huckabee also said Romney was being "presumptuous and arrogant" thinking his supporters would vote for Romney if Huckabee left the race.

On February 5, Super Tuesday, Romney won in the Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Utah caucuses and primaries. Mike Huckabee won West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. However, John McCain strengthened his lead by winning Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Oklahoma.

Romney won 11 state primaries and caucuses, 4.7 million votes and 291 delegates.

Presidential bid suspension and withdrawal

On February 7, 2008, two days after the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses, Romney announced that he was suspending his presidential campaign. He argued that a protracted battle between him and his GOP rivals would weaken the party, that he needed to "…stand aside, for our party and our country", and that "…in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror."

On February 14, 2008, Romney endorsed McCain as his choice for the GOP's presidential nominee, and urged his supporters to do likewise

Delegate counts

2008 Republican presidential primaries delegate count
As of June 10, 2008
Candidates Actual
pledged delegates
(1,780 of 1,917)
Estimated total delegates
(2,159 of 2,380;
1,191 needed to win)
John McCain 1,378 1,575
Mike Huckabee 240 278
Mitt Romney 148 271
Ron Paul 14 35
Color key: 1st place Candidate has
withdrawn
Sources:
"Primary Season Election Results". The New York Times. September 16, 2008. Archived from the original on September 16, 2008.
"Election Center 2008 - Republican Delegate Scorecard". CNN. June 4, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2013.

Fundraising

Mitt and Ann Romney on December 22, 2007, at a campaign event in Londonderry, New Hampshire

On January 8, 2007, Romney held his first fundraiser for his presidential campaign committee, bringing in $6.5 million, exceeding the amounts raised by other Republican Party contenders for the nomination; John McCain and Rudy Giuliani were reported to have raised $2 million and $1 million respectively. In Romney's 2002 run in the Massachusetts election, he contributed 65% of $9,456,557 raised for the Governor's race.

First quarter results

On April 2, 2007, Romney's campaign released first quarter 2007 fundraising information. Romney led the Republican field by raising over $23 million, which was less than Democratic contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, who reported raising $26 million and $25 million, respectively, in the same period. Romney also reported a $2.35 million personal contribution to his campaign committee. Romney, a former venture capitalist with significant personal wealth (at least $250 million) and assets, had previously dismissed the notion of substantially self-funding his campaign but justified the expenditure in the interest of "seeding" interest in his candidacy. Romney raised the most money from Wall Street of all presidential candidates during the first quarter, with $1.9 million raised.

Meg Whitman, CEO of eBay, signed on as a financial co-chairwoman of his presidential campaign. She is a former co-worker of Romney's at Bain Capital.

Second quarter results

On June 25, 2007, five days before the end of the second quarter of fundraising on June 30, Romney announced that he was again lending his campaign a significant amount of money. He declined to say how much the second contribution would be, but that it was needed in order to run more advertising in battleground states. He said, "It would be nice not to have to loan or contribute to your own campaign... If other people are making sacrifices, I sure have to as well. It's not a dream come true. In some respects, it's kind of a nightmare to write checks from your own bank account." Romney asserted that his campaign had already spent $3 million on television advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire since February 2007.

When fundraising results from the second quarter were released, Romney had lent a total of $8.9 million to his campaign from his personal funds. From April to June, he spent $20.7 million, more than any other Republican candidate.

2008 presidential campaign finance summary

As of September 30, 2007, Romney has raised $62,829,069 for his campaign for presidency. Private donors have given $44,485,017 toward his campaign, PACs have given $298,700, and no money has come from other sources. Romney himself has given $17,413,736 to his campaign. 62% of PAC contributions came from business groups, and the final 38% from ideological organizations. So far 18.4% of his finances have been disclosed, while 81.6% has not. Romney has $9,216,517 on hand, has spent $62,829,069, and has a total of $17,350,000 in debts.

Political positions

Main article: Political positions of Mitt Romney

Religion

See also: Public image of Mitt Romney § Religion

Romney is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Though Romney did not win the nomination in 2008, Romney became the first Mormon on a major party's presidential ticket when he won the nomination in 2012. In pursuing the Republican Party presidential nomination, he was following in the footsteps of his father, George W. Romney, who ran for the White House in 1968 and lost; fellow Latter-day Saint Orrin Hatch of Utah, who ran in 2000 and lost; and Joseph Smith, who ran in 1844 but was killed by a mob. In contrast to Hatch's 2000 attempt or Smith's 1844 attempt, Romney was felt to be a major contender and so the effect his religion would have on the election came under serious consideration by pundits. As of September 2007, 75% of the American electorate professed that Mormonism in a candidate would not affect their vote.

Romney may have been challenged by voters with the concern that a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would take commandments from the president of the church who is regarded as a contemporary prophet. In an interview aired on Fox News Romney said, "America has a political religion, which is to place the oath of office, an oath to abide by a nation of laws and the Constitution, above all others. And there's no question that I make that my primary responsibility." Mike Otterson, an LDS spokesman, said, "The suggestion that a Mormon leader would dictate policy to a President Romney is absurd. I can't imagine any president that would allow that." During the 1960 presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy, similar allegations were made that a Roman Catholic would take orders from the Pope. In 2006, the Boston Globe reported that Mitt Romney's son, Josh Romney, and a member of Romney's political action committee in his Salt Lake City office September 19, 2007, did meet with Jeffrey R. Holland, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to discuss Romney's campaign. According to the Church, the meeting was a courtesy call and that Jeffrey R. Holland reminded the Romneys of the Church's longstanding policy of political neutrality.

Romney speaking in October 2007 before the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C.

Romney's campaign speeches sometimes contained a standard response to the religion issue as a whole: "I believe in God. I believe in the family. I believe in America's future. It has a great role to preserve the peace on the planet. So the kinds of values I have are very much in line with those of the American people. My guess is as they get to know me better, there will be other faults that they find more troubling."

In October 2006, Romney asked to meet with a group of influential Christian leaders, including Jerry Falwell, Franklin Graham, Gary Bauer, and Paula White to discuss his presidential candidacy. About a dozen accepted and traveled at their own expense to Boston, gathering at Romney's home in Belmont, Mass. A prominent Evangelical leader, Dr. James Dobson, has not ruled out supporting him, while at the same time, Dobson has ruled out supporting Fred Thompson, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.

Romney gave a speech entitled "Faith in America," Thursday, December 6, at the George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Library in Texas, with the former president providing introductory remarks. The speech, which was widely regarded as referencing that of then-Senator John F. Kennedy's September 1960 pledge not to allow Catholic doctrine to inform policy, discussed the role of religion in American society and politics; Romney said he would not allow any authorities from any religion, including his own, to influence presidential decisions. He avoided speaking about specific Latter-day Saint doctrines, as he stated that by forcing him to become the spokesperson for his faith, it would be enabling "the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution." Instead, he addressed religion in general, saying "Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom.".

In December 2007, rival candidate, Mike Huckabee, when asked by the New York Times if he personally considered the LDS faith a cult or a religion, Huckabee said he believed it was a religion despite his lack of knowledge, but then followed up by asking, "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?"

Thereafter on December 12, upon the conclusion of a Republican debate in Iowa, Huckabee personally apologized to Romney. The next morning on MSNBC Huckabee said, "It was never my intention to denigrate his faith... I raised it not to create a story. I thought we were having a simple, casual conversation... I don't think his Mormon faith should have anything to do with him being elected."

But then Mr. Huckabee accused Mr. Romney of running a negative campaign. "We run a positive campaign, more so frankly than Mitt, who's running ads against me and dropping fliers in Iowa," he said.

An opinion piece in the December 14 New York Times quotes Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, describing such apologies as "nonapology apologies.... They're proving they're not sincere by continuing to raise the subjects. Once you apologize, you should avoid the subject like the plague... It's no accident they continue to bring these things up... There is a strong prejudice among many fundamentalist Christians against Mormonism."

In January 2008, fellow presidential candidate Ron Paul expressed concerns that Romney's religion might be affecting how the other candidates treat him. "One thing I'm a little bit afraid of is that they might be doing that for religious reasons, and I don't like that."

According to political scientist and commentator Larry Sabato, "One reason Romney pulled out of South Carolina was that he could not overcome the palpable prejudice that evangelical Christians have about his religion, and South Carolina's view is shared throughout much of the South and elsewhere. Partly as a consequence, Romney shows up in national polls as the weakest of the major Republican candidates...."

Speeches

Media Matters pointed out that in an April 10, 2007, speech, Romney criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her "partisan" trip to Syria, but he did not mention that a Republican was a member of her delegation, or that a separate Republican-led delegation had met with the Syrian President three days before Pelosi did.

On May 5, 2007, in a graduation speech at Regent University, a conservative Christian institution founded by evangelist Pat Robertson, Romney extolled marriage and the family and criticized those who choose to remain single because they enjoy "the single life." He added, "It seems that Europe leads Americans in this way of thinking. In France, for instance, I'm told that marriage is now frequently contracted in seven-year terms where either party may move on when their term is up. How shallow and how different from the Europe of the past."

Debates

Romney participated in the first 2008 Republican Presidential Candidates Debate on May 3, 2007, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library along with the other Republican presidential contenders. The debate was sponsored by MSNBC, politico.com, the Reagan Presidential Library, and Nancy Reagan.

Romney also participated in the second 2008 Republican Candidates Debate on May 15, 2007, at the University of South Carolina. When Brit Hume asked about the use of "Enhanced interrogation techniques" including waterboarding on captured terrorists, Romney replied that the real key is prevention through counterintelligence, adding that "we ought to double Guantanamo." His full quote is:

Now you said the person was going to be on Guantanamo. I'm glad they're on Guantanamo. I don't want them on our soil. I want them on Guantanamo, where they don't get the access to lawyers that they get when they're on our soil. I don't want them in our prisons. I want them there. Some people have said we ought to close Guantanamo. My view is we ought to double Guantanamo. We ought to make sure that the terrorists... and there's no question but that in a setting like that where you have the ticking bomb, that the President of the United States - not the CIA interrogator - the President of the United States has to make the call. And Enhanced Interrogation Techniques have to be used - not torture, but enhanced interrogation techniques. Yes.

During the debate Romney also said, "There is a global jihadist effort. And they've come together as Shia and Sunni and Hezbollah and Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda with that intent."

New Hampshire debate – Saint Anselm College

In the June 5th debate held at the Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College near Manchester, New Hampshire, Romney responded to a question that asked if within hindsight, should Iraq have been invaded. CNN contributor Paul Begala criticized this remark and called it " huge mistake, a gaffe that -- that's, if this were a general election debate, would be a disqualifier," pointing out that inspectors had been allowed into Iraq.

YouTube debate

After the Democratic CNN/YouTube debate in July 2007, Romney said that he was not inclined to participate in the Republican YouTube debate scheduled for September 2007. (There were some unusual questions, including a question on global warming posed by an animated snowman.)

However, Romney soon changed his stance, and he did participate in the debate, held in Durham, New Hampshire, on September 5, 2007. This debate was cosponsored by Fox News rather than CNN and was somewhat more conventional than the earlier debate on CNN.

Endorsements

See also: Newspaper endorsements in the United States presidential primaries, 2008

As of November 5, 2007, The Hill's running tally of endorsements from members of Congress showed Romney leading McCain 38 to 28 for the lead among Republican candidates. Conservatives in the Republican coalesced around Romney after the January 29 Florida primary. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum endorsed Romney on the talk radio show of Laura Ingraham. The talk radio community, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, William Bennett, Mark Levin, Dennis Prager, Glenn Beck, Hugh Hewitt and Laura Ingraham endorsed Romney, in an anti-McCain move. In spite of their efforts, Romney was out of the race and McCain became the presumptive nominee less than two weeks after Florida. (See also Congressional endorsements for the 2008 United States presidential election.)

Incumbent and former United States Senators and Congressmen endorsing Mitt Romney State legislators, former state legislators, Governors, former Governors, and state officials endorsing Mitt Romney Mayors and municipal officials, local officials endorsing Mitt Romney Miscellaneous public figures endorsing Mitt Romney Newspapers endorsing Mitt Romney

See also

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