Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts formally announced Thursday that he is entering the Republican primaries to take on President Barack Obama in 2012.
Speaking in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary, Romney took the gloves off and attacked Obamas record on the economy.
A few years ago, Americans did something that was, actually, very much the sort of thing Americans like to do, said Romney. We gave someone new a chance to lead; someone we hadn't known for very long, who didn't have much of a record but promised to lead us to a better place.
At the time, we didn't know what sort of a president he would make. It was a moment of crisis for our economy, and when Barack Obama came to office, we wished him well and hoped for the best, added Romney. Now, in the third year of his four-year term, we have more than promises and slogans to go by. Barack Obama has failed America.
Romney ripped into Obama for expanding the size and scope of the federal government.
Government under President Obama has grown to consume almost 40 percent of our economy. We are only inches away from ceasing to be a free-market economy. I will cap federal spending at 20 percent or less of the GDP and finally, finally balance the budget, said Romney. My generation will pass the torch to the next generation, not a bill.
During his tenure in office, Romney signed off on the states health-care law, mandating fees and penalties to state residents who did not purchase health care. Critics have argued that the law Romney backed at the state level is very similar to the federal health-care law supported by Obama.
On Thursday, Romney tried to stress his conservative credentials and called for a repeal of the health care law.
I will insist that Washington learns to respect the Constitution, including the 10th Amendment, said Romney. We will return responsibility and authority to the states for dozens of government programs and that begins with a complete repeal of Obamacare.
The son of George Romney, who served as governor of Michigan during the 1960s and as U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Richard Nixon, Romney has been on the national stage for more than a decade and a half.
First seeking elected office in 1994 when he unsuccessfully looked to defeat U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Romney led the Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games in 2002 before being elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002.
Conservative critics have slammed Romney for holding liberal positions on social issues, including abortion and gay rights, when he sought office in Massachusetts, before switching his positions when he planned to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. He did not seek a second term as governor.
Romney stumbled out of the gate when he sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, losing in an upset to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Iowa caucus. Romney also placed second in New Hampshire to U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona who won the Granite State back in 2000. However, Romney did score a number of victories in Wyoming, Michigan, Maine, Nevada, Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and Utah before dropping out of the race to back McCain.
While Romney starts off the front-runner for the Republican nomination in terms of polling, there are a pack of candidates looking to knock him off. While she denied that she was trying to take the spotlight off Romney, former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska was also in the Granite State on Thursday as speculation continues to grow that she may be eyeing a presidential bid. She also appeared in Boston on Thursday, where she spoke to reporters and trashed the Massachusetts health-care law that Romney backed.
Democrats also fired away at Romney, unleashing a web video attacking Romney for his inconsistencies on issues over the years.
Other declared and possible candidates for the Republican nomination include U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, businessman Herman Cain, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, former Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico, activist Fred Karger, U.S. Rep. Peter King of New York, U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter of Michigan, former state Chief Justice Roy Moore of Alabama, former Gov. George Pataki of New York, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana, and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 727-0859 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
