Mitt Romney
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. After winning 11 primaries and caucuses, and a total of 291 delegates to the 2008 Republican Convention, he dropped out of the race after Super Tuesday, on February 7, 2008. One week later, he endorsed the presumptive Republican nominee, Arizona Senator John McCain. Romney was speculated to be McCain's choice for vice presidential candidate before the announcement of Sarah Palin on August 29, 2008.
Romney is scheduled to speak at the 2008 Republican National Convention on September 3, 2008.
Fast Facts
- Born March 12, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan
- Massachusetts Governor: 2003-2007
- Religion: Mormon
- Wife: Ann Romney
- Full name: Willard Mitt Romney
- Estimated net worth: $250-$500 million
- CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah
- Named for founder of Marriott Hotels, J. Willard Marriott
Romney's Parents
His father was former Michigan Governor and American Motors Corporation Chairman George Romney, and his mother, Lenore Romney, ran for the Senate in 1970.
Businessman
After graduating with a JD and MBA from Harvard University, Romney started work as a management consultent for Bain and Company, and eventually co-founded the spinoff investment firm, Bain Capital.
He left the company to take a job organizing the Salt Like City Olympic Games.
He ran unsuccessfully to represent Massachusetts in the Senate in 1994, but lost to long-time incumbent Edward Kennedy.
Governor
Romney won a 2002 election to become Massachusetts' Governor.
During his 2008 campaign, he faced criticism from Republicans for some of the stances he took as Governor of a more liberal state, such as mandating that every citizen have health insurance, supporting gun control measures, raising the tax burden and legalizing civil unions for gay couples.
Run for President
Romney declined to seek re-election in Massachusetts in order to make a run for President. He placed second in the early voting in both Iowa and New Hampshire. It's estimated that Romney invested about $35 million to his own campaign.
Much of the campaign centered around voter concerns about Romney's moderate voting history as Governor, and his sudden reversal now that he was running for President, which led to accusations of opportunism or insincerity.
His Mormon faith may have also been a factor, and Romney gave a major speech on faith during the campaign to quell such concerns.
Related Pages on Mahalo
Mitt Romney Convention Speech 2008 | Mitt Romney Biography | Mitt Romney On the Issues | Iraq War | Mitt Romney Foreign Policy | Romney Mormon | Mitt Romney on Abortion | Mitt Romney Education | Mitt Romney on Tax | Mitt Romney Campaign | Mitt Romney Scandals | Election 2008 | Rudy Giuliani | Fred Thompson | John McCain | Tom Tancredo | Gay Marriage | Universal Health Care | Massachusetts | Mormonism | Romney Religion Speech | Wayne Allard | Daniel Tavares | Romney Landscaper Controversy | Romney Endorsements | Book Of Mormon | Mitt Romney Dog Scandal | Candidates And Canines | Romney Christmas Card | New Hampshire Exit Polls | Big Think | Josh Romney | Mitt Romney VP
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