[231][232][233][234] Moreover, a number of commentators noted that with his square jaw and ample hair graying at the temples, he physically matched one of the common images of what a president should look like. [212] As chair of the Republican Governors Association, Romney traveled around the country, meeting prominent Republicans and building a national political network;[211] he spent more than 200 days out of state during 2006, preparing for his run. [393][394], As the Republican presidential nomination race went into the primaries season, Romney had not endorsed anyone but was one of the Republican establishment figures who were becoming increasingly concerned about the front-runner status of New York businessman Donald Trump. [166][181] Romney sought additional cuts in his last year as governor by vetoing nearly 250 items in the state budget; a heavily Democratic legislature overrode all the vetoes. Romney then announced that he would not support Trump in the general election, saying, "I am dismayed at where we are now, I wish we had better choices". [48][49], Mitt had missed much of the tumultuous anti-Vietnam War movement in America while away in France. [180] Upon entering office in the middle of a fiscal year, he faced an immediate $650 million shortfall and a projected $3 billion deficit for the next year.
Biographical parallels between George and Mitt Romney include: Both served as Mormon missionaries in Europe and considered the experiences formative. [426] The other 6.5% of the vote went to candidates from the Constitution, Libertarian, and Independent American parties. [19] As opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War grew, a group staged a May 1966 sit-in at Stanford's administration building to demonstrate against draft status tests; Romney joined a counter-protest against that group. Kenneth Bullock, another board member of the organizing committee and also head of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, often clashed with Romney at the time, and later said that Romney deserved some credit for the turnaround but not as much as he claimed. [169][171][172] Television ads highlighting the effort, as well as one portraying his family in gushing terms and showing him shirtless,[171] received a poor public response and were a factor in his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts State Treasurer Shannon O'Brien, leading in the polls as late as mid-October. ", "Cain and Gingrich Benefit from Perry Swoon", "Cain Suspends Presidential Campaign, Cites 'Hurt' Caused by 'False' Allegations", "Cain Surges, Nearly Ties Romney for Lead in GOP Preferences", "Romney rivals may go after him for flip-flops", "Mitt Romney's shifting views on climate change", "Mitt Romney on Newt Gingrich: He's the front-runner", "Poll: Newt Gingrich's lead over Romney is gone", "Romney defeats Santorum by 8 votes in Iowa", "The Semantics and Statistics of Santorum's Win in Iowa", "Romney secures front-runner status with New Hampshire win, looks to take momentum into South Carolina", "Romney, Gingrich tangle over ads in South Carolina", "Sarah Palin: Mitt Romney needs Bain show & tell", "Gingrich wins huge come-from-behind victory in South Carolina", "Mitt Romney will release tax returns Tuesday; rival Newt Gingrich calls himself most electable GOP candidate", "Florida Republican primary is 'Armageddon, "The Calculations That Led Romney to the Warpath", "Romney claims victory in Florida, builds new momentum", "Polls: All tied up between Romney and Santorum", "Mitt Romney was 'severely conservative', he tells CPAC", "Romney says media distort his views: insists positions moderate in US, except in Mass", "Romney builds delegate lead with Super Tuesday wins", "Romney sweeps 3 primary contests, eyes general election battle", "Santorum suspends campaign, clearing Romney's path", "RNC officially names Mitt Romney the party's 'presumptive nominee, "Negative Ads Hit at Identity to Shape Race for Presidency", "Romney Steadfast in the Face of Growing Calls to Release More Tax Returns", "Mitt Romney was hesitant to reveal himself", "Romney hails US-Polish ties during visit to Warsaw", "Mitt Romney's Olympics blunder stuns No 10 and hands gift to Obama", "It's Paul Ryan: Romney picks Wis. Rep. for No. [108][110] An unpaid position, his local church leadership often took 30 or more hours a week of his time,[109] and he became known for his considerable energy in the role. Active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) throughout his adult life, Romney served as bishop of his ward and later as a stake president, for an area covering Boston and many of its suburbs.