WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney says his heart said he was going to win the presidency, but when early results came in on election night, he knew it was not to be.
The GOP nominee tells "Fox News Sunday" that he knew his campaign was in trouble when exit polls suggested a close race in Florida. Romney thought he'd win the state solidly.
Obama ended up taking Florida and won the election by a wide margin in the electoral vote.
Romney says there was "a slow recognition" at that time that President Barack Obama would win — and the race soon was over when Obama carried Ohio.
Romney says the loss hit hard and was emotional. Ann Romney says she cried.
The former Massachusetts governor acknowledges mistakes in the campaign and flaws in his candidacy.
But he jokes that he did better in his second run for the White House than he did the first time around — when he lost the 2008 nomination to Arizona Sen. John McCain.
He says he won't get a third crack at it.
Romney says his campaign didn't do a good job connecting with minority voters, and that Republicans must do a better job in appealing to African-Americans and Hispanics.
But he knows that because he lost the race, it's hard to tell the GOP to listen now to what he has to say about how to improve the party's message.
The Romneys are living in Southern California now and he's kept a low profile since the election. He says "you move on" from the disappointment and that "I don't spend my life looking back."
Ann Romney says that after the election she was approached by TV's "Dancing with the Stars," but declined to join the cast.
She says she'll be turning 64 soon and "I'm not really as flexible as I should be."
The interview was taped Thursday and aired Sunday.
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Comments » 42
KR writes:
Too bad, he would have been a much better president than the socialist we now have! God bless Mr. Romney.
TheSmartMoney writes:
Can we have a revote?
SeeFuture writes:
And the clown finally leaves the circus...
Ruskin writes:
The election was bought in 2012 by giving away taxpayer dollars to those who could care less about earning their way out of poverty. And of course ACORN also did a fine job in 2008. On the bright side there's only 1345 days
32302 hours
1938135 minutes
116288106 seconds until Mr. Obama is gone. But who's counting.
jeffmlorig writes:
I'm counting. Really worries me what arrogant rich thief the republicans will send up next time. Who knows, they may pull an upset if they can convince the uneducated crowd that they are going to be part of the "Country Club" lifestyle and then the country will go backwards like it did during the early 2000's. Sure hope the Dems or Tea Party or an Independent wins.
kevinod77 writes:
If the Republican Party ever hopes to regain the White House, they have to move to a more moderate sociological stance. Gone are the days of hard line, right-wing ideals. We are a society of acceptance and tolerance. We are also becoming a more secular society. Like it or not this is the future. I am sure that as the Titanic sank, there were still people on board proclaiming that it was "unsinkable". Right now, the Republican Party is the Titanic of political parties. Characters like Pat Robertson and Pastor Rich Warren do not speak for the nation. They speak for a narrow-minded few. Yet, every Republican candidate cannot wait for the photo ops with these less than stellar individuals! We were founded as a secular nation that was concerned with the individual. Like it or not, we were NOT founded as a Christian nation. Anyone that tells you we were, is either ignorant of history or is lying; PERIOD!
Exposer writes:
If he could have only annexed the Cayman Islands to Florida, he might have been able to buy it.
Exposer writes:
Hillary Clinton needs to be aware and take the baton in this race against the establishment of a class society.
Chester writes:
Mitt Romney had no chance because the low information voter came out for the Dear Leader who promised them three hots and a cot. The Dear Leader is a complete failure who is the poorest "leader" I've ever seen. All this left wing guy does is make the same speeches, plays golf and campaigns. When something doesn't work out he blames someone else. A total fraud!
privateroad writes:
Al Gore is wealthier than Romney and so is Kerry, who is also being investigated for stock manipulate because of the recent illegal Heinz sale. Maybe you can annex an island for your self made out of left over pool toys and a trailer door from your house.
Chester writes:
There is nothing wrong with him having money in the Cayman's. After all, it is HIS money. The Dear Leader just appointed a guy that has money in the Caymans. So does Lerch (John Kerry). There is nothing illegal about it. Your just jealous because you're poor and live in a double wide,watch black and white tv all day, eating food you bought with your food stamps!
privateroad writes:
" What difference does it make",
anotherPOV writes:
We just had a re-vote, remember? Republitards got their arse handed to them, AGAIN!
Magic81 writes:
Hillary
Ruskin writes:
Billary and their trail of death and lies don't stand a chance.
Magic81 writes:
Just keep on whining--you will have plenty of time--and you can rev it up a little higher down the road.--I'll bet you that Obama does NOT get put in the category of WORST PRESIDENTS EVER as his predecessor did--voted by people who actually can understand these things.
Patton writes:
As long as the Republican party is dominated by ideologues they will not win the White House.
Patton writes:
I'll take that bet.
Magic81 writes:
That description fits him about as much as we might believe that YOU are actually among the class of people that have convinced LOW information citizens to support them. But I must concede--other than inheritance--it does take some brains to earn that amount--and I doubt that you have a rich uncle.
But isn't it great that they indexed the minimum amount for paying any inheritance tax at $500,000 --and added in the automatic index for inflation---but they would never do that for minimum wage. That would cost jobs and raise inflation---people inheriting money would HATE that.
Take the wool out from over your eyes
TheSmartMoney writes:
Really? I must of been working. Missed it.
unfatcat writes:
What worries me is that some people haven't ventured out for news beyond TV. Your account relating wealth as a Republican association is wrong. Wallstreet buys both parties, more to Obama (Democrats). Big corporations give to both parties. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi (Democrats) are worth tens of millions of dollars and are bought and paid for just like their counterparts. Unions fund Democrats only with millions of dollars. The big banks have received more bailout money via Obama term then Bush's and it still continues only with more power to banks. There are a handful of Dems and Reps. who represent the People. The rest work for corporations. The only place in the country that has seen their income go up, their housing values go up, their stocks go up, is Washington DC. Millionaires are plentiful.
Robertofnaples writes:
Nope, nope,not yet; He is to speak at CPAC.
Robertofnaples writes:
Odd how he neglecgted to mention the Female vote!!! That's really why Romney lost; he and a majority of old white guys, still think Women are subserviant to them!!! What was the "only" portion of America Romney actually took: "Old White Guys". Yep keep catering to a dying breed; and soon the G.O.P. will stand for Gone obselte party!!! Let's see 47%, legitimate rape,. forced vaginal probes, forcing Rape and incest survivors to carry full term as it's God's will,Self deportation, etc.. I honestly believe so much damage was done in this last election;it will take two Presidential cycles to come back into play. The G.O.P. and gerrymandering, is the only resason they kept the house. They even tried to make it harder for "real" American's to vote. That I dare say; is very UN-American!!!
Exposer writes:
Are you saying Warren Buffet was had or is a crook? Is that catsup on your nose?
Exposer writes:
He meant revolt not re-vote. You missed the point on his head.
Exposer writes:
What per cent is that? It won't be 47%, right?
Chester writes:
You don't understand your A,B,C's! Bush was lousy but Obumbles is the worse, dumbest, laziest, most unprepared person ever elected. And re-elected by the low information voter like you! Now go pick up your food stamps tomorrow!
Chester writes:
With obumbles we got 17 trillion in debt, he added over 6 trillion himself, obumbles care-a coming disaster, unemployment is 7.9%,it was 7.8 % when he entered office, gas is at 3.95 a gallon, it was 1.84 when he came in, still in Afghanistan and Guantamano, lost Eygpt to radicals, Iran closer to the bomb, more poeple in poverty, income lowest in 20 years. The Dear Leader is a disaster! Is this the best America can do? If so, we are in deep, deep Kimchi! But to the low information voter like you, things are great!
Exposer writes:
You need to do some "Seoul" searching for that kimchee.
pickleed writes:
Our president won because a majority of all Americans believed in his platform. Period - I know that some of you will never get over it but the election is over - move on - Our next President will be Hillary Clinton - If the Republican party continues on it s current path, there will not be another Republican President in my lifetime.
anicou writes:
I watched the interview with Mitt Romney and his wife and without a doubt this country would have been in a better shape financially and also in an united way if he would have been elected as our leader.
I don't care if people are republicans or democrats.
This is everyone loss.
anicou writes:
Yes and yes and yes...you are so right. Bush was dumb but Obama is the worst of the worst of all of them.
No doubt about it. He is a real clown.
Exposer writes:
That's only in your mind because he isn't playing in your "circus".
anicou writes:
When I voted for him the first time I was not well informed.
Obama's goal is to destroy this country. No question about it. You are one of them who is ill informed and being responsible for his irresponsible leadership.
beerbong writes:
BS
Klaatu writes:
For months preceding the election polls showed Romney was losing Florida.
Despite every desperate attempt at voter suppression,hours and hours of waiting in line to vote, all the gerrymandering the Republican party got their a s s e s handed to them and it will continue.
They just don't get it!
They are defeating themselves and it's so much fun watching them stumble and fall.
They keep portraying themselves as obstructionists and rightfully so, it's exactly what they've been doing. The country is tried of it.
They will pay the price in future elections.
Should Hillary 2016 choose to run, the GOP has got no one to run against her not even Chris Christy could defeat her.
Oh and Rick Scott he's toast.
Magic81 writes:
And what has the Speaker done for his part in leading "THE PARTY THAT LOST THE 2016 ELECTION".
People like to refer to the Reagan/Tip O'Neill relationship as it relates to bipartisanship and leadership. Does anyone actually think that Reagan went to O'Neill and saud I know we won the election, but tell us what YOU want so we can do the opposite of what the people elected him to do? Really??
That's what Boehner as leader of his party is expecting--when he states that "we are through with revenue"---meaning that he and his Party will NEVER support removing the TEMPORARY TAX CUT that Bush gave in 2001--meaning those making a HALF MILLION DOLLARS per year--or less.
If that is not a perfect example of unfair, irrational, unfair bargaining---even if his Party had WON---that I have ever heard of.
Is that what you call being out to destroy the country??? You are in a clear minority---continuing to define pure logic.
Check the economic statistic of the last 4 years--compare them to the previous 4--and state your case with facts about which President as dome MORE to "destroy America"
869 Days til the Democrats have control of both Houses in the Congress, and Boehner can write his book about failed leadership. He is an expert on the subject.
Exposer writes:
+3
volochine writes:
Mr. Romney was a bad man for President. No common sense. No feelings for other human beings. No concrete record. No personality. He got a $77,000 tax deduction for his wifes hobby horse.
While wealthy, he chose to pile 7 people into a full-size station wagon, and kennel the dog on the top of the car. Help the economy! Buy a conversion van! Your a car guy!
But when I saw the pictures of him doing his own laundry at a hotel, during the primary, I knew this guy was bad.
One of his sons said later, "My Dad is cheap".
He paid 14% on 22 million of income. And refused to release any tax returns like his father did voluntarily.
America dodged a bullet.
Patton writes:
You're lucky, your last name rhymes with your first Chester.
pmz writes:
Romney promised to faithfully serve the wealthiest half of the nation. And republicans were surprised that he got defeated. How bizarre is that.
tried_n_true writes:
buh-bye Mitt, good riddance to bad garbage. Vote the rest of the TeaThuglicans out in 2014, from Congress down to dog catcher. They do not have one workable policy, they are all bought and paid for by corporations and special interests and will use gerrymandering and anything thing else they can think of, because they cannot win an election fairly.
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