Mitt Romney
A candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 Idaho General Election
Party: Republican
Age: 77
City: Boston, MA
Occupation: Venture capitalist; former Massachussetts governor
After a protracted primary battle, Romney won enough delegates to secure the nomination with a May 29 primary victory in Texas. Romney is the son of George Romney, an auto executive who became Michigan’s governor and made an unsuccessful White House run in 1968. The younger Romney says he is committed to seeing someone in the 2012 race “who understands the economy.” Romney has worked in the private sector for much of his career.
He served a single term as governor of Massachusetts, during which he worked with a Democratic legislature. He passed a statewide health insurance overhaul that President Barack Obama has called a model for his own national health care plan.
He has proven to be a fundraising powerhouse who survived a strong initial challenge from Rick Perry, then a surging Newt Gingrich, then a persistent Rick Santorum, only to watch his rivals flame out while he steadily won state contests.
Romney has already made one run for the White House, losing the 2008 GOP nomination to Sen. John McCain.
He has changed his views on issues vital to many conservatives, including abortion rights, gay rights and embryonic stem-cell research. Conservatives following the presidential race have still not settled on Romney, expressing preferences for candidates they see as being farther to the right.
He has been married for more than 40 years and has has five sons and 16 grandchildren.
Contact information
Race Results
Idaho vote totals in the national election
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Mitt Romney (R) | 420,750 | 64.54% |
| Barack Obama (D) | 212,560 | 32.61% |
| Gary Johnson (L) | 9,448 | 1.45% |
| Jill Stein (G) | 4,400 | 0.67% |
| Rocky Anderson (J) | 2,495 | 0.38% |
| Virgil Goode (C) | 2,218 | 0.34% |
| James Harris (S) | 0 | 0% |
Related Coverage
Pro-Proposition 1, 2, 3 ad uses Romney anti-teachers union quote
BOISE – A new TV commercial in Idaho’s school reform fight makes it appear that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has weighed in on Idaho’s ballot propositions. The commercial uses a clip from a speech Romney gave in May about a recall election in Wisconsin, part of which was re-broadcast on C-SPAN in June when it interviewed a teachers union official. In the clip, Romney criticizes teachers unions and says they’ve “lost their way” and “protest the loudest” when “anyone dares to offer a new idea.”
Ad suggests Romney weighs in on Idaho measures
A new TV commercial in Idaho’s school reform fight makes it appear that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has weighed in on Idaho’s ballot propositions.
Abortion re-enters discussion after awkward remark
WASHINGTON – Just as Mitt Romney and other Republicans had cut into the Democrats’ advantage with female voters, a tea party-backed Senate candidate’s awkward remark – that if rape leads to pregnancy it’s “something God intended” – has propelled the emotional issue of abortion back to the political forefront. It’s put GOP candidates in tight races, from the presidential candidate on down, on the defensive. Divisive social issues are hardly what most GOP candidates want to be discussing in the few days remaining until elections largely hinging on jobs and the economy. Almost immediately after Richard Mourdock’s comment, Republican candidates distanced themselves from the Indiana state treasurer – though by varying degrees.