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
Obama energized in second debate
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — An aggressive President Barack Obama accused challenger Mitt Romney of favoring a “one-point plan” to help the rich in America and playing politics with the deadly terrorist attack in Libya in a Tuesday night debate crackling with energy and emotion just three weeks before the election.
Ryan, Biden interrupt one another
DANVILLE, Ky. — At odds early and often, Joe Biden and Republican Paul Ryan squabbled over the economy, taxes, Medicare and more Thursday night in a contentious, interruption-filled debate. “That is a bunch of malarkey,” the vice president retorted after a particularly tough Ryan attack on the administration’s foreign policy.
Romney, Obama come out swinging
DENVER – In a showdown at close quarters, an aggressive Mitt Romney sparred with President Barack Obama in their first campaign debate Wednesday night over taxes, deficits and strong steps needed to create jobs in a sputtering national economy. “The status quo is not going to cut it,” declared the Republican challenger. Democrat Obama in turn accused his rival of seeking to “double down” on economic policies that actually led to the devastating national downturn four years ago – and of evasiveness when it came to prescriptions for tax changes, health care, Wall Street regulation and more.