US Election: Mitt Romney Gives Dominant Performance in First Presidential Debate

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney won a clear victory over Barack Obama in the first televised US presidential debate on Wednesday night, delivering an unexpectedly accomplished performance to revive Republican hopes of reclaiming the White House.

In a 90-minute clash in Colorado seen by tens of millions of voters, the former Massachusetts governor aggressively attacked Mr Obama over the weak state of the American economy at the end of his first term, while making an unusually impassioned case for why he, instead, should be elected in November.

He accused Mr Obama of inflicting a “trickle-down government” of ever-growing control by Washington on the American people, turning Mr Obama's accusation that the Republican challenger favours “trickle-down economics” against him.

"The path that we’re on has just been unsuccessful,” said Mr Romney. He accused Mr Obama of proposing only “bigger government, spending more, taxing more and regulating more”, adding: “That’s not the right answer for America. I’ll restore the vitality that gets America working again”. » | Jon Swaine, Denver, Colorado | Thursday, October 04, 2012


MAIL ONLINE: 'This was a disaster for the President' » | Anthony Bond | Thursday, October 04, 2012

BBC: Obama comes out swinging at Romney after debate: US President Barack Obama has accused Mitt Romney of being dishonest, after a televised debate that most observers agreed his Republican rival won. » | Thursday, October 04, 2012

Barack Obama Is Facing His Jimmy Carter Moment
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As Mitt Romney closes the gap, it is 1980 all over again for the man in the Oval Office.

Until recently, Barack Obama’s re-election was regarded as inevitable – in the same way that summer follows spring, or a monsoon follows a hosepipe ban. The president’s poll lead over Mitt Romney was strong, while the Republican’s character was assassinated by a primary fight that permanently spoiled the reputation of his party. To court the GOP’s conservative base, Romney was forced to adopt positions on abortion, contraception, health care and welfare that are thought to be unpopular among moderate swing voters. Obama, by contrast, is the man who killed bin Laden and toppled Gaddafi. A choice between Obama the moderate statesman and Romney the craven conservative is surely no contest at all.

But in the last two weeks, things have changed. Obama’s re-election is no longer guaranteed; some pollsters think it is unlikely. Day by day, the odds are improving that Mitt Romney will be the next President of the United States.

What changed? For a start, voters are getting gloomier about the economy. Joblessness remains high and debt is out of control. According to one poll released this week, only 33 per cent of Americans expect the economy to improve in the coming months and only 43 per cent approve of the way that the president has handled it. Voters think Obama has made the debt situation and health care worse. The man who conducted the poll – Democrat Peter Hart – concluded that “Obama’s chances for re-election… are no better than 50-50.” » | Tim Stanley | Friday, May 25, 2012

Romney: Obama Has Hindered Peace in the Middle East 'Immeasurably'

THE GUARDIAN: Speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition Forum, Mitt Romney blasted the president's 'weak' handling of Israel

Mitt Romney, a leading Republican presidential contender, has called for regime change in Iran and said that the US should make clear to Tehran that it is "developing military options".

Romney made the call during a scathing attack on Barack Obama at a Republican Jewish Coalition forum of presidential candidates in which he accused the president of weak support for Israel, of appeasing America's enemies and of setting back peace in the Middle East with his fractious relationship with the Israeli leadership.

Before a hawkish, pro-Israel audience, Romney and another contender, Rick Santorum, dwelt at length on the threat posed by Iran's nuclear programme and what they characterised as Obama's weak response.

Romney called for "crippling sanctions" against Tehran and for Iran's diplomats and businessmen to be treated as pariahs.

"Ultimately regime change is necessary. We should make it very clear we are developing and have developed military options," he said.

Santorum said that on his first day in office as president he would ensure that the US and Israel are safe from Iran. But he didn't say how.

Romney launched a broad attack on Obama's foreign policy. » | Chris McGreal in Washington | Wednesday, December 07, 2011

US Election 2012: Jeb Bush Calls on Republicans to Back Mitt Romney

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney is within touching distance of securing the Republican presidential ticket after an emphatic 12-point victory in Illinois led to fresh calls from senior members of the party, including Jeb Bush, for his rivals to stand aside.

The front-runner was given a further boost yesterday by the endorsement of Jeb Bush, the brother of former President George W Bush.

"Now is the time for Republicans to unite behind Governor Romney and take our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all voters this fall," said Mr Bush, a former Florida governor who has himself been touted as a possible future Republican presidential candidate.

His intervention, after months of declining to make an endorsement, was taken as a signal that it was now time to coalesce behind Mr Romney and put an end to a bitterly divisive primary campaign that poll ratings show has damaged both the Republican party and the candidates.

Mr Romney now has 563 delegates, a lead of 300 over Mr Santorum in the race to achieve the "magic number" of 1,144 needed to clinch the nomination outright and face President Barack Obama in November.

"At some point the reality is going to set in that Mitt is the all but certain nominee," Mr Romney's chief spin doctor Eric Fehrnstrom told CNN, adding that no "deus ex machina" was going to come down from heaven and change the outcome of the race. » | Peter Foster | Washington | Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Mormon Romney to Win in Nevada and Leave Rest in Scramble for Delegates
THE GUARDIAN: Elections in Nevada are usually colourful, but the result this time is not in doubt: Mitt Romney has this one sewn up

Nevada will be an easy win for Mitt Romney on Saturday, based on his performance in the 2008 Republican presidential race. Even with Romney coming off second best to John McCain in many states elsewhere, Romney easily won the Nevada caucuses, with 51.1% to Ron Paul's 13.7% and John McCain's 12.75%. The reason: Mormons.

Although they only make up about 5% of the adult population in Nevada, they accounted for an estimated 25% of Republican caucus-goers four years ago. Does it follow that a Mormon will automatically vote for a candidate of the same faith? Well, in 2008, 5% voted for someone else. But the staggering statistic is the other 95% voted for Romney.

A PPP poll suggests that Saturday's caucuses will not be significantly different; Romney on 50%, Newt Gingrich 25%, Ron Paul 15% and Rick Santorum 8%. (+ video) » | Ewen McAskill in Washington | Friday, February 03, 2012

Nevada Republicans Favour Mitt Romney in Caucuses Vote
BBC: Mitt Romney has declared victory in Nevada's Republican caucuses, cementing his frontrunner status in the race to be the party's presidential candidate.

With just over 70% of the votes counted, he had secured 47.6% of the vote - well ahead of his nearest rival Newt Gingrich on 22.6%.

It is Mr Romney's second victory in a week, following his success in Florida.

Mr Gingrich - a former house speaker - has vowed to fight on until the party's convention in August.

"I'm not going to withdraw," he said. "I'm actually pretty happy with where we are, and I think the contrast between Governor Romney and me is going to get wider and wider and clearer and clearer over the next few weeks."

Earlier, Mr Gingrich said he expected Mr Romney to win in Nevada, partly due to the state's high Mormon population. Mr Romney is a Mormon.

Mr Romney won Nevada in his previous bid to be the Republican presidential candidate in 2008. (+ video) » | Sunday, February 05, 2012

Romney joue la carte du sérieux républicain

LE FIGARO: Face à Herman Cain et Rick Perry, l'ex-gouverneur paraît organisé et crédible.

Une foule souriante attend Mitt Romney devant l'immeuble de brique du Parti républicain de Fairfax, dans le nord de la Virginie. Une semaine après le passage de Barack Obama dans cet État crucial, qui avait voté démocrate en 2008 mais a ensuite élu le gouverneur conservateur Robert McDonnell, «Mitt» est venu soutenir les candidats républicains aux élections locales de novembre 2012.

En bras de chemise, silhouette élégante, cheveux bruns en arrière, sourire poli aux lèvres, Mitt Romney a l'allure du fils de famille qu'il est indéniablement. Son père était gouverneur du Michigan. Lui a fait carrière dans les affaires avant de remettre d'aplomb le Comité d'organisation des Jeux olympiques d'hiver de Salt Lake City, puis d'être élu gouverneur du Massachusetts de 2003 à 2007 -une performance dans le fief démocrate des Kennedy. Toute sa campagne consiste à mettre en avant son expérience de gestionnaire avisé. Ses débats télévisés, où il est apparu compétent, ont partiellement effacé l'image de «girouette» qui lui collait à la peau depuis la campagne de 2008. Tous les jours, son équipe, très rodée, publie en ligne des attaques précises contre ses adversaires.

Cette stratégie commence à payer. Mitt Romney est en tête des intentions de vote dans le New Hampshire et la Floride, et au coude-à-coude avec l'homme d'affaires afro-américain Herman Cain dans l'Iowa et la Caroline du Sud, des États clés qui tiendront leurs primaires très tôt. «Il va gagner la nomination, c'est sûr», affirme Bart Marcois, un ancien diplomate, volontaire à Fairfax. C'est «le seul capable de battre Barack Obama». » | Par Laure Mandeville | vendredi 28 octobre 2011

Scrambling Santorum Lashes Out at Romney in Pivotal State of Illinois
THE GUARDIAN: Rick Santorum, facing a blow to his momentum in Tuesday's primary, blasts Mitt Romney as a candidate 'without a core'


The fierce in-fighting among Republican presidential challengers intensified ahead of Tuesday's Illinois primary with Rick Santorumunleashing one of his most personal attacks yet on frontrunner Mitt Romney.

Santorum, scrambling for votes as the latest poll showed Romney with an overwhelming lead, claimed Romney had "no core", was being bankrolled by Wall Street and would be unelectable against Barack Obama.

Such outbursts play into the hands of the Democrats, providing material they can use during the White House race between Obama and the eventual Republican contender, almost certainly Romney. Polls also show that the in-fighting is turning off independent voters, the key to the general election. » | Ewen MacAskill in Chicago | Monday, March 19, 2012

Obama's Lead Over Romney Among Latinos Widening

LOS ANGELES TIMES: President Obama's advantage among Latino voters is getting larger, a new poll suggests, even as Mitt Romney's campaign released what it said was its ninth ad in Spanish.

The poll by Latino Decisions, released Wednesday, showed support for Obama rising to 70% of registered Latino voters, compared with 22% for Romney. If that margin held until the election, it could play a significant role in battleground states with sizable Latino populations, such as Florida, Nevada and Colorado.

Romney isn't ceding the Latino vote, though. He has used Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as a surrogate, and has not discouraged speculation that Rubio could be a vice presidential pick. And his latest Spanish-language ad features his son, Craig, who learned fluent Spanish as a missionary, and makes mention of something Mitt Romney rarely speaks about: the fact that his father, George Romney, was born in.Mexico. » | Mitchell Landsberg | Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Mitt Romney Officially Enters 2012 Presidential Race

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney, the early front-runner in the Republican race to beat Barack Obama in 2012, has officially entered the reckoning, declaring that the US president has "failed America" with his handling of the economy.

The former Massachusetts governor said that by choosing Mr Obama in 2008 voters "gave someone new a chance to lead, someone we hadn't known for very long, who didn't have much of a record but promised to lead us to a better place".

"Now, in the third year of his four-year term, we have more than promises and slogans to go by. Barack Obama has failed America," he said, in prepared remarks.

Given the high profile he developed as a Republican contender in the 2008 primary, Mr Romney has polled poorly compared to lesser known figures, rarely leading by more than a few percentage points and often coming second.

But he has raised prodigious amounts of money, including $10 million in a single day last month, and has spent the past two years quietly building a campaign network that is unrivalled by any of his competitors.

He chose to officially launch his campaign on a farm in New Hampshire, a key early voting state in the primary schedule, which begins in February next year and will last several months. The presidential vote will be held on Nov 6, 2012. » | Alex Spillius, Washington | Thursday, June 02, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Why Mitt Romney could be president » | Alex Spillius, Washington | Thursday, June 02, 2011

New Hampshire Primary: Mitt Romney Favourite as Rivals Jostle to Be Runner-up
THE GUARDIAN: Lingering doubts about frontrunner on display in midnight vote at Dixville Notch where two out of six vote Romney


Despite some last-minute gaffes, Mitt Romney remains the overwhelming favourite to win the New Hampshire presidential primary, but the margin of victory could determine whether he quickly clinches the Republican nomination or faces a gruelling battle.

His five opponents will try to shrug off a Romney victory as the expected outcome for a former governor of next-door Massachusetts who owns a vacation home on a New Hampshire lake. But a surprisingly strong finish from one of his rivals will be played up as more evidence that Republicans still have their doubts about Romney.

Those doubts were on display in Dixville Notch, the tiny New Hampshire village that traditionally votes at midnight. Romney received two of the six votes cast in the Republican primary. So did Jon Huntsman. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul received a vote apiece. President Barack Obama got three votes in the Democratic primary.

The rest of New Hampshire voters go to the polls on Tuesday after receiving months of attention from the Republican candidates and witnessing an increasingly sharp tone in the intra-party struggle for the nomination. » | Associated Press in New Hampshire | Tuesday, January 10, 2012

US Election: Barack Obama Opens Up Double Digit Lead Over Mitt Romney
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Barack Obama has opened up a double-digit lead over Mitt Romney in a new national poll, even though most say the US is on the wrong track.

While most surveys in recent weeks indicate a tight race for the White House culminating in the November election, but the new Bloomberg National Poll has President Obama leading his Republican challenger 53-40 per cent among likely voters.

And while the public gives the incumbent low marks on handling the economy, they prefer Mr Obama's vision over Mr Romney's for building on the recovery, despite a wave of poor economic data that has emerged in the past month.

Respondents to the June 15-18 poll say they prefer Mr Obama's vision over Mr Romney's by 49-33 per cent, up seven points since March, when the Republican nominee had yet to be decided.

The two campaigns have hammered each other on who would do better at boosting job growth and improving economic conditions overall.

Mr Romney argues that Mr Obama is in over his head, while the Obama re-election campaign paints Mr Romney, a multimillionaire ex-businessman and investor, as a former corporate raider bent on improving conditions for the wealthy. » | Source AFP | Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Mormon Smears Turn Republican Race Sour
THE SUNDAY TIMES: THE only Mormon in the 2008 presidential race, Mitt Romney, is coming under attack for his religious beliefs as the battle for the Republican nomination becomes increasingly acrimonious.

Telephone calls to voters accusing the former governor of Massachusetts of subscribing to outlandish beliefs and “flip-flop-ping” on big issues have been made under the guise of polling in Iowa and New Hampshire, crucial early voting states that Romney must win.

These “push-polling” calls drew attention to Romney’s deferment of military service during the Vietnam war while serving as a missionary for the Mormons in France and pointed out that none of his five sons had enlisted in the military.

Callers also claimed the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints did not consecrate blacks as bishops until the 1970s and believes the Book of Mormon supersedes the Bible. Romney called the attacks “unAmerican”.

Robert Redford, the film star, joined in the Mormon-bashing this month, claiming that church followers were “very adept at not being fazed and speaking fluently and gracefully” because they “learn how to deflect blows and stay on message” when they go on missions “when they are 19 or 20”.

He added: “So when you see Mitt Romney, he’s already been practising how to deflect blows and stay on message. But it’s plastic.”

The race is growing dirtier as the fight for the nomination intensifies between Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, and Romney. Mormon smears turn Republican race sour (more) By Sarah Baxter

Mark Alexander

Nancy Reagan Endorses Mitt Romney

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nancy Reagan, the 90-year-old widow of President Ronald Reagan, has announced that she is endorsing Mitt Romney in this year's contest.

Mr Romney and his wife Ann "joined me at my home for some lemonade and cookies and I offered my firm endorsement of his campaign for president," Mrs Reagan, who lives in Bel Air outside Los Angeles, said in a brief statement.

Mr Romney has already earned enough delegates to win the nomination to face Democrat Barack Obama in the November 6 presidential election but does not officially become the nominee until the party convention in Tampa, Florida at the end of August.

"I am thrilled that after Tuesday's primary he is the clear choice, having won the magic number of 1,144 convention delegates," Mrs Reagan said.

"Ronnie would have liked Governor Romney's business background and his strong principles, and I have to say I do too." » | Source: agencies | Friday, June 01, 2012

South Carolina Primary: Mitt Romney to Release Tax Returns on Tuesday
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said on Sunday he will release tax returns for the last two years this week and admitted the flap over his returns hurt him in South Carolina, where he lost a primary to Newt Gingrich.

"I will release my tax returns for 2010, which is the last returns which were completed, on Tuesday of this week," Romney said on Fox News Sunday. "And I will also release at the same time an estimate for 2011 tax returns."

"We made a mistake holding off as long as we did and it just was a distraction," the former Massachusetts governor added.

Gingrich won 40 per cent of the vote in the South Carolina primary on Saturday, while Romney came in a distant second with 28 per cent.

Romney, one of the wealthiest US presidential candidates in history, emphasised he was releasing two years of returns after Gingrich posted his returns for only 2010 on Thursday. » | Sunday, January 22, 2012

US Election 2012: Rick Santorum Calls Mitt Romney 'Worst Possible Republican' Nominee

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Rick Santorum attacked rival Mitt Romney on Sunday calling him "the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama" as the former Massachusetts governor looked on pace to clinch the Republican party nomination.

Santorum told voters that Romney is "uniquely disqualified" to be theRepublican's presidential pick and urged his supporters to stand with him even as he faces an increasingly improbable pathway to the nomination, despite an easy victory in the Louisiana primary the night before.

With all Louisiana precincts reporting, Santorum captured 49 percent of the vote to 27 percent for Romney. Newt Gingrich, was far back at 16 percent, followed by Ron Paul with 6 percent.

Although the victory gives Santorum bragging rights and 10 more delegates, it does not change the overall dynamics of the race. The former Pennsylvania senator still dramatically lags behind Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, in the battle for delegates to the party's August nominating convention in Tampa, Florida. » | Monday, March 26, 2012

Newt Gingrich Calls Mitt Romney “a Liar”
THE BOSTON GLOBE: Newt Gingrich called Mitt Romney “a liar” today for saying he has no role or responsibility for a barrage of negative ads that are credited with damaging the former House speaker’s campaign in Iowa.


During an interview with CBS News, Gingrich, who was the frontrunner in Iowa just two weeks ago, said it was “baloney” that Romney had nothing to do with the ads from an independent group, a super PAC called Restore our Future, which is backing the former Massachusetts governor. Those ads are credited, in part, with exposing Gingrich’s personal and congressional vulnerabilities. As Romney has risen to the top of the most recent polls in Iowa, where caucusgoers vote tonight, Gingrich has tumbled to the middle of the pack.

“This is a man whose staff created the PAC and his millionaire friends fund the PAC,” he said on “The Early Show.”

“He’s not telling the American people the truth,” Gingrich said. “It’s just like his pretense that he’s a conservative.”

When asked if he was calling Romney a liar, Gingrich answered “yes.” » | Bobby Caina Calvan, Globe Staff | Tuesday, January 03, 2012

US Election 2012: Mitt Romney Asserts His Authority Over Newt Gingrich in Jacksonville Debate
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney asserted his authority over Newt Gingrich in a Republican presidential debate on Thursday night, aggressively turning the former House Speaker's own attacks against him in advance of the crucial primary election in Florida.

The former Massachusetts governor, who over the past 48 hours has pushed back a surge in support for Mr Gingrich across the state, slapped down his rival during bitter disputes over immigration policy, personal finances and the former Speaker's proposal to build a colony on the moon.

After losing the South Carolina primary last weekend, Mr Romney is seeking to stabilise his campaign to be the Republican candidate to face President Barack Obama in November. Florida is by far the biggest state to vote in the party contest so far and is expected to be crucial in the general election.

He hit out at Mr Gingrich in the debate's opening minutes for describing him “anti-immigrant”, calling the attack “simply inexcusable”. He pointed out that Marco Rubio, the popular Florida senator, had backed him and called the criticism “inexcusable and inflammatory”.

Mr Romney has proposed that America's 11 million illegal immigrants should “self-deport”. “Mr Speaker, I'm not anti-immigrant,” he said during the debate. “My father was born in Mexico, my wife's father was born in Wales. They came into this country. The idea that I’m anti-immigrant is repulsive.”

An animated Mr Romney drove the point home by saying that Mr Gingrich's remarks were “the kind of over-the-top rhetoric that has characterised American politics for too long”. » | Jon Swaine, and Peter Foster in Jacksonville | Friday, January 27, 2012

Rick Santorum remporte la primaire de Louisiane

LA PRESSE (CANADA): L'ultraconservateur Rick Santorum a remporté samedi la primaire républicaine de Louisiane (sud), donnant un coup d'accélérateur à sa campagne face à Mitt Romney, qui reste néanmoins favori pour affronter Barack Obama en novembre.

Selon des projections diffusées par les chaînes de télévision américaines après la fermeture des bureaux de vote, l'ancien sénateur de Pennsyvlanie (est), grand défenseur des valeurs chrétiennes et familiales, a remporté 50% des suffrages, contre 26% au multimillionnaire Romney.

Il engrange ainsi un 11e État dans la course à l'investiture républicaine pour la Maison-Blanche, mais compte toujours à son actif deux fois moins de victoires que son rival modéré Mitt Romney.
Dans un courriel adressé à ses partisans dès l'annonce de sa victoire, M. Santorum a qualifié «d'historique» le scrutin de Louisiane.

«Romney a fait une campagne intensive ici en dépensant beaucoup d'argent, mais les Louisianais ne se sont pas laissés impressionner par les mensonges et la campagne négative: ils ont voté pour un authentique conservateur», a estimé M. Santorum, reprenant l'accusation de l'aile droite du parti républicain pour qui M. Romney est par trop modéré. » | Susan Finch | Agence France-Presse | La Nouvelle Orléans | samedi 24 mars 2012

US Election 2012: Mitt Romney's Rivals Exploit Doubts about His Faith and Values
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney’s rivals are seeking to exploit doubts about his faith, values and business record in a last ditch bid to stop him claiming a third straight primary victory in the race to decide which Republican will face Barack Obama in November.

With five days’ campaigning left in South Carolina, the former Massachusetts governor leads polls by an average of eight points. If he wins there – after victories in Iowa and New Hampshire - only a major shift in the campaign will prevent him from becoming the nominee.

His more conservative opponents are splitting the vote in a state where six out of ten Republicans are evangelical or born again Christians, while Mr Romney's superior organisation and fund-raising is expected to pay dividends.

But South Carolina is known for surprises, and undercurrents of anti-Romney sentiment, based on his Mormonism and his previous support for abortion, could yet cripple his chances.

David Woodard, a professor of political science at Clemson University who has advised numerous presidential campaigns in South Carolina, said: "It is too early to put a crown on him."

"It's not just his faith that's the problem. It's his moderation and his history that make it hard for him to fit down here. That doesn't mean he can't win, but he is from Massachusetts and we're talking about the great-great-grandchildren of the people that fired on Fort Sumter," he said, referring to a famous Civil War battle.

At a campaign appearance over the weekend, a voter asked Mr Romney bluntly if he believed in Jesus Christ – a question which reflected the fact that 50 per cent of Americans do not believe the Church of the Latter Day Saints to be Christian.

"Yes, I do," the candidate replied, adding: "I happen to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and my saviour, but I know other people have differing views, and I respect those views and don't believe those qualify or disqualify people for leadership in our nation." Read on and comment » | Alex Spillius, Greenville, South Carolina | Sunday, January 15, 2012