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| | ===U.S. Senate campaign=== | | ===U.S. Senate campaign=== |
| − | While he could have run in Massachusetts, the state where he served as governor and where he could have worked to defeat far-left Democrat [[Elizabeth Warren]], Romney chose to run in the solid Republican state of [[Utah]], where him winning would not help the GOP agenda and would actually impede President Trump's conservative agenda.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (January 5, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/05/pollak-isnt-mitt-romney-running-senate-massachusetts/ Blue State Blues: Why Isn’t Mitt Romney Running for Senate in Massachusetts?]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref> He was heavily favored by the [[mainstream media]] in Utah,<ref>[https://www.axios.com/utah-media-if-romney-runs-he-wins-2522067938.html Utah media: If Romney runs, he wins]. ''Axios''. January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref> and his opposition to President Trump was noted in the election.<ref>Kamisar, Ben; Hagen, Lisa (February 15, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373944-romneys-trump-feud-looms-over-utah-senate-race Romney’s Trump feud looms over Utah Senate race]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 15, 2018.</ref> | + | While he could have run in Massachusetts, the state where he served as governor and where he could have worked to defeat far-left Democrat [[Elizabeth Warren]], Romney chose to run in the solid Republican state of [[Utah]], where him winning would not help the GOP agenda and would actually impede President Trump's conservative agenda.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (January 5, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/05/pollak-isnt-mitt-romney-running-senate-massachusetts/ Blue State Blues: Why Isn’t Mitt Romney Running for Senate in Massachusetts?]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref> He was heavily favored by the [[mainstream media]] in Utah,<ref>[https://www.axios.com/utah-media-if-romney-runs-he-wins-2522067938.html Utah media: If Romney runs, he wins]. ''Axios''. January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref> and his opposition to President Trump was noted in the election.<ref>Kamisar, Ben; Hagen, Lisa (February 15, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373944-romneys-trump-feud-looms-over-utah-senate-race Romney’s Trump feud looms over Utah Senate race]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 15, 2018.</ref> Romney was endorsed by fellow globalist RINO [[Jeb Bush]].<ref>Beavers, Olivia (January 15, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/369049-jeb-bush-backs-romney-for-utah-senate-run Jeb Bush backs Romney for Utah Senate run]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref><ref>Moran, Sean (January 15, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/15/jeb-backs-potential-mitt-romney-bid-for-u-s-senate-i-hope-he-runs/ Jeb! Backs Potential Mitt Romney Bid for U.S. Senate: ‘I Hope He Runs’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref> |
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| − | Romney was endorsed by fellow globalist RINO [[Jeb Bush]].<ref>Beavers, Olivia (January 15, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/369049-jeb-bush-backs-romney-for-utah-senate-run Jeb Bush backs Romney for Utah Senate run]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref><ref>Moran, Sean (January 15, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/15/jeb-backs-potential-mitt-romney-bid-for-u-s-senate-i-hope-he-runs/ Jeb! Backs Potential Mitt Romney Bid for U.S. Senate: ‘I Hope He Runs’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref> However, Rob Anderson, the Utah GOP chairman, criticized Romney for choosing to run in Utah despite him and his children not living there, and he stated that Romney did not represent the state because of this.<ref>Multiple references: | |
| − | *Delk, Josh (February 14, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373856-utah-gop-chairman-likens-romneys-expected-senate-run-to-hillary-clinton Utah GOP chairman takes a jab at Romney's ability to represent the state]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
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| − | *McLaughlin, Seth (February 14, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/14/utah-gop-chair-dings-anticipated-romney-senate-bid/ Utah GOP chair dings anticipated Romney Senate bid: Report]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
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| − | However, under heavy pressure, Anderson retracted his comments:
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| − | *Greenwood, Max (February 14, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373934-utah-gop-chairman-never-my-intent-to-disparage-romney Utah GOP chairman: 'Never my intent' to disparage Romney]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 14, 2018.</ref>
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| | Romney formally announced his campaign on February 16, 2018, doing so by video.<ref>Multiple references: | | Romney formally announced his campaign on February 16, 2018, doing so by video.<ref>Multiple references: |
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| | *Moran, Sean (February 16, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/16/paul-ryan-couldnt-be-happier-that-mitt-romney-for-u-s-senate/ Paul Ryan ‘Couldn’t Be Happier’ Mitt Romney Is Running for U.S. Senate]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 16, 2018.</ref> | | *Moran, Sean (February 16, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/16/paul-ryan-couldnt-be-happier-that-mitt-romney-for-u-s-senate/ Paul Ryan ‘Couldn’t Be Happier’ Mitt Romney Is Running for U.S. Senate]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 16, 2018.</ref> |
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| − | Conservatives, including opposing candidate Larry Meyers, criticized Romney for flip-flopping positions and having liberal core values.<ref>Miller, S.A. (March 8, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/mar/8/mitt-romney-under-attack-utah-liberal-massachusett/ How Mitt Romney is under attack in Utah for ‘liberal Massachusetts values’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved March 8, 2018.</ref> | + | Rob Anderson, the Utah GOP chairman, criticized Romney for choosing to run in Utah despite him and his children not living there, and he stated that Romney did not represent the state because of this.<ref>Multiple references: |
| − | | + | *Delk, Josh (February 14, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373856-utah-gop-chairman-likens-romneys-expected-senate-run-to-hillary-clinton Utah GOP chairman takes a jab at Romney's ability to represent the state]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 14, 2018. |
| − | Romney's candidacy came about during a fight between the Republican establishment and conservatives over how the Utah Republican Party selects its nominee, with conservatives favoring a party convention over simply holding a primary where any candidate can run as a Republican with enough signatures.<ref>Leahy, Michael Patrick (March 19, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/19/gop-establishment-and-grassroots-in-bitter-utah-battle-as-mitt-romney-seeks-state-partys-u-s-senate-nomination/ GOP Establishment and Grassroots in Bitter Utah Battle as Mitt Romney Seeks State Party’s U.S. Senate Nomination]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 22, 2018.</ref> | + | *McLaughlin, Seth (February 14, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/14/utah-gop-chair-dings-anticipated-romney-senate-bid/ Utah GOP chair dings anticipated Romney Senate bid: Report]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 14, 2018. |
| | + | However, under heavy pressure, Anderson retracted his comments: |
| | + | *Greenwood, Max (February 14, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373934-utah-gop-chairman-never-my-intent-to-disparage-romney Utah GOP chairman: 'Never my intent' to disparage Romney]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 14, 2018.</ref> Conservatives, including opposing candidate Larry Meyers, criticized Romney for flip-flopping positions and having liberal core values.<ref>Miller, S.A. (March 8, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/mar/8/mitt-romney-under-attack-utah-liberal-massachusett/ How Mitt Romney is under attack in Utah for ‘liberal Massachusetts values’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved March 8, 2018.</ref> Romney's candidacy came about during a fight between the Republican establishment and conservatives over how the Utah Republican Party selects its nominee, with conservatives favoring a party convention over simply holding a primary where any candidate can run as a Republican with enough signatures.<ref>Leahy, Michael Patrick (March 19, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/19/gop-establishment-and-grassroots-in-bitter-utah-battle-as-mitt-romney-seeks-state-partys-u-s-senate-nomination/ GOP Establishment and Grassroots in Bitter Utah Battle as Mitt Romney Seeks State Party’s U.S. Senate Nomination]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 22, 2018.</ref> |
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| | Once again, Romney flipped on immigration, telling voters that his immigration stances were somehow more tough than President Trump's – however, he used the past tense to describe his views, as if he no longer held to them any longer.<ref>Multiple references: | | Once again, Romney flipped on immigration, telling voters that his immigration stances were somehow more tough than President Trump's – however, he used the past tense to describe his views, as if he no longer held to them any longer.<ref>Multiple references: |
| | *Spiering, Charlie (March 27, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/27/mitt-romney-runs-as-immigration-hawk-daca-kids-shouldnt-all-be-allowed-to-stay-legally/ Mitt Romney Runs as Immigration Hawk: ‘DACA Kids Shouldn’t All Be Allowed to Stay Legally’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 27, 2018. | | *Spiering, Charlie (March 27, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/27/mitt-romney-runs-as-immigration-hawk-daca-kids-shouldnt-all-be-allowed-to-stay-legally/ Mitt Romney Runs as Immigration Hawk: ‘DACA Kids Shouldn’t All Be Allowed to Stay Legally’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 27, 2018. |
| − | *Shaw, Adam (March 27, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/27/mitt-romney-says-is-more-conservative-on-immigration-than-trump.html Mitt Romney says he is more conservative on immigration than Trump]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.</ref> | + | *Shaw, Adam (March 27, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/27/mitt-romney-says-is-more-conservative-on-immigration-than-trump.html Mitt Romney says he is more conservative on immigration than Trump]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.</ref> He also voiced conservative views on ObamaCare and spending to his conservative audience during the GOP primary.<ref>Drucker, David M. (April 21, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/mitt-romney-hammers-gop-vows-to-block-bloated-spending-and-repeal-obamacare-if-elected-to-senate Mitt Romney hammers GOP, vows to block bloated spending and repeal Obamacare if elected to Senate]. ''Washington Times''. Retrieved April 21, 2018.</ref> |
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| | + | At the GOP convention, Romney was forced into a primary election after he failed to win over GOP delegates.<ref>Multiple references: |
| | + | *Bowden, John (April 21, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/384301-romney-finishes-second-in-utah-gop-senate-primary Romney forced into GOP primary for Utah Senate nomination]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 21, 2018. |
| | + | *Calicchio, Dom (April 21, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/21/mitt-romney-faces-senate-runoff-in-utah-after-state-gop-convention-setback.html Mitt Romney faces Senate primary in Utah after state GOP convention setback]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 21, 2018.</ref> |
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| | ==See also== | | ==See also== |