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Once again, Romney flipped on immigration, telling voters that his immigration stances were somehow tougher than those of 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 tougher than those of 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> and despite claiming to hold tough views he opposed the Trump Administration's zero tolerance border policy because he thought it was too tough.<ref>Anapol, Avery (June 18, 2018). [http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/392826-mitt-romney-backs-laura-bush-op-ed-we-need-a-more-compassionate Romney backs Laura Bush on border: 'We need a more compassionate answer']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved June 18, 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> He claimed that he was not running to advance his career.<ref>Klein, Philip (April 23, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/mitt-romney-in-his-fifth-campaign-since-1994-says-im-not-in-this-race-because-i-have-some-political-career-im-trying-to-foster Mitt Romney, in his fifth campaign since 1994, says 'I’m not in this race because I have some political career I’m trying to foster']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved April 23, 2018.</ref> However, in May 2018, Romney again criticized Trump.<ref>Sykes, Michael (May 29, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/trump-mitt-romney-criticism-role-model-8e4836ba-bfcd-4fb7-bcd1-17db50ea5647.html Mitt Romney doubles down on past Trump criticism]. ''Axios''. Retrieved May 29, 2018.</ref> Romney was reported to have been positioning himself to leave the GOP's [[establishment]] wing in the Senate and to counterbalance President Trump.<ref>Isenstadt, Alex (June 10, 2018). [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/10/mitt-romney-senate-trump-635008 Romney looks to lead GOP’s establishment wing]. ''Politico''. Retrieved June 10, 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> and despite claiming to have tough views, he opposed the Trump Administration's zero tolerance border policy because he thought it was too tough.<ref>Anapol, Avery (June 18, 2018). [http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/392826-mitt-romney-backs-laura-bush-op-ed-we-need-a-more-compassionate Romney backs Laura Bush on border: 'We need a more compassionate answer']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved June 18, 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> He claimed that he was not running to advance his career.<ref>Klein, Philip (April 23, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/mitt-romney-in-his-fifth-campaign-since-1994-says-im-not-in-this-race-because-i-have-some-political-career-im-trying-to-foster Mitt Romney, in his fifth campaign since 1994, says 'I’m not in this race because I have some political career I’m trying to foster']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved April 23, 2018.</ref> However, in May 2018, Romney again criticized Trump.<ref>Sykes, Michael (May 29, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/trump-mitt-romney-criticism-role-model-8e4836ba-bfcd-4fb7-bcd1-17db50ea5647.html Mitt Romney doubles down on past Trump criticism]. ''Axios''. Retrieved May 29, 2018.</ref> Romney was reported to have been positioning himself to leave the GOP's [[establishment]] wing in the Senate and to counterbalance President Trump.<ref>Isenstadt, Alex (June 10, 2018). [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/10/mitt-romney-senate-trump-635008 Romney looks to lead GOP’s establishment wing]. ''Politico''. Retrieved June 10, 2018.</ref> Romney refused to endorse President Trump's conservative agenda.<ref>Ayers, Emma (June 24, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/mitt-romney-takes-stance-on-the-trump-agenda Mitt Romney takes stance on the 'Trump agenda']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved June 24, 2018.</ref><ref>Shaw, Adam (June 23, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/23/romney-walks-fine-line-on-trump-amid-utah-primary-fight.html Romney walks fine line on Trump amid Utah primary fight]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved June 24, 2018.</ref>

At the GOP convention, Romney was forced into a primary election after he failed to win over GOP delegates.<ref>Multiple references:

At the GOP convention, Romney was forced into a primary election after he failed to win over GOP delegates.<ref>Multiple references:

*Whitehurst, Lindsay; Hattem, Julian (April 22, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/22/mitt-romney-faces-republican-primary-utah-senate-c/ Mitt Romney forced into primary after losing nomination battle in Utah Senate bid]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 22, 2018.</ref> In the June 26 Republican senatorial primary, Romney faces the [[conservative]] state representative, Dr. Michael Stephen "Mike" Kennedy (born c. 1968), the son of a naturalized citizen. Kennedy practices medicine in Alpine in Utah County. Kennedy had narrowly won the party endorsement at the state convention. Kennedy criticized Romney for flip-flopping on the issues and for being a carpetbagger.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (June 5, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/06/05/mike-kennedy-mitt-romney-utah-senate-opponent/ Mike Kennedy Blasts Mitt Romney for Carpetbagging, Flip-Flopping]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 5, 2018.</ref>

*Whitehurst, Lindsay; Hattem, Julian (April 22, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/22/mitt-romney-faces-republican-primary-utah-senate-c/ Mitt Romney forced into primary after losing nomination battle in Utah Senate bid]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 22, 2018.</ref> In the June 26 Republican senatorial primary, Romney faces the [[conservative]] state representative, Dr. Michael Stephen "Mike" Kennedy (born c. 1968), the son of a naturalized citizen. Kennedy practices medicine in Alpine in Utah County. Kennedy had narrowly won the party endorsement at the state convention. Kennedy criticized Romney for flip-flopping on the issues and for being a carpetbagger.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (June 5, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/06/05/mike-kennedy-mitt-romney-utah-senate-opponent/ Mike Kennedy Blasts Mitt Romney for Carpetbagging, Flip-Flopping]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 5, 2018.</ref>

Romney and Kennedy appeared in a [[television]] debate on May 29, 2018. The two expressed agreement on a plethora of issues, including school safety, health care matters, and immigration.Both presented himself as a conservative. One dividing point was the Reverend [[Robert Jeffress]] of the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist Church]] of [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], who at President Trump's invitation led a prayer at the dedication of the relocated U.S. Embassy in [[Jerusalem]]. Jeffress, who supported Romney for President in 2012, has been hostile toward Mormonism: he labeled the denomination "a cult" and questioned the integrity of Mormon founder [[Joseph Smith]]. Romney said that he regards Jeffress as a "religious bigot." Romney also noted that he carries Trump's endorsement though Kennedy in the debate repeatedly praised Trump's performance in office.

Romney and Kennedy appeared in a [[television]] debate on May 29, 2018. The two expressed agreement on a plethora of issues, including school safety, health care matters, and immigration. Both presented himself as a conservative. One dividing point was the Reverend [[Robert Jeffress]] of the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist Church]] of [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], who at President Trump's invitation led a prayer at the dedication of the relocated U.S. Embassy in [[Jerusalem]]. Jeffress, who supported Romney for President in 2012, has been hostile toward Mormonism: he labeled the denomination "a cult" and questioned the integrity of Mormon founder [[Joseph Smith]]. Romney said that he regards Jeffress as a "religious bigot." Romney also noted that he carries Trump's endorsement though Kennedy in the debate repeatedly praised Trump's performance in office.

==See also==

==See also==