In a private Jan. 30 teleconference with campaign supporters, Mitt Romney announced that he will not run for president in 2016.
?After putting considerable thought into making another run for president, I’ve decided it is best to give other leaders in the Party the opportunity to become our next nominee. [?]?I believe that one of our next generation of Republican leaders, one who may not be as well known as I am today, one who has not yet taken their message across the country, one who is just getting started, may well emerge as being better able to defeat the Democrat nominee. [?] I’ve been asked, and will certainly be asked again if there are any circumstances whatsoever that might develop that could change my mind. That seems unlikely. Accordingly, I’m not organizing a PAC or taking donations; I’m not hiring a campaign team.?
Romney conducted the teleconference with his wife, Ann, advisors and fundraisers for a 2016 campaign, and Republican Party leaders from early primary states.
He will aid whoever gets the GOP nomination, though, he said, and asked others to do the same.
?I encourage all of you on this call to stay engaged in the critical process of selecting a Republican nominee for President. Please feel free to sign up on a campaign for a person who you believe may become our best nominee. I believe a Republican winning back the White House is essential for our country, and I will do whatever I can to make that happen.?
According to the New York Times, Romney may be leaning his support towards New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, with whom the 2012 Republican nominee will have dinner tonight.
In 2012, Romney received almost 61 million votes for a 47.2 percent take. He had only 206 electoral votes to President Obama’s 332, however.
