Romney: Heart told him he'd win, until he saw Fla.

March 3, 2013 @ 6:46 am


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WASHINGTON (AP) - Mitt Romney says his heart said he was going to win the presidency, but when early results came in on election night, he knew it was not to be.

The GOP nominee tells "Fox News Sunday" that he knew his campaign was in trouble when exit polls suggested a close race in Florida. Romney thought he'd win the state solidly.

Obama ended up taking Florida and won the election by a wide margin in the electoral vote.

Romney says there was "a slow recognition" at that time that President Barack Obama would win _ and the race soon was over when Obama carried Ohio.

Romney says the loss hit hard and was emotional. Ann Romney says she cried.

The former Massachusetts governor acknowledges mistakes in the campaign and flaws in his candidacy.

But he jokes that he did better in his second run for the White House than he did the first time around _ when he lost the 2008 nomination to Arizona Sen. John McCain.

He says he won't get a third crack at it.

Romney says his campaign didn't do a good job connecting with minority voters, and that Republicans must do a better job in appealing to African-Americans and Hispanics.

He says his campaign underestimated the appeal of Obama's new health care law to low-income voters.

But he knows that because he lost the race, it's hard to tell the GOP to listen now to what he has to say about how to improve the party's message.

The Romneys are living in Southern California now and he's kept a low profile since the election. He says "you move on" from the disappointment and that "I don't spend my life looking back."

Ann Romney says that after the election she was approached by TV's "Dancing with the Stars," but declined to join the cast.

She says she'll be turning 64 soon and "I'm not really as flexible as I should be."

The interview was taped Thursday and aired Sunday.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (72)


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  • C"mon Man wrote...
    D brew
    October 30, 2012 9:16 pm
    Keystone pipeline,solyndra,fast and furious and 16T we owe, I know that you and your ilk could justify it all, by playing the race card,blaming Bush and congress is wearing thin! Nice try!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    C'mon Man
    November 2, 2012 1:26 pm
    I just love how you're so stupid, and i mean stupid... like dumber than a box of rocks stupid... that you put every problem that the United States has on 1 specific politician who took office 4 years ago. Yeh the debt wasn't there when Obama took office right? Uh, wrong moron, the debt was there along with a budget deficit and an economy in free fall, it took extreme measures to save the the economy from further collapse and yes that cost government spending, you're so stupid C'mon man, you seriously don't deserve to vote and I sincerely hope you're typing from a jail cell and can't vote anyways because you're just flat stupid and i don't think you deserve to vote. If you can't remember past 4 years ago, and if you really think that the economy and all of America's problems reset at the end of a presidency, well you're just too stupid to exist.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    The Left wing Parrots will blame Bush
    October 31, 2012 11:02 am
    for the Dear Leaders SHELLACKING PART DEUX when Mr. Romney is sworn in as President!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    The only real change
    October 31, 2012 6:48 pm
    romney will do in the next four years is to change diapers on the 325 grandchildren he will have. That's what he is best suited for.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Romney says he'll 'take your change' if elected and give it to the RICH . . . .
    October 31, 2012 7:16 pm
    he has my vote. Vote early, Vote often, Vote Dear Leader Obama!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Does Obama understand business? I don't know!
    November 1, 2012 10:17 am
    Just look at the last four years. Does that tell you Parrots anything? Doubtful!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    It's me! Ha ha! - He's not running a business
    November 2, 2012 1:28 pm
    He's running a country and there is an enourmous difference. I have a friend who runs a fantasy football league, does that validate him as a candidate for president? You're so stupid i hope you haven't procreated because you having offspring is seriously a crime against humanity.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    11-01-2012 Romney claims 0bama doesn't...
    November 1, 2012 2:25 pm
    understand business. This is a classic leftist bias headline. A more proper headline would say "Romney points out the obvious, 0bama completely fails to understand even the most basic elements of business or markets. (of course that is way too long for a headline)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @hnuh
    November 2, 2012 10:29 am
    You write "This is a classic leftist bias headline." except that "MYNorthwest" is owned & operated by the LDS.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    ooh the threat of a Government lockout!
    November 2, 2012 7:51 am
    great, cause Boehner and McConnell will be up for election next. It will be fun to hear them defend doing nothing

    Did anyone see the bi partisan tax study? You know why you didn't see it? Because it tells the truth about the Bush tax cuts and how harmful they are to our society, unless you are rich of course.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hayduke wrote...
    Hey all you Rapeublicans saying Obama just doesn't understand business, guess who just endorsed Obama over Romney?
    November 2, 2012 7:53 pm
    That pinko liberal commie rag, The Economist!

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2012/11/01/the-economist-endorses-Obama-for-president/

    Oh and BTW, your whole RWNJ tax philosophy has just been discredited, not that the GOP led Congress will let anyone know about it:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/01/congressional-research-service_n_2059156.html

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    Nothing I can say
    November 2, 2012 9:54 pm
    That will change anyone's opinion, nor am I going to try.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    * Romney to supporters: Vote for love of country? . . . .
    November 3, 2012 6:29 am
    then why_ is all your money in hidden off shore bank accounts? We love our Country that's why you don't the keys to the WH. 3 more day, 4 more years!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }