Monday, October 19, 2009

WisPolitics: Romney keeping options open for 2012

(WisPolitics).Appearing on Sunday's “UpFront with Mike Gousha," Mitt Romney (left) says that while he is focusing right now on supporting GOP candidates in key races, he is keeping his options open on a possible 2012 presidential run.

video here

“I'm doing what's necessary, if you will, to keep options open,” the former Massachusetts governor and 2008 candidate said. “But the decision to actually go ahead with the presidential run, that's not something I would really contemplate until after the November 2010 election.”

Romney said he's not certain what all the factors are that would bear on his decision, but he said family considerations would be high on the list and so would his assessment of President Barack Obama's performance at the time.

“Clearly if President Obama happened to be doing a great job, as I hoped he would do when he got elected, that would influence my thoughts,” Romney said. “Instead he's taking the country in a dangerous direction and that makes it far more likely that folks are going to think about getting in and removing him from office.”

Romney, who is working on a new book to be called “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness,” characterized Obama as an apologist.

“The things we have done for the world far outweigh the mistakes we have made,” Romney said. “And for him to bring up our mistakes and apologize for them as he does on a regular basis; that's like kindling on the fire for those who want to find fault with America.”

Romney, who as Massachusetts governor pressed for and signed health care reforms into law that resulted in 98 percent insurance coverage, defended the plan against criticisms that it represents “Obama-care lite.”

Romney said the state enacted the reforms without a so-called government option and that it costs about 1 percent of the state's budget.

“The people of my state approve of it 2-to1,” Romney said. “We've got our folks insured; people don't worry about losing insurance. I'm pretty pleased, and I'm pretty proud of that. Is it perfect? No.”

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"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" (Churchill)