Romney opens presidential bid - he's got company
<p>Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, accompanied by his wife, Ann, announces his 2012 candidacy for president Thursday in Stratham, N.H.</p>
STRATHAM, N.H. (AP) - Just as Mitt Romney declared he's in, it's suddenly looking like he might have more big-name competition for the Republican presidential nomination.
While Romney made his candidacy official in New Hampshire on Thursday, political stars Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani caused a stir of their own with visits to the first-in-the-nation primary state. Both made sure to assail the health care law approved while Romney was governor of neighboring Massachusetts.
And rumblings about Texas Gov. Rick Perry, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota further challenged Romney's standing as the closest thing the GOP has to a front-runner to take on President Barack Obama in November 2012. Bachmann plans to take part in a presidential debate in New Hampshire on June 13, an aide said Thursday.
Unswayed by possible competitors, Romney declared to cheers on a sunny farm in southern New Hampshire, "I'm Mitt Romney and I believe in America. And I'm running for president of the United States."
The former governor and business executive aggressively challenged Democratic President Obama while trying to pitch himself to the coalition that makes up the modern GOP: fiscal conservatives, social conservatives, evangelicals and libertarians. Romney included nods to all as he sought to make himself the candidate with the broadest appeal and best shot at sending Obama home to Chicago as a one-term president.
"It breaks my heart to see what is happening to this great country," Romney said.
Romney, who lost the GOP nomination to John McCain in 2008, hopes it's now his turn. He comes to a Republican presidential contest that lacks a true front-runner and could be unsettled with new names. Repeated polls show party members unimpressed with or indifferent to the declared candidates.
Romney's strengths are substantial: He's well known, and he's an experienced campaigner. He has a personal fortune and an existing network of donors. He has a successful businessman's record and knows the logistics of a national campaign.
But he must confront his own record of changing positions on social issues including abortion and gay rights. He also has struggled to allay some skepticism of his Mormon faith.