Mitt Romney won’t be running for president in 2016.
Speaking to supporters today, the former governor and 2012 Republican nominee said, “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.”
>>> Romney Gives Way to ‘Other Leaders,’ Takes Himself Out of 2016 Race
Romney’s remarks were first reported by conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
The news instantly sparked reaction on Twitter.
Good on #Romney for testing the waters, finding them cold and making the right call not to go.
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) January 30, 2015
In the 3 weeks since it was reported Romney was “almost certainly” in, the response has ranged from lukewarm to hostile. Had to factor.
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) January 30, 2015
Now that Romney is out, I expect Christie to become more aggressive to compete with Bush
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) January 30, 2015
So folks really thought Romney would announce a presidential bid on a conference call?
— Matt Ford (@fordm) January 30, 2015
This is why Romney decided not to run http://t.co/1Q3DHiKROR
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) January 30, 2015
Romney announcing he’s not running? The first good decision he’s made since 2011.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 30, 2015
Yay! #Romney is not running for POTUS! Hoping we don’t get stuck with a terrible nominee in the end. #2016
— Anna Maria Hoffman (@AM_Hoffman) January 30, 2015
So Jeb didn’t “steal” the Romney advisor so much as he was given him.
— Matthew DesOrmeaux (@cynicusprime) January 30, 2015
Romney to his donors: “What you have already done is a tribute to your patriotism. ”
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) January 30, 2015
SHOCK: Romney not running for president in 2016. Interesting
— Ashley Pratte (@AshPratte) January 30, 2015
Just think how much you’re going to be missing. You don’t have Romney to kick around any more pic.twitter.com/EK1JdTdV2J
— Clark Riemer (@clarkriemer) January 30, 2015
#FailedDailyBeastScoops RT @thedailybeast: EXCLUSIVE: ROMNEY RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT http://t.co/prpPfkYcFQ pic.twitter.com/37KK5zKloc
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) January 30, 2015
Somewhere in a third-world country, an impoverished child awaits his Romney 2016 shirt.
— Matt (@mdrache) January 30, 2015
The reason Romney is bowing out is because he’s running for Elizabeth Warren’s seat: http://t.co/fsbyE8Jnrr pic.twitter.com/8YjxjmsPMr
— Mark Follman (@markfollman) January 30, 2015
I like old Romney (please don’t stop having drinks w/me occasionally libertarian friends), but I’m pretty stoked for his family right now.
— SarahLee (@sarailola) January 30, 2015
Mitt #Romney, the candidate America deserves, just not the one it needs right now.
— Amy Lutz (@amylutz4) January 30, 2015
Romney out. Wall Street has its candidate. pic.twitter.com/Q3OHktpqC1
— Andrew Stiles (@AndrewStilesUSA) January 30, 2015
Reaction to Romney announcement. What’s yours? http://t.co/Rl8gEcrMVn https://t.co/ZykBfMx9ZM
— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) January 30, 2015
Romney news: reactions. https://t.co/TeKV8GsNvf
— Bob Schooley (@Rschooley) January 30, 2015
Romney declines 2016 bid to focus on solving murders with his wife and gravelly-voiced butler.
— Donny Ferguson (@DonnyFerguson) January 30, 2015
Romney out of 2016 race: @MittRomney :”best to give other leaders in the Party the opportunity to become our next nominee.”
— T. Ramps ? (@dotnotfeather80) January 30, 2015
The good news about Romney running: Tim Pawlenty avoids getting his hopes up for a VP nod a third straight time.
— Demetrius Minor (@dminor85) January 30, 2015
Romney is the Harold Stassen of not running
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) January 30, 2015
Guess how many political reporters have emailed me pointing out that Bloomberg and The Daily Beast got Romney news wrong? a) 5 b) 7 c) 11
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) January 30, 2015
I knew we hadn’t lived good enough lives that we’d get to mock Romney for another cycle. New Romney jokes are easier than new Santorum jokes
— Blue Girl (@BGinKC) January 30, 2015
Let the Romney endorsement watch commence!
— sarajust (@sarajust) January 30, 2015
I think the real takeaway from Romney’s decision not to run is that it puts us one step closer to a Bush vs. Clinton campaign.. Yikes
— Tamara (@LibertarianSass) January 30, 2015
GOP politicos wondering why Romney took process so far, so publicly, to say no…
— Byron York (@ByronYork) January 30, 2015
Never thought Romney was going to run in 2016. Have y’all not seen the ending of MITT? Great little doc by the way. pic.twitter.com/vVUHzjQtFp
— J.S. Lewis (@thejslewis) January 30, 2015
Congratulations to Mitt Romney for finally saying something the American people want to hear.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) January 30, 2015
Surprised Romney won’t run in 2016. He was my prediction to win the presidency but now I guess not.
— Derek Estes (@NotDerekEstes) January 30, 2015
.@JohnFugelsang Ann Romney has spoken. Now when do we hear the news from Trump’s wig?
— Wile E. Peyote (@DrSchadNFreude) January 30, 2015
Mitt Romney officially drops out … pic.twitter.com/SbY1mGZJGh
— Marcel J. van Rossum (@CarrollStandard) January 30, 2015