Pelosi: Dems have 'very good chance' of retaking House
Romney gets hit from Democrats and Sarah Palin

Mitt Romney kicks off 2012 presidential bid

By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY
Updated

We live blogged Republican Mitt Romney's announcement today that he's running for president. This is the second try for the White House by the ex-Massachusetts governor. USA TODAY's Susan Page was there and will have more in tomorrow's editions.

Scroll down to follow some of what happened:

1:17 p.m. ET

"I'm Mitt Romney. I believe in America and I'm running for president of the United States," he says as he ends his remarks. Some of his family are there with him. (There are five sons and 16 grandkids in all.)

1:16 p.m. ET

Romney is talking about his father, George. The elder Romney started out working as a lath-and-plaster carpenter and ended up running American Motors, before he served as governor of Michigan.

This leads Romney to talk about his vision for America:

"I refuse to believe that America is just another place on the map with a flag. We stand for freedom and opportunity and hope. The last two years have not been the best of times. While we lost a couple of years, we have not lost our way," he says.

Romney vows to repeal what he calls "Obamacare" and to balance the federal budget. His main focus will be on the economy. "My No. 1 job will to see that America is No. 1 in job creation," he says.

1:11 p.m. ET

Romney says he is shaped by his 25 years in business, his work as governor, and his stint heading up the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

"Turning around a crisis takes experience and bold action. For millions of Americans, the economy is in crisis today. Unless we change course, it'll be a crisis tomorrow," he says.

1:10 p.m. ET

Here's something you'll hear throughout the Romney campaign: He talks about how he found "a state solution to a state problem" in dealing with health care.

1:09 p.m. ET

Romney now is going through his record as Massachusetts governor. He says he refused to raise state taxes, "made tough choices" and "sent a message that business as usual was over."

He says he cut taxes 19 times, sold excess state property and cut back on expenses.

1:07 p.m. ET

Romney makes his first reference to the health care law signed by President Obama. "He rams through a disastrous national health care plan," Romney says. "This president's first answer to every problem is to take from you."

So far, Romney has also criticized Obama's handling of foreign policy, including the U.S. relationship with Israel, and for taking away from states.

1:05 p.m. ET

Romney is talking about a "better tomorrow" for America. He believes, he says, in "An America of freedom and opportunity ... a land secured by the greatest military ever seen."

"Obama sees a different America and he's taken us in a different direction," Romney said.

1:03 p.m. ET

"These failing hopes make up President Obama's own misery index," Romney says. "Mr. President, you've had your chance. We the people on this farm and the citizens of this country are just getting started."

1:01 p.m. ET

"When Barack Obama came to office we wished him well. ... Now we have more than slogans to judge him by. Barack Obama has failed America," Romney says, as he begins to recite a list of statistics on home prices, foreclosures and lost jobs.

12:59 p.m. ET

Romney is talking about the founding fathers and the American system of government. "The true source of our greatness is Americans self rule ... a government that answers to a free and independent people."

12:57 p.m. ET

Romney says his wife is his "champion in life." He's thanking the crowd and talking about the different backgrounds of people in the audience.

12:54 p.m. ET:

Ann and Mitt Romney come to the podium. The candidate will be introduced by his wife. "This is a significant moment for the country," she says.

12:51: p.m. ET

Before Romney begins, a moment of silence is held for the Massachusetts residents who lost their lives in tornadoes on Wednesday.

12:48 p.m. ET:

Romney and his wife, Ann, are making their way to the podium on the farm.

Updated at 11:40 a.m. ET

USA TODAY's Susan Page sends this report from the scene in New Hampshire, home to the nation's first presidential primary:

Scenic bales of hay? Check.

Iconic white farmhouse as backdrop? Check.

Dozens of photographers setting up? Check.

The scene at the Bittersweet Farm in Stratham, N.H., was ready to cue the candidate: former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, ready to formally announce his second bid for the presidency.

His campaign sent out excerpts of a speech that talks about President Obama, saying he has "failed America."

There would be a fair amount of competition for attention in the Granite State, with appearances elsewhere by two non-candidates, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

"The more the merrier," says Tom Rath, a Concord attorney and top Romney supporter in the state. "This is the beauty of New Hampshire. Everybody comes in; everybody gets a fair shot. The difference is, we're going to be back, and back, and back."

PREVIOUS
Pelosi: Dems have 'very good chance' of retaking House
NEXT
Romney gets hit from Democrats and Sarah Palin
To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.