Washington (CNN) - Mitt Romney Monday took his first formal step towards launching another bid for the White House.
The former Massachusetts governor, who was a candidate for 2008 Republican presidential nomination, announced that he was setting up a presidential exploratory committee.
"From my vantage point in business and in government, I have become convinced that America has been put on a dangerous course by Washington politicians, and it has become even worse during the last two years. But I am also convinced that with able leadership, America's best days are still ahead," says Romney, in a video to supporters. "That is why today I am announcing my Exploratory Committee for the Presidency of the United States."
Romney spends most of his time in the video talking about the economy, touting his experience in creating jobs and balancing budgets in the business world. Romney taped his video at the University of New Hampshire and starts his message by pointing out that he spoke Monday morning to students at the Durham, New Hampshire campus. The state holds the first primary in the presidential primary and caucus calendar and is considered a must win contest for Romney.
Monday's announcement allows Romney to begin to fundraise for a White House bid.
"While this step does not constitute a formal announcement of candidacy, it allows Governor Romney to be in compliance with the requirements of federal election law as he begins to raise the funds necessary to explore a potential candidacy," says an email release from Romney's campaign.
Romney raised $65.1 million in contributions for his 2008 bid for the GOP nomination. In addition he loaned his campaign $42.3 million from his personal funds.
As of Monday afternoon, Romney's "statement of organization" and the letter serving as his "statement of candidacy" are both now on file with the Federal Election Commission.
Romney is the second major GOP candidate to announce an exploratory committee. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced an exploratory committee on March 21. Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer and conservative radio talk show host and former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain have also formed exploratory committees.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich filed paperwork with the IRS in March to form a fundraising committee to "explore" the possibility of a presidential bid.
Romney's announcement comes one day before the fifth anniversary of the signing by the former Massachusetts governor of a universal health care law in the Bay state. The measure, which has been criticized by some fellow Republicans, could hurt Romney with GOP primary and caucus voters.
Massachusetts Democrats are holding a party Tuesday to mark the occasion, including a "Thank You Mitt Romney" cake. And next door in New Hampshire, which holds the first primary in the race for the White House, Democratic party officials are urging supporters to tweet Romney to thank him for standing "shoulder-to-shoulder with Senator Kennedy to sign Massachusetts' historic health care reform law."
But senior Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom tells CNN that "somehow I'm not surprised that Democrats are sitting around eating cake while 14 million unemployed Americans are struggling to put food on their table."
On April 12, 2006, the then Republican governor in a state dominated by Democrats, signed into law a health care plan that would insure almost every resident of Massachusetts. At the time, it was praised by supporters of health care reform as a landmark achievement for Romney. The lynchpin of the law was an insurance mandate that required the people of Massachusetts to get health insurance.
Former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who is expected to make a run for the GOP presidential nomination, has been critical of the Massachusetts law, as has former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who ran for the White House in 2008 and may make another bid for the Republican nomination in 2012.
Romney addressed his record in a March speech, explaining the law was a "state plan intended to address problems that were in many ways unique to Massachusetts."
"Our experiment wasn't perfect. Some things worked. Some didn't. And some things I'd change," Romney said. "One thing I would never do is to usurp the constitutional power of states with a one-size-fits-all federal takeover."
Romney is considered by many handicappers to be one of the favorites to win his party's presidential nomination. Most national polls of possible Republican primary and caucus voters put Romney at or near the top in the battle for the nomination.
Romney's brought back many, but not all, of his advisers from his 2008 bid. Monday's announcement wasn't leaked prior to the message going up on Romney's campaign website, a sign that his closest advisers are keeping on message and staying disciplined.
From CNN Politics
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Good luck running on RomneyCare/ObamaCare. lol
Why doesn't he use the one that he's used for the last two Presidential elections, or reconstitute the unit that Harold Stassen used to use in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s?
I hope he runs. I think a Romney/Huckabee ticket would really give Obama a run for his money in 2012. Listen to what Romney is saying about fixing our country I think you will find he is on the right track.
...and it's time we elected someone with the leadership, experience, qualifications and values to get America there.
Romney 2012!
That picture is unfortunate....it make him look like" I've not been this excited since I dodged the draft!"
Worthless LDS Royalty
And RomneyCare! Oops.
That's right GOP, rehash the worst of the worst. Next we need McCain to throw his hat into the cesspool
The only thing I got against you Romney is the health care you implemented in MA. You need to come clean and admit it was a mistake. Just a state experiment. Not like Obummie care. You have more business sense in your little finger than Obummie will ever have. Show that fool what Econ 101 is. Obummie couldn't run a lemonade stand.
Mr. Flip Flopper is thinking maybe? Come on Mittens, grow a pair.
Romney I like you alot, I want you to be president but your health care in Massachussetts has failed tremendously.
That's one way of keeping a part of the republican vote with Obama. Perhaps he can have Palin as VP and one of those other crazy ladies as Sec'y of State.
And we can cut George Bush and Dick Cheney's deficit by giving rich guys like me tax cuts and just cut spending and the whole world will be nice and merry.
Commence Hate-Filled Liberal Bashing Now.
Mittens, I hate to break this to you, but we were on a course to greatness, and then the supreme court picked the idiot from Texas in 2000 as president.
Stolen election time!
How many houses does Mittens have to sell to be taken seriously?
Oh God Please deliver us from another republican. Amen.
We hated you in the statehouse now your cronies will have us hating you in the White House?!
America will not vote for this Mormon President Candidate. The GOP knows this. Donald Trump has more chance winning because of his centrist appeal.
Mitt, don't bother. We don't need the author of RomneyCare leading us in these dark days.
Yeah!!! You'll make a fantastic President!
Its always time now isn't it....^_^
The Republican race is starting, may the best man or women have the privilege of beating the one term President Obama. One term is enough that this country can handel.
Wow! Who'd have thunk?
The Republican race is starting, may the best man or women have the privilege of beating the one term President Obama.