Mitt Romney told Republican leaders on Friday he is giving “serious consideration” to his political future, a hint that he may make a third bid for the presidency.
Romney, appearing at a Republican National Committee meeting aboard the U.S.S. Midway, an aircraft carrier museum, said the upcoming presidential election required “conservative principles” for a “post-Obama era,” news outlets reported.
His reception was welcoming but not overly enthusiastic, according to media reports. His appearance comes after a surprise announcement to donors earlier this month that he is weighing whether to jump into the race.
Romney, the 2012 GOP nominee, told Republicans Friday that the upcoming presidential race should focus on making the world safer, improving economic opportunities for all Americans, and helping people escape poverty.
“If we communicate those things effectively, people will be with our party and our nominee,” said the former Massachusetts governor.
His 2012 campaign infamously faltered after he was secretly recorded giving a speech that appeared to disparage lower-income earners who relied on government assistance by referring to them as the “47 percent.”
Romney said his wife Ann hasn’t quite made up her mind about whether he should run again but that “she thinks people will get better with experience, and heaven knows I have experience running for president.”
