Republican Mitt Romney took a victory lap Sunday for being proven prescient in his foreign policy comments during the 2012 presidential campaign but reiterated that he won’t stand for election in 2016.
President Obama mocked Romney in 2012 for arguing that Russia was among the biggest “geopolitical” foes of the United States and asserting that Islamic radicalism was still on the march. Those comments turned out to be correct in the two years since Romney failed to oust Obama, as the former Massachusetts governor happily pointed during an interview with Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.”
Romney recently raised eyebrows in an interview with conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt when he appeared to leave the door open to a third presidential bid in 2016. But pressed by Wallace on Sunday, Romney sounded Shermanesque, even though he declined to characterize his decision not to run again as such.
“I’ve spoken on this topic so many times, I don’t really have anything new to add, Chris. I’m not running; I’m not planning on running. I’m going to be supporting our nominee, hopefully a strong individual that’s able to take our message to the American people and get this country back on track for the people that need help,” Romney said, adding: “I’m not going to add to the story; I’ve got nothing new for you. I’ve spoken on this time and time again. I’m not running; I’m not planning on running, and I’m going to be helping the person who takes the banner for us.”
Pressed again by Wallace, Romney said: “There’s no question in my mind that I think I’d have been a better president than Barack Obama has been — no question in my mind about that. And there are other good people who I’m sure will be able to lead the country in the future. I wish it were me. Let me tell you, it was a great experience running for president. I loved that. But my time has come and gone. I had that opportunity. I ran; I didn’t win. And now, it’s time for someone else to pick up the baton.”
