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Romney to 'bring Utah values to Washington' in Senate bid

Mr Romney has been one of the Republican Party's fiercest critics of President Donald Trump - and says that's unlikely to change.

Sunday 18 February 2018 06:06, UK

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney addresses the crowd during a rally for Republican Senate candidate Dan Sullivan at a PenAir airplane hangar on November 3, 2014 in Anchorage, Alaska
Image: Mitt Romney says he wants to bring Utah's values and lessons to Washington
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Mitt Romney has launched his political comeback, announcing he is running for a Utah Senate seat.

Mr Romney confirmed his bid in a video posted on Twitter, where he said he wanted to "help bring Utah's values and Utah's lessons to Washington".

"Utah has a lot to teach the politicians in Washington," he said.

"Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world.

"Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion. And on Utah's Capitol Hill, people treat one another with respect."

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Mr Romney, 70, has been one of the Republican Party's fiercest critics of US President Donald Trump, describing him in 2016 as a "phoney" who was not fit for office.

Speaking to the Associated Press on Friday, Mr Romney said: "I call them like I see them.

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"Neither he nor I are likely to change very much.

"You can expect me to be as forthright as I have traditionally been."

Mr Romney moved to Utah with his wife Ann after losing the 2012 presidential election to Barack Obama.

Donald Trump and Mitt Romney
Image: Donald Trump at one point considered Mr Romney for secretary of state

Like 60% of Utah residents, Mr Romney is Mormon, and he is not expected to face any serious challenger for the Senate seat vacated by Orrin Hatch's retirement.

Mr Hatch had decided last year that Mr Romney was his preferred successor.

Mr Romney now has to collect the signatures of 28,000 registered Republicans to earn a place on a June primary ballot.

The wealthy businessman and former Massachusetts governor said: "I can fight for the people of Utah and do more for Utah than the average junior senator might be able to accomplish."

On Friday he visited a farm in the city of Ogden, northern Utah, where he posed for photos and made a speech.

Candidate for senate Mitt Romney (L) tours Gibson's Green Acres Dairy with Kerry Gibson on February 16, 2018 in Ogden, Utah. Romney is running for a U.S. Senate seat from Utah, currently held by Sen. Orrin Hatch, who announced his retirement after the current term expires
Image: Mitt Romney toured a dairy in Utah after announcing his Senate bid

House Speaker Paul Ryan, Mr Romney's vice presidential running mate in 2012, said: "His campaign has my unwavering support and the people of Utah will be getting an accomplished and decent man when they make him their next senator."

Democrats were not as impressed, however, with Democratic National Committee spokesman Vedant Patel saying: "Mitt Romney desperately wants to separate himself from the extremism of the current administration" but the "basic policies of Trump's GOP... were his before they were Donald Trump's."

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