Mitt Romney makes it (almost) official: Is he still the GOP frontrunner?

To no one's surprise, the former Massachusetts governor announces a presidential exploratory committee. Does he start the race in pole position?

In his video announcing a 2012 exploratory committee, Mitt Romney says his experience working in the private sector gives him the know-how to boost employment.
(Image credit: YouTube)

The video: Mitt Romney took to YouTube on Monday to announce that he's formed a presidential exploratory committee, the first formal step to seeking the Republican nomination in 2012. Standing in front of an empty University of New Hampshire football field, Romney touts his job-creating experience in the private sector, and criticizes President Obama's economic policies as naive. (See the video below.) Only one other major GOP candidate has stepped this far into the race — former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty — but, so far, Romney remains first in most national GOP polls.

The reaction: Romney "starts the primary as a, if not the, frontrunner," says Adam Sorensen in TIME. But that doesn't mean it will be an easy path to the nomination. He has to raise lots of money to outlast a crowded GOP field, convince voters he has principles that don't shift with the political wind, and figure out how to deal with his legacy of "RomneyCare" in Massachusetts. On the other hand, he has "a top-flight political organization, a robust network, and a recognizable public persona." And yet, he made his "exciting announcement in one of the most boring videos I've ever seen," says Jonathan Capehart in The Washington Post. "If the nomination were won on announcements alone," so far Pawlenty "would win hands down." Judge for yourself:

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us