Fox News' Rupert Murdoch really, really doesn't like Mitt Romney

published 27 January 2015

The Australian-born media magnate — who owns both Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, both highly influential in conservative circles — has made his distaste for Mitt Romney all too clear, as chronicled in this story from The New York Times:

In the delicate and unseen campaign underway for Mr. Murdoch’s affections in the next presidential campaign, this much is clear: Mr. Romney is out of the running, a reality that has pained and angered his allies.Presidential politics is rife with grudges and grievances, but it is hard to recall a display of animus as unsubtle as that which Mr. Murdoch and corners of his media empire have unleashed on Mr. Romney in the past few weeks as he has tried to build support for a third presidential run.Mr. Murdoch’s most prominent American newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, has called Mr. Romney’s last run a “calamity.” Mr. Murdoch has dismissed Mr. Romney as a “terrible candidate.” And, in a final indignity, Mr. Murdoch has heaped praise on Mr. Romney’s potential rivals, no matter how long a shot they have at the Republican nomination. [The New York Times]

Who does Murdoch like? According to the Times, he's a fan of Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, and Rand Paul.