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Politics

With vow of new vision, Romney joins '08 GOP field

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published February 14, 2007

DEARBORN, Mich. - Mitt Romney, a lesser-known Republican in a packed presidential field, embarked on a White House bid Tuesday, calling himself a political outsider with the managerial skills necessary to fix a flawed Washington.

"We have lost faith in government," Romney said in his native state as he formally entered the 2008 race. "It is time for innovation and transformation in Washington. It is what our country needs. It is what our people deserve."

His political resume thin - he served just one term as Massachusetts governor - Romney sought to turn that potential weakness into a strength, portraying himself as the best candidate to meet the country's challenges given his venture capitalist background and proven leadership in the public, private and volunteer sectors.

In doing so, he attempted to draw a distinction between his qualifications and those of his top Republican rival, four-term Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who is considered the GOP candidate to beat.

"I don't believe Washington can be transformed from within by lifetime politicians," Romney said.

Although he is not well-known nationally, Romney is considered a serious candidate in the same tier as McCain and former two-term New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. All three are expected to be able to raise the millions needed for a strong bid.

Romney, who ran as a moderate in a failed 1994 Senate campaign and his winning gubernatorial campaign eight years later, is trying to convince the party's base he is a conservative and sincere in his opposition to abortion and gay marriage, issues critical to the GOP base.

Fast Facts:

Mitt Romney

Age: 59; born March 12, 1947, in Detroit

Education: Bachelor of arts, Brigham Young University, 1971; MBA, Harvard Business School, 1975; law degree, Harvard Law School, 1975.

Political career: Massachusetts governor, 2003-2007; ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 1994.

Professional career: CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics, 1999-2002; joined Bain & Co., a management consulting firm, in 1977; vice president of Bain & Co., 1978-84; head of Bain Capital, a venture capital firm, 1984-1990; head of Bain Capital, 1992-1999

Personal: Married Ann Romney on March 21, 1969; five sons, 10 grandchildren.

Quote: "Talk is easy, talk is cheap. It is the doing that's hard. And it is only in doing that hopes and dreams can come to life."

[Last modified February 14, 2007, 01:03:09]