Romney concedes: Ryan and I "left everything on the field"

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney concedes defeat November 7, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts, telling supporters that he had called US President Barack Obama to congratulate him on his victory. / DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty

Saying goodbye to a nearly six-year run for the White House, Mitt Romney early Wednesday morning conceded the presidential race to President Obama, thanking a room full of disappointed supporters near his Boston, Mass., headquarters for their devotion to his failed bid. He and his running mate Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., "left everything on the field," Romney said, adding "we have given our all to this campaign."

• Four more years for battle-hardened Obama
• Obama re-embraces "hope" in victory speech

"I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead the country in a different direction," Romney said in remarks that began an hour and a half after CBS News called the election for President Obama, and lasted only a few minutes. "But the nation chose another leader. So Ann and I join with you to earnestly pray for him and for this great nation."

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Mitt Romney's concession speech

With a projected win in the battleground of Ohio, the president arrived at the necessary 270 electoral votes relatively early on in what was largely expected to be a long night. Romney, who lost the 2008 primary to Sen. John McCain, called Mr. Obama to congratulate him shortly before taking the stage with his wife Ann, five sons, grandchildren, and the Ryan family.

Reprising a line from the stump, Romney said his pick of Ryan was, "besides my wife Ann," the "best choice I ever made." He added of Ryan, seen as a rising star in the GOP who may consider a bid himself in 2016: "I trust that his intellect and his hard work and his commitment to principle will continue to contribute to the good of our nation."

"The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing," Romney said, eliciting the night's most enthusiastic cheer from his discouraged audience, which had fallen silent as returns trickled in through the evening. "Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the permanent work; we citizens also have to rise to the occasion."

After thanking everyone from his donors to his surrogates to his senior adviser Matt Rhoades, Romney ended his brief remarks - which he had said he hadn't prepared earlier on Tuesday - on as positive a note as he could muster.

"I ran for office because I'm concerned about America," he said. "This election is over, but our principles endure. I believe that the principles upon which this nation was founded are the only sure guide to resurgent economy, and to a new greatness."

[blitz828]

oh i forgot about all the hollywood celebs. i guess if you are a celeb and endorse obama its ok to be rich then too.

[blitz828]

since when has it become a crime to be rich?? isnt that what the american dream was?? im not rich but i dont condem those who are. i would like to make or have a bunch of money. you talk about racism, but just because obama is black doesnt mean he is poor. that's what you must think as i dont see anyone condeming obama for being rich or is that ok cause he is black? also from the sounds of his youth he must not been too bad off as look at the schools he went to and his travels abroad. must be nice.

[WildPainter]

I have not hear anyone condemn the rich. What I have heard alot about is how the rich have rigged the political economic system in our country insuring themselves that the bulk of the wealth creation that is done by working people goes to them. This is called wealth extraction. Take Romney and his Bain Capital:

Being the son of a governor and Auto manufacturing CEO Romney had massive advantages that no ordinary educated and working young individual in our country gets.

When Romney started Bain Capital his investors were wealthy aristocrats who were running military death squads in their own country to suppress the rights of the people and protect their economic monopolies. They were looking for a safe haven for their money. Romney took their money and made them wealthier. A totally immoral act.

Romney's Bain Capital is a private equity firm whose purpose is to harvest companies that they invest in by stripping them of their wealth.

Not only did Romney make his millions by shipping more jobs overseas then creating them here, he also slashed wages and employee benefits and drained their pension funds,

Romney and his Bain Capital too nealy a billion dollars in State tax funds from all over the US yet in paying his taxes he made sure to give back the very least. Harry Reid spoke the truth about Romney payinf ZERO federal income taxes for more the 10 years. Bloomberg News investigated and confirmed that Romney indeed paid ZERO in Federal income taxes for more then 10 years.

This is what I hear people objecting: The robber barons who enrich themselves at the expense of everyone else including their country.

[rationall7]

I think Mittens wanted Obama to win so Bain Capital could buy all the companies that said they would go out of business if Obama was elected. Bain could buy these companies on the cheap then sell them to foreign investors (Chineese) for a profit.

[grumpas]

Romney didn't have a whole lot to leave on the field!!! It might have worked a little better if he had a few policies that didn't sound like the same old voodoo economic's in drag.

[willow11st]

Speaking of leaving something,I was Sure that Karl Rove was going to leave something on the set of Fox News Channel last night when informed of President Obama's Election!! Honestly,I thought the big lug was going to throw himself on the floor and start rolling around,kicking and screaming!!Even when the anchors tried to convince him of President Obama's winning Ohio that had put him past 270,he still had this"who farted??"look on his face!! It was PRICELESS!!!Hey,Karl,in case you're still not convinced,Our president,PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WON!! I'm just so glad to see what a gracious loser you are,with the emphasis on LOSER!!

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Thank goodness the country rejected you're on your own for we're all in this together which we truly are.

[grumpas]

I might have helped if he had a platform to run on. If he hadn't run such a cynical campaign and actually stood for some kind of values(I saw very few during his campaign). If he spent a little more time telling American's about his policies, instead of avoiding all tough questions. Imagining he didn't have to answer any questions he didn't feel like answering. I realize he has never had to apply for a job in his life, but as an applicant he sucked. The impression I am left with, Republican's thought they could throw any rich controlled arrogant white guy out there and we whites would flock to him in droves. Well, they found out a lot of we whites actually supported Obama. We didn't seem him through the same racial colored glasses they do.

[blitz828]

im sorry are u sure you have the right person???? i watched the debates and obama had nothing to say in the first one. he ran on nothing as he never gave any idea of what he was going to do until he came out with his so called plan which was full of more nothing.he has done nothing to make the county better and he has even divided the county more so than ever. he avoided the tough questions. he got our people killed on 9/1/12 and then lied about it. he was arrogant, negative, petty, and just plain stupid. romney had a plan and said what he was going to do. romney just ignored some of obamas petty childish attacks on him. romney has values. i am NOT a republican and i dont watch fox news. in fact i dont even have tv as i lost my job 6 months ago. i also dont have insurance. even with obabmacare i still wont have it and i really need it. i voted for romney cause i cant take 4 more years of job losses, obamacare,lies and a national debt that is way out of control. obama is only going to make things worse.

[Drpryr]

BLITZ828, you've clearly missed the point of this entire election. Romney lied his way through his entire campaign and built it on hatred, elitism and division. He would've turned the clock back on human rights 100 years with his narrow-minded views, to say nothing of the despicable company he kept--Donald Trump, Karl Rove, the Koch Brothers; the list is endless. All the money they threw away on him they could've used to benefit the country. Instead they chose to back a shady, under-handed snake oil salesman. Well, the American people saw through their lies and their dirty tricks and now the Republicans are finally paying for it. If they ever expect to survive, they'd better learn how to put their egocentic nonsense aside and work with the President. Like they should've been done from day one.

[stupa5]

Good bye and enjoy the Caymans Mitt!

[BUDDYofPA]

For the Lord's sake, respect all human authority
—whether the king as head of state,
or the officials he has appointed.
1 Peter 2: 13

[skeezix06]

He can go back to calling us lazy, worthless bums in private without fear of a tape finding it's way to the media.

I'm sorry. I know under the circumstances I should be nicer but every time I saw him I saw Bain and lost jobs to China. When he talked about "the 47%" retirees, it was clear he thought that anyone who gets too old or too sick to retire becomes a leech on society the minute they stop working. Both he and his wife would say things that made it clear that they didn't realize how priveleged they'd been their whole lives which made the way they looked down on the rest of us even harder to listen to.

We may say we don't have royalty, but look around. They live by different rules than we do. I would call that pretty much the definition of royalty.

[andie52]

For a man who siad he didn't like to lose this must have been a tough one guess Ann can forget about redecorating the White House.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Maybe President Obama and the First Lady will give Mr. & Mrs. Romney a tour of the White House.