Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
May 16, 2011: Romney raises $10.25 million in one day
Romney raised $10.25 million in a single day after bringing together his network of wealthy donors to dial for dollars in a city with no shortage of them.
Romney's phone bank fundraiser at the Las Vegas Convention Center, much like one during his first attempt at the Republican nomination in 2008, was the centerpiece of a series of fundraising events that included a conference call with volunteers who were asked to solicit their friends and neighbors for donations.
"This is a big kickoff for us, for our fundraising effort. It's kind of a celebration," Romney told the more than 400 supporters tuned in to watch him host a brief town hall-style broadcast on Facebook. "It's important to me that we get that started, the ball rolling today."
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
June 2, 2011: Romney formally announces his candidacy
Mitt Romney launched his presidential campaign in New Hampshire with a scathing attack on President Obama's economic record, pointing to several lagging economic indicators he called "President Obama's own misery index."
"Barack Obama has failed America," Romney said from a farm in Stratham. "When he took office, the economy was in recession. He made it worse. And he made it last longer."
More than 16 million Americans are out of work or have stopped looking for work, he said, unemployment remains above 8 percent, foreclosures are still at record levels and home prices continue to fall. On top of that, the national debt has grown, as have food and gas prices.
"These failing hopes make up President Obama's own misery index. It's never been higher," Romney said. "Mr. President, you've had your chance."
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
Dec. 10, 2011: Romney offers Rick Perry a $10,000 bet during a debate
Mitt Romney stuck out his hand and challenged Rick Perry to a $10,000 bet at a Republican presidential debate, prompting Perry to decline because he is "not in the betting business."
At issue was Perry's claim that he read in Romney's book "No Apology" that the individual health care mandate Romney signed into law as Massachusetts governor "should be the model for the country."
"I know it came out of the reprint of the book, but, you know, I'm just saying, you were for individual mandates, my friend."
That seemed to anger Romney, who responded, "you know what, you've raised that before, Rick. And you're wrong."
"Rick, I'll tell you what -- $10,000 bucks, $10,000 bet," Romney continued, thrusting his hand in the direction of the surprised Texas governor.
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
January 3, 2012: Romney wins Iowa - temporarily
After the initial Iowa caucuses vote count showed Romney with an 8 vote victory over Rick Santorum, less than three weeks later, with no clear explanation, the Iowa Republican Party declared Santorum the winner by 34 votes.
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
January 4, 2012: John McCain endorses Romney
Speaking to voters at a town hall meeting in Manchester, N.H., McCain, the Arizona senator and former 2008 GOP standard bearer lambasted President Obama's record, warning him: "You can run but you can't hide - from your record of making this country bankrupt; from destroying our nation security, and from making this nation one that we have to restore."
Invoking his 2008 comeback win in the Granite State - where he bested Romney despite the former Massachusetts' governor's considerable New Hampshire ties - McCain expressed "some nostalgia" at returning to the state. But, he said, he returned "to make sure that we make Mitt Romney the next president of the United States of America - and New Hampshire is the state that will catapult him on to victory."
"The time has arrived for Republicans to choose a presidential nominee; a new standard bearer who has the ability and determination to defeat President Obama and the strongest commitment to returning America to prosperity and defending our interests and values overseas. I'm pleased to have made my choice, and to endorse Governor Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination for president," he added, in a statement sent out by the Romney campaign during the event.
The endorsement has the aura of a favor returned. Four years ago, Romney endorsed, and later campaigned for, the Arizona senator after announcing his own withdrawal from the race. The two had been fierce competitors in the days leading up to Romney's withdrawal last time around.
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
Jan. 31, 2012: Romney wins Fla. primary
Mitt Romney defeated Newt Gingrich decisively in the Florida Republican primary in a victory that reestablished the former Massachusetts governor as the clear frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination.
"I stand ready to lead this party and to lead our nation," Romney told cheering supporters in Tampa after his victory became clear.
Gingrich, meanwhile, vowed to fight on in the wake of a potentially-devastating loss, telling supporters, "we are going to contest every place and we are going to win, and we will be in Tampa as the nominee in August."
Gingrich wound up dropping out on May 2.
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
Feb. 2, 2012: Donald Trump endorses Romney
Reality television show host Donald Trump injected himself into the race for the Republican nomination for president when he endorsed Mitt Romney.
"It is my honor, real honor, and privilege to endorse Mitt Romney," Trump said with Romney and Romney's wife Ann at his side for the brief announcement at a Las Vegas hotel bearing Trump's name.
"Mitt is tough. He is smart. He is sharp. He is not going to allow bad things to continue to happen to this country that we all love. So Gov. Romney, go out and get em. You can do it," Trump added.
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
March 6, 2012: Romney wins big on Super Tuesday
Mitt Romney was the big winner on Super Tuesday, winning six of ten states, defeating his rivals in Massachusetts, Vermont, Virginia, Idaho, Alaska, and in the crucial race of Ohio.
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
March 21, 2012: Romney adviser likens general election strategy to an "Etch A Sketch"
Romney campaign communications director Eric Fehrnstrom was asked on CNN if he was concerned that the primary challenge from Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich "might force the governor to tack so far to the right" that Romney will alienate moderates who would otherwise vote for him if and when he reaches the general election.
"Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign," Fehrnstrom responded. "Everything changes. It's almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again."
Santorum's campaign pounced on the comment in a news release, with Santorum communications director Hogan Gidley saying, "We all knew Mitt Romney didn't have any core convictions, but we appreciate his staff going on national television to affirm that point for anyone who had any doubts."
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
April 10, 2012: Rick Santorum drops out
"We made a decision over the weekend that while this presidential race for us is over for me, and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting," Santorum said at a press conference in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Santorum did not endorse Romney in making his announcement, though he did vow to fight to defeat President Obama and help Republicans win the Senate in the fall.
In a statement, Romney called Santorum "an able and worthy competitor" and congratulated his often-bitter rival for his campaign.
"He has proven himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation," said Romney. "We both recognize that what is most important is putting the failures of the last three years behind us and setting America back on the path to prosperity."
Santorum ultimately endorsed Romney on May 7.
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
May 29, 2012: Romney clinches GOP nomination
Romney sailed to victory in the Texas GOP primary, earning 69 percent of the vote and surpassing the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the nomination. Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who announced earlier in May that he would no longer be actively campaigning in the race, earned 11 percent.
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
July 26, 2012: Romney's gaffe-filled foreign trip begins
Romney's six-day, three-country trip, which was meant to exhibit his skills as a statesman, was riddled with gaffes and controversies. From comments questioning the U.K.'s preparedness to host the Olympics; to controversial remarks about the relationship between "culture" and economic success; to a scuffle between his traveling press secretary and reporters, Romney was ridiculed by the British media and skewered by Democrats.
"He certainly didn't prove to anyone that he passed the commander in chief test," said top Obama campaign adviser Robert Gibbs in a press call, seizing on the controversies as evidence of the former Massachusetts governor's leadership deficit.
Despite his troubles, however, the lasting impact of his missteps are questionable: The notion that voters will still care about Romney's trip abroad come November is debatable, and the candidate, back on U.S. soil, is swiftly refocusing his message to reflect the talking points he's been hammering home for months.
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
August 11, 2012: Romney chooses Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., as his running mate
Mitt Romney's road to the Republican nomination
August 27-30, 2012: Romney becomes the GOP nominee
Romney will be officially nominated at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., during a roll call vote on Tuesday, August 27 and he will accept the nomination with a speech Thursday night.