Romney To Skip '06 Re-Election Bid

Fuels Speculation Mass. Gov. Will Make 2008 GOP Presidential Run

(AP) 
Romney cast himself as "a red speck in a blue state" during an October speech to a Washington think tank.

Should he run for president, Romney will need to break through a pack of more prominent Republicans. Potential rivals include McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

There has also been an undercurrent of concern among Christian conservatives, particularly in the vital South, rooted in his Mormon faith. One political operative in South Carolina branded the religion a "cult."

"His religion is a significant problem because many evangelical Christians do not believe that Mormons are Christians," Rothenberg said. "To the extent that we have controversial religions in this country, LDS (Latter Day Saints) is one of them."

Romney's decision to forgo a second term sets the stage for his 2002 running mate, Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, to seek the GOP nomination. Attorney General Tom Reilly and former Clinton administration official Deval Patrick have been battling for the Democratic nomination.

Democrats pounced on the announcement, accusing Romney of abandoning the state.

"For the past 16 years of Republican rule in this state there hasn't been one Republican governor with any long term commitment to Massachusetts," said Phil Johnston, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Former Gov. William Weld, now a candidate for governor in New York, left in 1997 to pursue a job as US ambassador to Mexico. Former Gov. Paul Cellucci resigned in 2001 to become U.S. ambassador to Canada. His replacement, Lt. Gov. Jane Swift, decided against running in 2002 to make way for Romney.