PRESS RELEASE from Romney Press
Shop
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
CONTACT: Andrea Saul
|
April 11,
2011
|
|
|
|
Mitt Romney Forms
Romney for President Exploratory Committee
Today,
Mitt Romney formed the Romney for President Exploratory Committee with
the Federal Election Commission (FEC) as a first step in a campaign for
the 2012 Republican nomination for President of the United
States.
While this step does not constitute a formal announcement of candidacy,
it allows Governor Romney to be in compliance with the requirements of
federal election law as he begins to raise the funds necessary to
explore a potential candidacy.
Gov. Romney announced his plans in an online video at
www.mittromney.com
which was made public via Facebook and Twitter. The video was taped at
the University of New Hampshire following a meeting this morning
between Gov. Romney and students who said they are worried about
getting a job after graduation. The transcript for the video is as
follows:
Hello,
I'm Mitt Romney. This morning I spoke with a number of students here at
the University of New Hampshire. Like young people all over the
country, they wonder whether they'll find good jobs when they graduate.
Last
week, in Nevada, I walked through a neighborhood with homes vacant or
in foreclosure. Unemployment there is over 13%. Across the nation, over
20 million Americans still can't find a job, or have given up looking.
How
has this happened in the nation that leads the world in innovation and
productivity? The answer is that President Obama's policies have
failed. He and virtually all the people around him have never worked in
the real economy. They just don't know how jobs are created in the
private sector.
That's
where I spent my entire career. In 1985, I helped found a company. At
first, we had ten employees; today there are hundreds.
My
work led me to become deeply involved in helping other businesses, from
innovative startups to large companies going through tough times.
Sometimes I was successful and helped create jobs, other times I was
not. I learned how America competes with companies in other countries,
why jobs leave, and how jobs are created here at home.
Later,
when I served as governor of Massachusetts, I used the skills I had
learned in 25 years in business to streamline state government, balance
the budget every year, and restore a 2 billion dollar rainy day fund.
From
my vantage point in business and in government, I have become convinced
that America has been put on a dangerous course by Washington
politicians, and it has become even worse during the last two years.
But I am also convinced that with able leadership, America's best days
are still ahead.
That is why today I am announcing my Exploratory Committee for the
Presidency of the United States.
It
is time that we put America back on a course of greatness, with a
growing economy, good jobs and fiscal discipline in Washington.
I
believe in America. I believe in the freedom and opportunity, and the
principles of our constitution, that have led us to become the greatest
nation in the history of the earth – and I believe that these
principles will confirm American's future as well.
This
effort is not about a person, it is about the cause of American freedom
and greatness. I'd like to ask you to join with us – volunteer, donate,
or just pass this along to a friend. Thanks so much.
The letter filed with the FEC is attached here.
###
TRANSCRIPT of FEC letter
Mitt Romney
80 Hayden Avenue
Lexington, Massachusetts 02421
April 11, 2011
Processing Division
Federal Election Commission
999 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20463
RE: FEC Form 2
To Whom It May Concern
I am today forming Romney for President
Exploratory Committee, Inc., as the
first step in a campaign for the 2012 Republican nomination for
President of
the United States.
While the creation of my exploratory committee does not
constitute a formal
announcement of candidacy, I’ve reached the legal threshold for filing
FEC Form 2. Thus, please accept this letter as my FEC Form Two in
order to
ensure compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act. See 2
U.S.C § 432(e)(1); 11 C.F.R. § 100.3(a)(1).
The name and address of my principle
committee is:
Romney
for President Exploratory Committee, Inc.
80 Hayden Avenue
Lexington,
Massachusetts 02421
The committee’s amended Statement of
Organization (FEC Form 1) is also being filed today pursuant to 10
C.F.R. § 102.1
Sincerely,
Mitt Romney
www.mittromney.com