SALT LAKE CITY — Mitt Romney’s announcement Friday that he will not seek the presidency in 2016 has led to disappointment for many in his adopted state of Utah.
“Bummer. Mitt Romney would have been one of the best presidents in the history of the United States,” U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said while speaking at the University of Utah on Friday.
Kirk Jowers, a close friend of Romney’s and director of the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics, said Friday morning that Romney had a brief flirtation with a third run because he thought he had the best chance of winning the White House, a belief based on favorable polling.
But after more discussion with his inner circle and family, Romney was able to confirm that his initial decision not to run was the correct one.
“His number one goal was that a Republican needs to win in 2016. Number two was to make sure what his role was in that,” Jowers said. “Once he felt comfortable some other Republican could win, he was comfortable.”