In an odd, 'compassionate conservative' twist, Romney criticized Democratic President Barack Obama for his failure to tackle poverty and income inequality. Under Obama's tenure, he noted, "the rich have gotten richer, income inequality has gotten worse, and there are more people in poverty in America than ever before."
The former Massachusetts governor noted that in the event of a run, he would seek to "provide opportunity for all Americans regardless of the neighborhood they live in," and to try to "lift people out of poverty." Romney called the American middle class's uncertainty over their children's future a "human tragedy". Only "Republican principles, conservative principles" which "include family formation, and education and good jobs" would "finally end the scourge of poverty in this great land," he noted.
Romney, a private equity executive whose Bain Capital venture was severely criticized during his last run for president for its cut-throat business practices that appear to have been taken straight out of the 1987 Oliver Stone film Wall Street, has also been accused of holding some of his wealth in offshore banks to avoid paying taxes. The former presidential hopeful also ran into trouble during the campaign for telling a group of donors at a closed-door meeting that 47 percent of Americans would never vote for him because they are dependent on government benefits. "My job is not to worry about those people," Romney had then noted, adding that "I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
Joking with the crowd about his past failed runs, Romney explained that his wife Ann had told him that "people get better with experience," adding that "heaven knows that I have experience running for president."
Walker, speaking at the RNC event a day ahead of Romney, noted that the party needs "a new fresh leader…big bold ideas," and a "proven track record," according to the Los Angeles Times.
