Romney Concession Speech: GOP Candidate Congratulates Obama, Thanks Family And Followers [Video]
Mitt Romney has just wrapped up his concession speech in Boston. Governor Romney opened his brief but gracious speech by telling a crowd of politely applauding supporters:
“I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory.”
The GOP challenger added that he believes President Barack Obama would be successful in guiding the nation through a challenging time and called for a greater degree of bipartisanship. Some of the biggest cheers during the five-minute speech were reserved for Romney’s mention of his wife Ann. Speaking about his spouse, Romney reflected:
“She would have been a wonderful First Lady.”
Warm thanks was also given to Paul Ryan, Romney’s running mate; the defeated GOP candidate described Ryan as “after Ann, the second best choice I’ve ever made. ”
Romney added he was counting on America’s businesses and job creators to invest in the country and help generate employment. He said that he believed in the people of America, a remark that also attracted warm applause.
As he brought his speech to a close, Romney said he “ran for election because I’m concerned about America,” telling supporters he and Paul Ryan had tried their best throughout the election campaign:
“Like so many of you, Paul and I have left everything on the field. We have given our all to this campaign.”
Yet in a final display of good grace, he said:
“The nation chose another leader, and so Ann and I join with you to pray for him and for this great nation.”
You can watch Mitt Romney’s concession speech in its entirety below:
Many Twitter users clearly thought Romney came across well in his speech:
last thing;#Romney gave a great speech, he was so humble. I’m sad by the end result but happy to know that there IS a higher power, God.
— Bailey Grouse (@baileyrachele) November 7, 2012
Very gracious, Mr Romney, good luck in your future endeavors. #Romney
— Stephen Leuchtman (@leuchtman) November 7, 2012
#Romney took the high road in his concession speech. #classy #election2012
— Sarah M. Wojcik (@Sarah_M_Wojcik) November 7, 2012
Update:CNN has now posted a complete transcript of Romney’s speech:
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Thank you so very much.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory. His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations.
His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations. I wish all of them well, but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters.
(APPLAUSE)
This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.
(APPLAUSE)
I want to thank Paul Ryan for all that he has done for our campaign.
(APPLAUSE)
And for our country. Besides my wife, Ann, Paul is the best choice I’ve ever made.
(APPLAUSE)
And I trust that his intellect and his hard work and his commitment to principle will continue to contribute to the good of our nation.
(APPLAUSE)
I also want to thank Ann, the love of my life.
(APPLAUSE)
She would have been a wonderful first lady. She’s – she has been that and more to me and to our family and to the many people that she has touched with her compassion and her care.
I thank my sons for their tireless work on behalf of the campaign, and thank their wives and children for taking up the slack as their husbands and dads have spent so many weeks away from home.
(APPLAUSE)
I want to thank Matt Rhoades and the dedicated campaign team he led.
(APPLAUSE)
They have made an extraordinary effort not just for me, but also for the country that we love.
And to you here tonight, and to the team across the country – the volunteers, the fundraisers, the donors, the surrogates – I don’t believe that there’s ever been an effort in our party that can compare with what you have done over these past years. Thank you so very much.
Thanks for all the hours of work, for the calls, for the speeches and appearances, for the resources and for the prayers. You gave deeply from yourselves and performed magnificently. And you inspired us and you humbled us. You’ve been the very best we could have imagined.
The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this, we can’t risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people’s work.
And we citizens also have to rise to the occasion. We look to our teachers and professors, we count on you not just to teach, but to inspire our children with a passion for learning and discovery.
We look to our pastors and priests and rabbis and counselors of all kinds to testify of the enduring principles upon which our society is built: honesty, charity, integrity and family.
We look to our parents, for in the final analysis everything depends on the success of our homes.
We look to job creators of all kinds. We’re counting on you to invest, to hire, to step forward.
And we look to Democrats and Republicans in government at all levels to put the people before the politics.
I believe in America. I believe in the people of America.
(APPLAUSE)
And I ran for office because I’m concerned about America. This election is over, but our principles endure. I believe that the principles upon which this nation was founded are the only sure guide to a resurgent economy and to renewed greatness.
Like so many of you, Paul and I have left everything on the field. We have given our all to this campaign.
(APPLAUSE)
I so wish – I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead the country in a different direction, but the nation chose another leader. And so Ann and I join with you to earnestly pray for him and for this great nation.
Thank you, and God bless America. You guys are the best. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thanks, guys.
(APPLAUSE)
Did you watch Mitt Romney’s concessions speech? Do you think he came across well, and do you feel his plea for greater unity between America’s two political giants will lead to more cooperation?
