Romney rips into Republicans for failing to stop Trump
Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, has harshly criticized the Republicans for failing to stop Donald Trump’s climb to the party’s nomination.
During a question-and-answer session before around 250 prominent Republican donors organized by CNN on Saturday, Romney said this year’s primary candidates made a series of tactical errors that allowed Trump to rise.
“Their biggest failure was attacking each other and not the frontrunner,” Romney said. “Just politically, I thought that move was not right for them.”
The former Massachusetts governor reserved his strongest words for Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who Romney endorsed late in the primary process, for what he said was praising Trump.
“Ted Cruz was basically praising Donald Trump through the whole process until the very end,” Romney said.
He also criticized Ohio Governor John Kasich for dividing the anti-Trump vote by staying too long in the race. “He was in well after the time there was no possible pathway to becoming the nominee.”
Romney, however, gave credit to Trump for running a successful campaign, noting that the billionaire businessman tapped into the deep voter frustration in the country. “It was a very effective strategy.”
The 2012 nominee has called Trump a “con man” and a “fraud,” and refused to endorse the candidate.
“I find this so troubling, and I know a lot of folks are saying, 'Mitt just get off your high horse on this and get behind the guy.' But these things are personal. I love this country. I love the founders. I love what this country is built upon and its values and seeing this is breaking my heart,” Romney said.
Trump, a real estate mogul and former reality TV star from New York, has propelled himself as the presumptive Republican nominee by framing himself as an anti-establishment outsider.
His campaign has been defined by controversy from the beginning, including disparaging remarks about women, Mexican immigrants and Muslims.
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