Four days after Michelle Obama visited UF to support her husband’s reelection, one of the Romney sons came to campus to campaign.
Despite the venue’s lack of air-conditioning, about 200 people packed inside a Weil Hall auditorium Friday evening to see Josh Romney, one of Mitt Romney’s five sons, speak for about 15 minutes. Dozens more stood outside.
Hana Engroff/WUFT News
Josh Romney, son of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, speaks to about 200 at UF Friday.
Romney, a real estate developer and the owner of Romney Ventures, spoke about the emotional strife cause by his father’s withdrawal from the 2008 presidential election on his family and the new hope they have for November.
“It was an emotional race, to go through that,” he said, pausing for a moment.
His mother, Ann Romney, said she would never allow her husband to enter another race for president, he said.
But then his parents saw the trillions of dollars he said Obama added to the country’s debt. So they thought about what kind of legacy they wanted to leave for their 18 grandchildren–five of which are Josh Romney’s children. That’s when they knew Mitt Romney had to run for president, again, he said.
“Why has America done so well?” Romney asked. “My dad’s convinced it’s the people…Americans are very unique, in our outlook, our drive, our belief.”
Mitt Romney wants to restore that drive and those principles that made America the “shining city on the hill,” his son said.
“(My dad) understands the economy: what makes it grow, what makes it work.”
His father’s election in November is not only important for the millions of unemployed and underemployed Americans, but for the entire country and the world, Romney said.
Four years ago , some voters got wrapped up in the “Obama hype,” he said. He meets people from all over the country who regret casting their vote for Obama.
Hana Engroff/WUFT News
Josh Romney, son of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, poses with students after he spoke to UF students Friday evening.
Courtney King, a 20-year-old UF student, said she won’t be one of those people when she votes in November for the first time. She’s casting her vote for Romney.
King said she agreed many voters for Obama in 2008 were just part of the bandwagon. They didn’t know about his policies and his stances on issues, she said.
“It bothers me when people vote without knowing,” she said. “I’m trying not to be one of those people.”
That’s why she came to see Romney speak, she said. She wants to stay informed.
Talking to the college-aged students amongst the crowd, Josh Romney emphasized the importance of their role in this election.
Not only do they need to stay informed and vote, he said, but they also need to convince their peers to do the same.
“You have more in stake in this election than anyone else,” he said. “We need you guys to fight hard for us.”
