Mitt Romney: I’m not considering running in 2016

Not contemplating a run now ... but we all know that could change.
Not contemplating a run now … but we all know that could change.

The 2012 GOP Presidential nominee said instead that he’s on board with helping whoever the eventual nominee is defeat the Democrats:

Mitt Romney said Sunday that he won’t take another shot at the White House.

The former Massachusetts governor said there are plenty of strong GOP candidates in contention for the 2016 nomination, but he won’t attempt to join them.

“No, I’m thinking about the people who I want to see running for president, and there’s quite a group,” Romney said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” program. “We have a very strong field of leaders who could become our nominee and could stand up for the kind of leadership I think America wants.”

He did not name names.

Romney, a Republican primary candidate in the 2008 presidential race, won the GOP nomination in 2012, but was defeated handily by President Obama.

Romney minced no words Sunday when it came to criticizing Obama’s track record,Β particularly on U.S. foreign policyΒ in the face of an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria and Russia’s recent invasion of Crimea.

He also revealed that, while he might not be eying the White House himself, he’s ready to do his part in going after potential Democratic candidates. Indeed, he was careful to associate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with what he called the “failed” policies of the Obama administration.

“Effective leaders typically are able to see the future to a certain degree, and then try to take actions to shape it in some way,” he said. “And that’s of course what this president has failed to do, and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well.”

Ouch! I’ll enjoy seeing Mitt Romney in the attack dog role in the coming months as the GOP primary season kicks into high gear after the 2014 elections. Β I found that once he dropped his “nice guy” guard back when he was the nominee, he was particularly on point.

Does this mean he’s completely ruled out a run in 2016, though? Don’t bet on it. The lure of the Presidency has pulled in many a politico who Β had previously denied any intentions to. Β Stay tuned.