Sorry Mitt Romney fans: He’s just not that in to running for president.
Fresh off a new Washington Post report that GOP establishment leaders are calling on Romney, who has run and lost twice before, to reconsider his decision to stay out of the 2016 race, associates of the 2012 Republican presidential nominee tell CNN there are a lot of “in bound” calls but that there are “no signs” he’s changed his mind.
One friend of Romney’s said there were some calls to Romney confidant Beth Meyers and others in his circle asking him to consider being a lifeline to the Republican Party and its chaotic primary fight.
After a volley of speculation earlier this year, the former Massachusetts governor ruled out a third presidential bid in January. Since then chatter that he would reconsider had largely cooled.
After a summer that showed political outsiders — like Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina — taking the lead in the race, many party officials hoped that as the first primaries drew closer, more establishment candidates including Jeb Bush would regain ground. Instead, the polls have consistently showed Carson and Trump in the lead nationally and in key early states and Bush has struggled to make traction.
Associates of Romney include the caveat “never say never” when it comes to his decision process, but cautioned the idea seems to come up about every two weeks.
“I really doubt he would do it,” one friend of Romney’s said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss his thinking.
Romney himself recently swatted down the idea during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union with Jake Tapper,” during an interview on Oct. 18.
“I can’t imagine running right now and I’m glad I’m not in this race,” Romney said, adding later, “I think the American people want to see a new face.”