Romney concedes race to Obama
GOP candidate spoke to supporters in a Boston ballroom
BOSTON — The day had started optimistically, as Mitt Romney cast his ballot early, then made one last trip to scour for votes. But it ended with stony silence in the ballroom where his supporters watched state after state that that they hoped would break the GOP nominee’s way tilt toward President Barack Obama.
Nearly two hours after the networks called the race for Obama, Romney appeared onstage at a waterfront convention center here to congratulate his opponent and thank his supporters.
“I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory,” Romney said, and went on to thank his running mate Paul Ryan, his wife, Ann, and his sons for their work on the campaign.
“I believe in America. I believe in the people of America,” Romney said as the crowd cheered, and he paused to take it all in. “I ran for office because I’m concerned about America. This election is over but our principles endure.”
Romney said he wished that he would have been elected, but that “the nation chose another leader, so Ann and I join with you to earnestly pray for him.”
Before Romney came out, several hundred people stood silently and sullenly, watching the returns come in.
Some struggled to understand voters’ continued support for Obama.
“We’re aghast. Why? Why would someone vote for him?” said Sandy Nabhan, 54, of Boston.
Earlier, the Republican candidate and his campaign had seemed optimistic as he sprinted to Ohio and Pennsylvania in a last- minute push to drive supporters to the polls. As Romney strode off his plane Tuesday afternoon in Moon Township, Pa., hundreds of people spontaneously lined an outdoor parking garage overlooking the tarmac and cheered. That, the GOP nominee said, was the moment he became confi dent he would win.
“Intellectually, I’ve felt we’re going to win this, and have felt that for some time, but emotionally just getting off the plane and ... seeing people there cheering as they were connected emotionally with me — I not only think we’re going to win intellectually, I feel it as well,” Romney told reporters aboard his campaign plane later that night.
But hours later, at what was to be a victory celebration here, a palpable sense of dismay settled over his supporters, as state after state that they had hoped would break the GOP nominee’s way appeared to be backing the president. Earlier than most had expected, the Associated Press and news networks, citing surveys of voters leaving the polls, gave the victory to Obama.