Mitt Romney is likely to launch a campaign for Sen. Orrin Hatch's seat, Kevin Madden, who served as senior adviser for the former governor's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, said Tuesday.
"I think he very much is," Madden, now a CNN contributor, told "New Day" co-host Alisyn Camerota, while discussing news that Romney had sent a text confirming he would launch a campaign.
"I don't have any inside information or anything to break for you. I was not the receiver of that text, but I do think that if a rumor like this got out and Mitt Romney wanted to stop it, he could have. So since he hasn't, I think he's leaning towards running."
The New York Times reported Sunday that Romney had sent the text message to a friend, who then forwarded it to Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.
"That's very close to an official announcement and not the way we used to do it back in Romney world," said Madden.
If Romney runs, said Madden, it will be because he believes he has something to offer to the national debate, "particularly with the issues we're dealing with nowadays in American politics," such as national security.
Madden, though, conceded that Romney may be coming back into politics as a comment on President Donald Trump's actions in office.
"One of the differences I expect that Gov. Romney would have with President Trump is this idea that you can say anything, do anything, and walk it back," said Madden.
Romney also would seek office, Madden said, because "there are a bunch of people out there who do feel like we need a principled leadership and a principled defense of American leadership."
The former governor has been in the public eye for several years, but Madden denied he is a career politician.
"He made his life in business and before he became an elected official," said Madden. "I think that one of the things, he would be uninterested in worrying about re-election."
He also said he does not believe Romney would be a "supplicant" to Trump in order to get legislation passed, but there will be areas where he and Trump will agree.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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