Mitt Romney Says ‘Binders Full of Women’ Comment Didn’t Hurt Him
Mitt Romney Says ‘Binders Full of Women’ Comment Didn’t Hurt Him
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Mitt Romney is greeted by fellow Republicans at a dinner during the Republican National Committee's Annual Winter Meeting aboard the USS Midway on Jan. 16, 2015 in San Diego.Sandy Huffaker—Getty Images
Mitt Romney defended his oft-mocked presidential campaign comment about having “binders full of women,” dismissing the notion that it hurt his White House chances after recently opening up about some of his mistakes during the 2012 race.
“That’s pretty straightforward,” the former Massachusetts governor told Yahoo. “It’s a binder, alright, a notebook with resumes of women. I don’t think I lost any votes for that.”
Instead, he said one of his biggest regrets of the campaign was not effectively spreading his message to minority groups in the country. Were he to run again, he said he would spend “a great deal of time taking my message to Hispanic-Americans and to other minority groups in this country—African-Americans, Asian-Americans—and describing why it is that conservative principles are best for them and for their families. That’s something I wish I would’ve spent a lot more time doing.”
Romney said he chose not to run for in because he is “not the best person to carry forward the Republican torch.” He declined to endorse a different Republican candidate.
See the Last Days of Mitt Romney's 2012 Campaign
Nov. 7, 2012. Ann Romney and Mitt Romney leave the stage of the Boston Convention Center after his concession speech.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 7, 2012. Romney gives his concession speech to supporters gathered at the Boston Convention Center on election night.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 6, 2012. Supporters of Mitt Romney look on as they learn the results of the election at the Boston Convention Center.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 5, 2012. Mitt and Ann Romney deplane at a campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio.
Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 5, 2012. A bus at a campaign stop in Fairfax, Va. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 5, 2012. One day before the election, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns in Sanford, Fla. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 4, 2012. Bystanders at a Romney campaign stop in Cleveland, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 4, 2012. A news correspondent at a Romney campaign event in Cleveland, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 4, 2012. Audio-video preparation at a venue in Des Moines, Iowa. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 3, 2012. Secret Service at a Romney campaign in Colorado Springs, Colo.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 3, 2012. Romney campaigning in Portsmouth, N.H.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 4, 2012. At a Romney campaign stop in Cleveland, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 2, 2012. Romney campaigns in West Allis, Wis.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 2, 2012. Faces in the crowd at a Romney campaign stop in West Allis, Wis.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 2, 2012. Listening to Romney speak at an event in Pataskala, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 2, 2012. Faces in the crowd at a stop in West Chester, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 2, 2012. Faces in the crowd in West Allis, Wis.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMENov. 2, 2012. Romney's sons (from left) Tagg, Matt, Josh and Craig watch their father in West Chester, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 31, 2012. Security at a rally in Tampa. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 31, 2012. An onlooker at a Romney campaign stop in Tampa.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 31, 2012. Waiting for the candidate to arrive at an event in Tampa, attended by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Senator Rubio and Connie Mack. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 30, 2012. Romney addressing the crowd in Kettering, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 30, 2012. Supplies donated to the Red Cross at a campaign stop in Kettering, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 30, 2012. A journalist covering the campaign stop in Kettering, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 30, 2012. Pausing to use an iPad at a Romney event in Kettering, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 30, 2012. Carl Cameron, a Fox News correspondent, at a stop in Kettering, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 28, 2012. Romney and Ryan address the crowd in Celina, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 28, 2012. In Findley, Ohio, a wide range of ages came out to hear Romney and Ryan speak. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 28, 2012. A Romney security detail at a Celina, Ohio rally. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 28, 2012. Faces in the crowd in Marion, Ohio.
Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 28, 2012. Faces in the crowd in Marion, Ohio.
Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 26, 2012. Before a Romney-Ryan rally in Canton, Ohio.
Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 28, 2012. Romney speaking in Findley, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 28, 2012. Faces in the crowd in Findley, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 28, 2012. Romney speaking in Marion, Ohio, nine days before the Presidential election. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 27, 2012. Romney supporters in Land O' Lakes, Fla. stretched to high-five Romney as he left the rally. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 27, 2012. Faces in the crowd during the rally in Land O’ Lakes, Fla. Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 26, 2012. Faces in the crowd at the Romney-Ryan rally in Canton, Ohio.
Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEOct. 26, 2012. Faces in the crowd at the Romney-Ryan rally in Canton, Ohio.
Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
