Romney: GOP’s 2012 nominee must be Reaganesque

Republican leader Mitt Romney said Monday the GOP nominee in the 2012 presidential election will have to bring together divided factions of the party.

“Whoever becomes the nominee of our party needs to be, as Ronald Reagan was, a big-top Republican welcoming conservatives of all types in our party,” he said during an interview with The Washington Times’ “America’s Morning News” radio show.

Mr. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, is consider a top contender in the 2012 elections if he decides to run.

He recently has published the book “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness,” a title that clearly implies his dissatisfaction with how President Obama has represented the United States on the world stage.

However, the 62-year-old Mr. Romney has yet to commit to running again, after losing the party nomination in the 2008 election to Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican.

“It’s unfortunate that his language has been: America has been dismissive and derisive and arrogant and that we’ve dictated … . I don’t think he’s been as close to our allies as would have been appropriate,” Mr. Romney said.

His comment about the 2012 nominee raises potential questions again about his true conservative credentials.

Though he was a welcome speaker at the recent the Conservative Political Action Conference, he also has endorsed Mr. McCain over the more conservative challenger, J.D. Hayworth, in the Arizona Senate race.