- Romney went on the warpath for Donald Trump during a Thursday speech by the ex-presidential candidate.
- Romney called Trump a “phony” and a “fraud”.
- Trump fired back calling Romney “a failed candidate”.
- Romney represents the lengths that the GOP establishment will go to attack Donald Trump.
Mitt Romney plans to launch a broadside against Donald Trump’s surging campaign on Thursday, calling the man who wishes to succeed him as the GOP’s presidential nominee a “phony” and a “fraud” who is playing Americans for “suckers.”
The 2016 front-runner already is firing back, calling Romney a “failed candidate” who begged him for his endorsement when he ran four years ago. Trump indeed endorsed Romney in the 2012 race.
Romney plans to deliver his speech at 11:30 a.m. ET at the University of Utah. In prepared remarks, the party’s 2012 presidential nominee issued a stark warning that Trump’s policies would lead to recession and “make America and the world less safe.”
He says the “only serious policy proposals” for the country are coming from the other Republican candidates on the field.
“I understand the anger Americans feel today,” Romney plans to say, but adds: “Here’s what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He’s playing the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat.”
Romney also claims Trump, if nominated, would enable Hillary Clinton to be elected president.
The speech comes ahead of the Fox News Republican primary debate Thursday night at 9 p.m. ET in Detroit, the candidates’ first showdown since Super Tuesday.
Trump swiftly responded to the ex-GOP nominee, taking to Twitter to claim he’s the “only one who can beat Hillary Clinton” and recalling Romney’s record in the presidential elections so far.
“I am not a Mitt Romney, who doesn’t know how to win,” Trump tweeted.
He added: “Failed candidate Mitt Romney,who ran one of the worst races in presidential history, is working with the establishment to bury a big ‘R’ win!”
And speaking on MSNBC, Trump once again would not rule out mounting an independent bid.
The address Thursday amounts to an astonishing full-court press by Romney to stop Trump from winning the party’s nomination. Until now, Romney has mostly criticized Trump via Twitter and media interviews, but this is his most robust effort yet to rally the party and primary voters against the GOP front-runner.
In his prepared remarks, Romney says Trump “has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president.”
There were no signs that Romney would either endorse a candidate or jump into the race himself.
Romney considered another White House run at the beginning of 2015 before deciding against the move, reportedly after being out-raised by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush — who has since suspended his campaign.
Despite his decision not to run, there has been widespread media speculation that he could be tempted back into the race in the case of a contested Republican convention as a last gasp way to derail Trump.
The speech comes after Trump racked up a string of Super Tuesday wins, building a wide — though not insurmountable — delegate lead over closest rivals Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.
The former Massachusetts governor has become increasingly vocal in his opposition to the business mogul.
Last week, Romney told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto that he believes there may be a “bombshell” in Trump’s tax returns, and called for Trump to release his returns as soon as possible.
He later criticized Trump for not immediately disavowing the support of former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke.
Although Trump did later disavow Duke, Romney called his response “disqualifying and disgusting.”
Trump responded to Romney with barbs of his own, calling him “one of the dumbest and worst candidates in the history of Republican politics.”
Fox News’ John Roberts contributed to this report
By FoxNews
