Exclusive: Mitt and Ann Romney on life after political loss

This transcript is automatically generated

And hello again from fox and is in Washington.

They were in the spotlight for years speaking to a big crowds and -- by reporters.

But since their defeat for months ago -- and -- Romney have gone silent.

That is until now.

This -- we flew to San Diego does sit down with a Romney's for their first interview since the campaign.

We talked about why they lost.

But they make of the -- here in Washington.

And how they're dealing with a life they didn't expect to be leading that.

Take me back to Election -- November 6 is -- rule.

That you both thought going in you're gonna win fly -- again I think it -- was thinking that it was possible we couldn't he knew how close it was.

But my heart and my whole soul was where we're -- -- I was there.

Yeah I think we were convinced that we would win we saw that the polls were very close.

But we knew that the energy and passion was with our voters and my hearts and we were gonna win.

-- crucial swing state of Virginia the commonwealth where the race is excruciatingly.

Close as.

The return started coming in and they were not what you expected.

What were your thoughts.

The exit polls came out first and suggested that it was going to be very close in Florida and we thought we'd win solidly in Florida so it was increasingly clear that this was going to be.

With the best case scenario -- night.

When did you know Hewitt lost the presidency it was a slow recognition until ultimately when the Ohio numbers began coming in.

And they were disappointing.

I said look this looks like we've lost wasn't certain some people said -- look -- this number here comes in -- you can win but.

You know by 8 or 9 o'clock it was pretty clear that we were not gonna win.

And and what was that -- line.

Well it's it's hard it's it's emotional I mean there was such passion.

In the people who are helping us I just felt you know we've really let him down.

You know -- was -- rushing disappointment.

Not for us our lives are going to be fine.

It's for the country is it true you begin to crime I did of course yeah.

-- -- -- Cry for one.

Cry it not again it's not sorrow for all my guys you know in our life -- you know this this to mean the two green.

Was to make a difference between -- to serve.

Then you call the president when he came downstairs and you've delivered your formal concession I so wish that I -- been able to fulfill your hopes to lead the country in a different direction.

But the nation -- another later.

And so and I joined with you to earnestly pray for him and for this great nation was all the people would help.

The -- its Kindle and my mind besides.

Got to speak and I look around that room and I saw the people who were there and I believe I -- made a difference for the people of this country.

And you think gosh I I just haven't been able to get the job done and it was it was very hard.

In a flash.

It was all -- Secret Service the crowds the intensity.

That minute by minute schedule and suddenly.

Not what.

How tough -- It's adjustment.

You know in this is seen in our church were used to serving and you know you can be in a very high position.

Did you recognize -- serving in the opposite you released in your your nobody and and we used to that it's like we came and stepped forward to serve.

But.

That the good news is fortunately we like each other.

And we like being with each other.

-- -- they -- life is is the life we have with each other.

And with five sons five daughters in law and twenty grandchildren but -- -- life that's who we are but -- -- -- -- wolf -- the Secret Service that is it's different.

But it's like you know riding on a roller coaster we were on a roller -- exciting and thrilling ups and downs.

But the right hands and then you get off and it's not like oh okay it would -- in a -- the rest of her life like no no rights over.

So let me ask you about the months.

From.

November.

Till now.

Where they're tears.

Out for me yeah.

I I I cried when you pour that much of your life and energy and passion to something.

And you're disappointed.

By the outcome it's very it's sad it's very hard.

Governor second guessing.

-- -- -- Now you look back at the campaign and say okay what does the president do well and you you acknowledge that this campaign did a number of things very effectively.

Of course you rehearse all the mistakes that you made and I went through a number of my mistakes I'm sure -- -- you think about the things were out of our control.

But but you move on I mean -- I don't spend my life looking back it's like okay what what are we gonna do next.

-- and we began to see random pictures of view pumping up.

I think Iran gas for their hair messed up hugging and in the kitchen.

Hanging out with the kids is Disneyland did did you have a plan or were you just -- Get through the death.

No we're just living her life.

And obviously people would see us in various places -- walking along the beach or in this case they're getting gas for the car.

And they take out their cellphones and take a picture none of those were done by professional photographers.

Or I might have been a comb my hair -- -- seeing them coming up.

But no we're just living -- life.

Mrs.

-- as we sit here.

Right now.

Have you gotten over that defeat war or is that gonna take more time I think it takes time I think I'm from.

-- you know that that's the great princess bride line mostly did.

-- -- -- Mostly over at.

But not -- completely you have moments where you you know go back -- and feel the sorrow of of the Lawson.

So yeah I think we're.

-- mostly -- yet.

A week after the election governor you -- of conference call with top donors.

In which you sad that you blame your defeat on the president giving away things.

It's been proven political.

Strategy which is we have a bunch of money and the government -- -- doing grew.

I had desolate.

To some people it sounded like the remark you made your campaign about 47% of Americans.

Looking for -- not the president had the power of incumbency.

Obama care it was very attracted a particularly those without health insurance.

And and they came out -- large numbers to vote so that was part of a successful campaign but fairly or not you know a lot of Republican leaders roasted you for those remarks.

Iowa governor Branstad my feeling is we need to turn the page GOP strategist Ed Rogers he you.

Can exit the stage any time and no one.

Will more.

Did that hurt did you feel in a sense you were being pushed out of the party I'm not gonna second guess and other people have decided look I don't look back and look forward.

You never like it and I -- and I never like it and I you know I like it she lion when it comes to defending it and I know I know his heart I know his abilities.

I know he would have been a fabulous president and I mourn the fact that he's not there.

And it would've been.

It would have been much better for America I believe in my heart that if he had been there right now.

We're gonna talk to your husband separately you're gonna have to disappear for a minute but I want to ask mrs.

Romney a few questions.

Oh that's going to be that's going to be hard Fahrenheit -- -- -- at.

-- -- say nothing.

Why do you think he lost.

I think they had a better ground game and I think we were not aware you know we we certainly had a passion coming from our side.

And I think we -- we are as aware of the past that was coming from the other side I think we we were a little blind sided by that.

Do you think that the two of you at all contributed to this image which the other -- certainly played up.

That you were so wealthy that you were somehow out of touch with the concerns that the average American.

And you know that's that's that's a reality that you know you can't change -- mean we are who we are.

The thing that was frustrating to me is that people didn't really get to -- -- for who he was.

Well I want to pick up on that because there were reports that you and your oldest son tag.

We're frustrated with the Romney campaign that they didn't quote let Mitt be Mitt that they didn't let him show.

-- more open.

Compassionate side true.

Well I have of course site it was partly it's true but it was not just the campaign -- I believe it was the media's fault as well.

Is that he was not giving being given a fair shake that people weren't allowed to really see him for who he was -- right what about the media.

I'm -- point the media.

What do you think the media was in the tank for Barack Obama.

I think that it's any time you're running for office you always think that you're being portrayed unfairly and you know we do of course on our side believes that there's more biased.

In favor of the other side.

I think that's you know that's a pretty universal.

Universally felt.

Opinion what do you think of the campaign the Barack Obama ran.

I think obviously it was a winning campaign if it worked.

-- it was fair now.

In what way.

-- -- of my husband.

You know he is.

An exceptional.

Wonderful person that.

-- not -- that I.

And you know -- he he really is a selfless person.

That really truly cared about the American people.

He truly cares about making a difference and about helping others and for him to be portrayed in -- in in a very negative light in -- in another way.

Was was very heart he has enormous skill sets.

In dealing with difficult issues and I totally believe.

At this moment -- net worth there in the office that we would not efficiency crustacean.

So.

What is your life like now what are you doing how do you standardize.

Governor you could now you can talk.

My turn yet again we've renamed our foundation around the foundation for children.

We're gonna help the very poorest kids in the world really help kids in this country with disease and great difficulty.

And and that's taking more more of -- time.

We got a chance to spend more time with the grandkids.

We just had twins born as you know and and being with them wasn't a thrill I have to.

Clear up a couple of rumors.

Were you approached by dancing with the stock -- up I was.

Did you consider.

I consider it.

I -- I would I love the show.

And why aren't you going to be out there doing the -- adult -- a well you know yeah.

That festive with that and I understand I would've loved to have done that -- and I am turning 64.

And I started thinking about it -- I'm really as flexible as I said that's.

And now I know I understand Dorothy Hamill is bent to act and I thought all my gosh am I glad I didn't do that.

I wouldn't try to compete against or if they did the Republican Party approach you about running for John Kerry's senate's now.

That's not -- I'm sure no they didn't approach me and I think I think there was.

I thought that wouldn't that be fun for her for -- -- do that unlike.

-- wanna consider how fun it would be for me.

The fact that.

Not a chance not acts against.

-- I'm I'm enjoying life and tell us about the grandchildren.

And your involvement -- -- -- with them constantly it's our life.

-- -- And it's virtually every day we see that -- the one grandchild or another every every day we.

To go to Disneyland we took them snow skiing.

And then our son sons Matt and -- live close to an open space area we throw the ball for the dogs.

Play sports for the kids.

They like kicking balls.

Hitting -- partner you know we do the things it grandparents are expected -- with grandkids.

Looking back ends.

And and now how do you both feel about what.

You've been through and where you are now I wish everyone could have just -- -- our pockets gone with us and seeing what we had seen.

And what you see when you see that at the heart of the American people I leave you know discouraged.

By the upcoming election but also optimistic.

About America and because of the people that live here -- think it and it's amazing.

Governor it was an exciting thrilling experience.

And it didn't and the way we wanted to.

But the experience itself was magnificent within a tough -- absolutely.

Whether exhilarating days yet even more them.

And so I -- -- one of the great life experiences anybody.

Would would say it can you imagine -- more fantastic and being able to run for president of the United States.

And there's one thing works within a bit of work well winning -- yes -- but but but -- expert.

But two years and we've done it twice.

Two years -- -- in the American people it's a great.

Thrilling experience of a lifetime that we will obviously cherish a full -- lifetime.

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Exclusive: Mitt and Ann Romney on life after political loss

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