He was officially selected on Tuesday August 28 to run against Barack Obama in November.

Republican Party delegates from all US states and territories on Tuesday August 28 convened at their convention in Tampa, Florida to pledge their votes to the former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney. He was officially selected as the party’s presidential nominee for the November 6, 2012 election.

He is to run against incumbent, President Barack Obama of the Democratic Party. Wisconsin Congressman, Paul Ryan, 42, was formally selected as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate. The BBC said Romney, 65, who needed at least 1,144 votes to secure his party's nomination, secured 2,061 ballots, House of Representatives Speaker, John Boehner announced to delegates. Romney had amassed enough delegates in May to secure the nomination after a gruelling season of state-by-state primary elections. But his selection in Tampa put the party's formal stamp of approval on his bid.

Reacting to the vote, Romney’s wife, Ann Romney, said her husband will take America to what she described as a better place. She promised that he will not fail or let down the party. Convention speakers attacked President Obama’s record throughout the session. Republican National Committee Chairman, Reince Priebus, said the President had never run a company, a garage nor seen the inside of a lemonade stand. John Boehner described Obama’s record as being as shallow as his rhetoric.

USA Today said Romney himself made a brief hand-waving appearance at the end of his wife’s speech. Ann Romney was there to show delegates and millions of TV viewers the softer side of her husband of 42 years. She spoke about the hard work of all mothers, her family, Romney’s family, and the family they made together. She accused Democrats of attacking her husband for being successful. Current opinion polls show Barack Obama neck and neck with Romney. Romney will deliver his big speech to the convention today Thursday, August 30.

Mitt Romney is conservative on social issues such as gay marriage and abortion, favours cutting taxes, slashing the government and repealing Obama’s healthcare overhaul. Obama on the other hand is liberal on social issues, wants to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans and sees government as a potential force for good.