Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has formally announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, ending an “exploratory” phase that he began Jan. 3.

Romney, in picking the place to make his announcement, chose his birth state — Democratic-leaning but politically competitive Michigan — over his home state, Massachusetts, where he overcame normally overwhelming Democratic voting tendencies in 2002 to win a term as governor.

Romney, after touring the country to test the waters for a possible presidential bid, retired as governor rather than seek re-election in 2006.

Yahoo! News