Mitt Romney Admits 'It Kills Me Not To Be In The White House' In First Post-Election Interview

In Mitt Romney’s first televised interview with wife Ann Romney since he lost the U.S. presidential election in November, the former Republican Party nominee acknowledged, “It kills me not to be ... in the White House.”

Appearing on “Fox News Sunday” this weekend, Romney heavily criticized President Barack Obama’s administration for its perceived lack of leadership. During the interview, Romney discussed with host Chris Wallace subjects ranging from the U.S. budget sequestration to the presidential campaign to his wife.

At its most crucial moment, Romney admitted he and his campaign sincerely believed they would win the White House on election night. “It kills me not to be there,” he said, “not to be in the White House doing what needs to be done.”

According to Romney, the most difficult thing about losing the presidential election was seeing a candidate he believes is unqualified holding the reins of government. “The hardest thing about losing is watching this critical moment, this golden moment slip away with politics,” Reuters quoted Romney as telling Wallace.

In the interview, Romney also acknowledged he struggled to capture the hearts and minds of minority voters during the presidential campaign. “We did very well with the majority population, but not with minority populations, and that was a failing, that was a real mistake,” he said.

“I think the Obamacare attractiveness and feature was something we underestimated, particularly among lower incomes,” Romney said, according to ThinkProgress. “And we just didn’t do as good a job in connecting with that audience as we should have.” Obamacare is a term used to describe the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Affordable Care Act, signed into law by Obama on March 23, 2010.

As for Romney’s other big issues during the campaign, he admitted his secretly videotaped remark about “47 percent” of Americans being dependent on government was an embarrassing moment for himself and for the campaign.

“It's not what I meant. I didn't express myself as I wished I would have," Romney said. "When you speak in private, you don't spend as much time thinking about how something could be twisted and distorted, and it could come out wrong and be used," he continued. "That hurt. There's no question that hurt and did real damage to my campaign."

Ultimately, Romney acknowledged it hurt him to not win the election, but that he feels worse for possibly letting down supporters who believed in his campaign.

"It's hard. It's emotional. I mean, there was such passion in the people who were helping us. I just felt, you know, we have really let them down," Romney said. "We were on a roller coaster, exciting and thrilling, ups and downs. But the ride ends, and then you get off."