Romney gives first interview since loss

WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- In his first major interview since his unsuccessful 2012 presidential campaign, Mitt Romney likened the experience to a "roller coaster."

"We were on a roller coaster, exciting and thrilling, ups and downs. But the ride ends," Romney told Fox News. "And then you get off. And it's not like, 'Oh, can't we be on a roller coaster the rest of our life?' It's like, no, the ride's over."

The Republican presidential nominee and his wife, Ann, spoke with Fox News for their first interview since the Nov. 6, 2012, election. Promotional clips of the interview have been released, while the entire piece will be aired on "Fox News Sunday."

"It is an adjustment, but it's one I think we did well," Ann Romney said about the family's transition out of the public eye. "The good news is fortunately we like each other."

She also said the family's service in the Mormon Church prepared them for the transition back to civilian life.

"In our church, we're used to serving, and you know, you can be in a very high position, but you recognize you're serving," she said. "And now all of a sudden, you're released and you're nobody. And we're used to that. It's like, we came and stepped forward to serve. And you know, the other part of it was an amazing thing, and it was really quite a lot of energy and a lot of passion and a lot of -- a lot of people around us and all of a sudden, it was nothing."

Since he lost the election, Mitt Romney's only political statements were to donors on a conference call the week after the election, in which he blamed his overwhelming electoral loss on big-government "gifts" President Barack Obama gave key groups, especially blacks, Latinos and young people.