Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney greets a volunteer at his "National Call Day" fundraising

SKY NEWS

Republican Mitt Romney has launched his bid for the White House, accusing Barack Obama of "failing the country".

The former governor of Massachusetts is currently the frontrunner to become the party's nominee for the presidency and take on the president in the November 2012 election, reports Sky News.

Romney kicked off his campaign in New Hampshire, an early-voting state where a win in February's primary elections will be crucial to his chances of gaining the Republican nomination.

He blamed "the Obama economy" for the job losses and home repossessions Americans have faced during Obama's first term.