EVAN VUCCI/ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUG. 28, STRONGEST SUPPORTER — Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, watched the GOP convention in Tampa. In a video, she said: “If you really want to know how a person will operate, look at how they’ve lived their life.”

AP PHOTO OF MOTHER JONES VIDEO

SEPTEMBER, 47 PERCENT VIDEO — A video from a May fund-raiser in Florida showed Romney characterizing nearly half of Americans as “victims” who want government aid. It seemed to confirm the worst views of critics.

BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS

OCT. 1, MANHATTAN PROJECT — Romney met with advisers, including Beth Myers, on the way to the Denver debate. He had a plan to upstage the president.

JIM URQUHART/REUTERS

OCT. 3, SHINING MOMENT — Romney’s strategy for the first debate with President Obama paid off. He undertook months of intense preparation, with 16 mock debates. On stage at the University of Denver that night, Obama seemed as unready as Romney was ready.

RICK WILKING/ASSOCIATED PRESS/POOL

NOV. 7, CONCEDING THE RACE — Romney conceded at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. He had delayed his speech until after midnight because of remarks Karl Rove made on Fox News that night.