Mitt, Ann Romney suffered loss of stillborn son

Washington, Aug. 22 (ANI): Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, suffered the loss of a stillborn son, but have never spoken about it publicly.

The would-be First Lady lost the baby several months into her pregnancy, which took place after the birth of their son Ben in 1978 and before the birth of their youngest child, Craig, in 1981.

According to the New York Daily News, Romney campaign officials declined to provide further information.

The Romneys have five children and 19 grandchildren, the report said.

According to the report, it is unclear whether the Romneys have put the story out deliberately, or if the reporter got the details from another source.

Pundits have, however, said that the incident could help soften the image of Romney in the face of ongoing criticism that the wealthy couple is out of touch with ordinary voters.

"It humanizes them," the report quoted Baruch College political scientist Doug Muzzio, as saying: "They become more real people who suffered the slings and arrows of fate." (ANI)