"Today I run for president of the United States of America," he said. "I run to prepare America to grow jobs again, beginning with our elimination of our tolerance for unfair foreign trade practices."
According to Roemer, unfair trade practices include outsourcing jobs overseas, an increase of the budget deficit, "child labor, prison labor, work without standards [and] work without environmental scorecards." These policies have been disastrous to the American economy over the years, he said.
"These unfair trade practices have cost us millions of jobs over the last 20 years, not just the last two," he said.
Roemer said these practices must be addressed before the American economy can continue to embrace free trade.
"Our leaders have done nothing but talk about the wonders of free trade," he said. "Trade must be fair first, then free."
The protection of manufacturing jobs, Roemer said, should be a priority of the presidential administration.
"American presidents, starting with George Washington, protected manufacturing jobs," he said. "This is not a radical idea. This is what built America."
Roemer cited Germany and Japan, both of which emphasize the manufacturing industry, as economic powers that could eclipse the United States if the government does not control trade practices.
In order to protect "our critical jobs" in the United States, Roemer said he will "amend the tax code to disallow any tax deductions."
He also hopes to end the outsourcing of "businesses and investments out of the country," as it enables corporations to avoid taxes.
Along with unfair trade practices, the "unmentioned" problem of special interest campaign donations will be a central focus of his campaign platform, he said.
"In short, the guys with the big checks don't want reform or change," he said. "They've never had it so good."
To uphold his objection to the current state of campaign finance, Roemer devised a policy that limits donations but encourages regular Americans to contribute, he said.
"I run for president by accepting no [political action committee] money, and no contributions over $100 per person," he said, adding that his campaign will operate under "full disclosure."
"No one else can solve these two problems because they need the special interest money," he said. "All I need is you."
Roemer said he only needs 5 million Americans out of the entirety of the nation to "make this happen."
"You don't want to miss this campaign," he said. "It'll be something else."
Roemer decided to make his announcement at Dartmouth because his visit coincided with a class lecture and campus-wide discussion.
"I can't think of a better place in New Hampshire to start," he said. "It's a great university."
Although his campaign strategy is still in development, Roemer said in an interview with The Dartmouth that he intends to involve college students, saying they are "the key" to success.
"We're putting that together," Roemer said about involving college students in the campaign process. "We're going to have a series of town hall meetings, kind of a virtual thing."
In light of his unique fundraising policy, Roemer says his campaign finance strategy will be a grassroots effort and will rely on the "98 percent" of Americans who do not contribute finances to political candidates.
"I ask everybody I meet to make a donation, to get on my website," he said. "I don't have a fundraiser. Ask a friend, I'd like to get a chain reaction going."
Individuals from 49 states have contributed to his campaign so far, Roemer said.
During his lecture in the Hopkins Center for the Arts later that evening, Roemer discussed his his campaign trajectory. Roemer said that he is still developing his overall plan, as his decision to run was made very recently.
His campaign is developing in "three phases," Roemer said at the lecture, and he is confident that his strategy will work.
"Phase one was exploration, phase two was put the team together and have the major platform set. Phase three is now, how do we win?" he said. "I believe that can win this way. But more importantly, I believe we can serve this way."
