Why so coy about 2012, Mitt Romney?
| Washington
A year ahead of the first Republican presidential primary, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney鈥檚 political strategy includes boosting his visibility, speaking softly about possible rival Sarah Palin, and carrying a big wallet.
On Tuesday, for example, Mr. Romney appeared on ABC鈥檚 鈥�Good Morning America,鈥� CNN鈥檚 "Piers Morgan Tonight,鈥� and 鈥�Late Night with David Letterman鈥� on CBS. One news hook for the appearances is the release of the paperback edition of Romney鈥檚 book, 鈥淣o Apology: The Case for American Greatness.鈥� [Editor's note: The original paragraph mischaracterized Romney's book as new. The paperback edition is new.]
Romney, who lost a Republican primary struggle to Sen. John McCain in 2008, seemed to encourage a presidential bid by McCain running-mate Sarah Palin. On the Piers Morgan program he said, 鈥淪he is an extraordinarily powerful and effective voice in our party 鈥� she鈥檇 be great in a primary process.鈥�
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Later that evening, he made a return visit to the Letterman program in an appearance that seemed aimed in part at warming up Romney鈥檚 image as a buttoned-down, successful businessman. Romney, who normally is seen wearing impeccably tailored suits, was dressed for the segment in a sports coat, but without a tie. The spot was titled, 鈥淭he Top Ten Things You Don鈥檛 Know about Mitt Romney.鈥� The list included 鈥淢itt is short for Mitt-hew鈥� and 鈥淚鈥檓 the guy in the photo that comes with your picture frame.鈥� [Editor's note: The original paragraph mistakenly recounted conversation from Romney's appearance on the Letterman show in March, without noting the statements were not made this week.]
To keep at least some aura of suspense about his plans, Romney has ducked questions about another presidential bid. He told Mr. Letterman he had 鈥渘o plans for that at this point," but added, 鈥淚鈥檒l keep the door open.鈥� He told CNN鈥檚 Mr. Morgan that there 鈥渁re things you鈥檝e got to assess before you make a final decision.鈥� He listed matters of health and the kind of support network 鈥測ou鈥檇 like to have behind you.鈥�
Romney has definitely paid attention to the financial portion of his support network. Beyond his own sizable fortune, Romney is the current leader among Republican candidates in fundraising, according to reports filed this week with the Federal Election Commission. His political action committee (PAC) Free and Strong America raised more than $5.5 million last year and ended 2010 with close to $800,000 on hand.
By contrast, Palin鈥檚 Sarah PAC took in $3.5 million and ended the year with about $1.3 million in the bank. In third position was former Minnesota Gov.Tim Pawlenty, who raised $2.1 million but finished the year with just $155,000 on hand.
In addition to his national PAC, Romney has created a significant network of state PAC affiliates. Funds from these organizations 鈥� in states like Michigan, New Hampshire, and South Carolina 鈥� brought his total political fundraising to $6.3 million last year. To most observers, that is a sign of someone who is serious about making another presidential bid.
