E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Some of Mitt Romney's most deep-pocketed donors will flock to Utah for an exclusive gathering this weekend featuring top Republican political figures and strategists.
More than 100 of the GOP's top fundraisers and bundlers will attend the "First National Romney Victory Leadership Retreat," a weekend-long retreat intended to rally, educate and reward the men and women who have been the primary financial backers of the presumptive nominee's campaign thus far.
The attendees will be treated to presentations, briefing and panel discussions featuring an all-star cast of Republican politicians, including several thought to be among Romney's top vice presidential choices.
Among the possible VP contenders a Romney campaign adviser confirmed would be in attendance are former Govs. Tim Pawlenty (MN) and Jeb Bush (FL), Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The GOP's last presidential nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, will also attend, according to Republican sources familiar with the event's schedule.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will speak at one of the weekend's two major dinners, according to a McDonnell staffer.
The Washington Post has reported that Sen. John Thune, Rep. Paul Ryan -- two other rumored VP short-listers will attend, as will Republican power-broker Karl Rove. NBC News has not independently confirmed this information.
"All the major players of the party will be there," Dallas businessman Ray Washburne, who will attend the retreat, told NBC News. "Its kind of a reunion of all the people who worked hard on the campaign so far."
Washburne is indicative of the type of Republican rainmaker the Romney campaign intends to woo, and reward, at the retreat. The real estate developer, investor and restauranteur headed up a recent Romney fundraiser in Dallas that brought in $3.6 million for the campaign, and has co-chaired Romney's fundraising effort in the Lone Star state after the first candidate he supported -- Pawlenty -- dropped out of the race.
The invitees are primarily those donors who have raised enough money to qualify as national finance committee members, one Romney adviser said.
"The party is all falling in behind the candidate now, and this is kind of the first kind of anointment of Mitt by everyone," Washburne said.
On Saturday, attendees will be briefed by top Romney campaign officials, including political director Rich Beeson, and the famously media-averse campaign manager Matt Rhodes, on the state of the campaign and strategy going forward. That night they will also attend the second of two dinners with the candidate himself.
Attendees at the weekend-long retreat will at gather at a resort hotel in the mountains surrounding Salt Lake city, not far from where Romney first rose to prominence by running the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, and in the state where he still retains a rock star-like political status.
Romney and his guests will be far from the prying eyes of most media. The entire three-day conference is closed to the press, and Romney has no public events in Utah to draw reporters here otherwise. His campaign has refused most official requests for comment on the conference, including several made for this report.
When the conference concludes at the end of the weekend, the campaign will continue with one major question -- likely to be discussed all weekend -- that will remain unanswered: Was the vice presidential nominee among those in attendance?
"That's all anybody wants to know," Washburne said.
NBC's Alex Moe contributed.
Leave a Comment:
I see it clearly, everything that has gone wrong in American since 1942 was George Bush's fault. It just wasn't right to punish the Taliban and Al kaiba or whatever they call themselvesfor killing thousands of innocent (I shudder to say it) Americans. We should all be ashamed of what we have believed for the last hundred plus years, (that America is number one in the world) even if it is a fact. Americans have no right to expect to retain the rights given to us and fought for by the constitution, (Its outmoded and doesent fit the modern world because our leaders believe thay have better ideas.) We need socialism and a dictator to tell us what we need and what we should settle for. It seems that in December of 1942 illegal imigrents decended on pearl harbor and killed American people there. How is that different from illegal immigrents invading Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and killing citizens there? According to everything I see comming from the democrats we should all share the wealth, take from the rich and give to the lazy uneducated ( by choice) poor. I should by all rights be a democrate I worked from six am to six PM for a lot of years just so I could support a bunch of lazy no good people that think they are to good to work jobs that are beneath their dignity. I worked to earn that money so I could spend it on my own family! What part of I dont want to support deadbeat freeloaders, dont you liberals understand!! There are church organizations that help out the needy donate to them (thats what they exist for to aid mankind not just to agravate atheists) There are systems in place to allow mexican workers to harvest our crops. Its not a new policy it has been used for years. You apply for a permit, you come and pick the crops you go home until next year! Its worked flawlessly for years, they dont have to stay here!! We dont need illegals living here to pick our produce!
Those are real shallow comments. You dont know situations in certain peoples lives. You come off so cold and heartless. No compassion, maybe no soul. I agree that there are those who take advantage of the system. Immigrants, minorities, as well as white folks do. No system can ever create a la la utopia that ur hoping for. We need to root out corruption, and come together as one nation. Not allow hate, greed, ignorance, and jumpin to one conclusion rule our world. There is a matter of seeing problems, evaluating and adjusting. Instead some righties choose to dive in with blinders on, not seeing the big picture. Some facts on Obama handlin illegal immigrants. He was mor aggressive on the border in 4 yrs then lil Georgie was in his 8 yrs. Obama deported twice as many immigrants in his tenure then Bush ever did. Bush didn care who was crossin the border cause alot of those workers worked for rich conservatives cause they like cheap labor. Be careful who you callin lazy. Most americans will not do the jobs that these people will. Thanx to Obama we went from 10,000 border agents to 20,000, where were u Bush.
NBC== GE==Obama special privilege!! NO TAXES!!
Obama the promise BREAKER!! Equals a LIAR!!! BIG EMBARRASSMENT to the USA!!!
……NOW Obama wants to invade Syria and Iran!!!
Remember these?
THE OBAMA CHRONICLES:
“I promise 100% transparency in my administration.”.
“I promise NO NEW TAXES on a family making less than $250K a year.”.
“I will allow 5 days of public comment before I sign any bills.”.
“I will remove earmarks from PORK projects before I sign any bill.”.
“I will end Income Tax for seniors making less than $50K a year.”.
"I will bring ALL of our troops home within ONE year."
“I’ll put the Health Care negotiations on CSPAN so everyone can see who is at the table!”.
“I’ll have no lobbyists in my administration."
"I'll close Guantanamo."
"I'll resign if I don't cut the deficit in half by the end of four years."
"I'll unite the people of this great country."
“The TROOPS will be home for CHRISTMAS.” WHY ARE MORE LEAVING EVERYDAY????
NOW Obama invokes Executive Privilege( as a Sen. called it’s use a RUSE!) for Holder on GUN SMUGGLING and killing US Agent Brain Terry!!!
BETTER KNOWN AS LIES.
Fool me once shame on YOU!
Fool me twice shame on ME!
Vote NOBOZO, . NOBIDEN.............2012!
I've noticed when a conservative posts facts or actual quotes the liberals have nothing solid to say, they just call you names (ignorant, racist, tea bagger etc.) or say "oh yeah? well Bush said . . . ."
Curious to see the lame responses you get.
How about showing us some proof of this, if you can.
You did very good job of copy and paste of right wing/tp propaganda that has been posted many times and debunked many times. Once again, no imagination, no new ideas and no humanity.
They only ones talking about doing this are the chicken-hawk Republicans. President Obama knows it's a very bad idea. Please try to keep up.
Well there's the first one. How long until #2 shows up?
The last person who wanted to invade Iran, I believe, was Sen. John McCain. Is he a Democrat in disguise? (ok, the Tea Party thinks so).
Pres. Obama knows better than to listen to the Republicans on both countries--especially after Gingrich's sterling performance in which he ranted for Pres. Obama to invade Libya, and made the switch a week later for ranting *at* President Obama for...not invading Iraq, but by support NATO in their attempt to protect innocent civilians from Gaddhafi's butchery.
Do try for some facts next round. Thanks for playing.
Boy this should really piss off Clooney and all the Hollywood morons who have to dish out all their money for a few hour dinner. At least you get a full weekend with Romney and REAL intellectual people and not some un-Constitutional hack.
What a crock of old white wealthy piece's of crap. The first, and Im sure the last, Romney Victory Leadership whatever. The fact that he titled this meeting of the rich white doods with the word leadership is an absolute insult to all true leaders in our political spectrum. The only thing this out of touch, flip floppin, draft dodgin, off shor bank account scum leads is his donors to the check book to try an buy the election. Pure desperation at the highest slimiest level. You think those rich white boys are donating for country, or for their own best interests. To Romney and his circus of rich racists it will never be country first. It will always be the GOP way. Party and rich donating righties will, in their eyes, always come before country. How much mor un-american can u get, where u would try to buy the election instead of competing head to head on the issues and problems. Romney knows heez sinking like a rock. So voter suppression, and rich white folks is the GOP way. Shady, corrupt, and despicable. You middle class Republicans will suffer the same tax hikes as the mc Dems, and yet u still vote for this guy that will shaft u as well as me? Difference between u righties and this liberal is this liberal cares for this country. You right wingers only care bout defeatin Obama. Country to u conservatives will always take a bak seat. Come Nov with an Obama victory, we will hav a true leader who will put country first.
yew spel guud..
Uhm someone need hooked on phonics, and a bit of reality.
Obama claims that those who support Romney are old, white and straight. Guess that means those who support Obama are young, black and gay.
Nice to bring out your racist, homophobic self Doc. Kids must look up to you by how you even the playn field by degrading gays, and blacks. Climb out from underneath that rock you've been living under. Wonder how many rich black guys will be there to add their millions to this slimeball. Take ur hood off long enough to figure it out Doc
Obama should go there, maybe he'll learn some leadership skills..
Listen moany, spell it rite for ya? When Willard was bakin pies and cookies, Obama was dealing with mor pressing issues, like being the POTUS. Obama lead the way in a solid conference of the G20. Meanwhile bak at the bakery Romney was leading his wife to the apron holder, and showed her wat a cookie cutter was. Dont think her chef showd her wat that was at home. But Ann and Willie can lead us on how to make humble pie. Michigan remember? "LET DETROIT GO BANKRUPT" Way to lead Willard
I hope the american tax payer is not going to have to foot the bill for expenses while these GOP supporters are rallying. I don't think any $5.00 donators got an invite. I can not believe any politician that takes millions of dollars from millionaires can honestly say they are looking out for all Americans interest. The laws need to be changed once again to limit what can be donated no matter who is making the donation, person or pact. Pacts should follow the same laws as an individual of $1500.00 per person or company.
I agree with limits to donations CGM, but Karl Rove and his right wing cronies will not even ID these wealthy donors, why? I'll tell ya why. Cause they are cowards.They dont want their name connected with Willard. They want to get Obama out so they will attempt to buy the election. They probably dont even support Willie. They just Obama out. How sad that all that money will be for not, come Nov the will of the 98%ers will rule over the $ sign.
I think it is also because not all are US companies or citizens...GOP Not to TRUST!
thank you Jody for bringing to an end the insultfest above. .who cares if someone has balls or is a lawer. I come to this vine to read what others think about our political system.
Obama/Biden 2012
Nope the last line on this article was way wrong...I want to know what other shady tricks these brilliant & oh so patriotic people come up with to further the profits of biz & screw the people of this country...oh and of course what else they can try & pin on Obama & his admin. At this point I would not care if Romney picked Ghandi I would still not vote for the RAT!