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PARK CITY, Utah -- After two days of meetings, meals and hobnobbing with the candidate, his top advisers and leading figures of the Republican party here in this exclusive resort community, Mitt Romney's biggest donors and bundlers say they are fired up and ready to go.
Charles Dharapak / AP
Mitt Romney greets attendees at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference in Orlando, Fla.
"I’m going to do everything that I can do. I’m going to bundle every penny I can get," said Michigan lawyer Rodger Young, a long time Romney supporter who, like the hundreds of other guests here, have raised or personally donated more than $50,000 to Romney's campaign. "I think I came here with the idea that we were all going to take on more finance responsibility and I’m certainly prepared to do that."
"It’s even more than hopeful," a donor from New Orleans said of the atmosphere at the retreat. "We are beyond that now."
It is precisely that spirit which Romney and his campaign are looking to capture with this weekend's retreat, designed as a rally, a reward and a launching pad for top donors to continue to support the campaign -- and get their friends and family to do the same.
To generate such goodwill, Romney's campaign invited the donors and their spouses here for two days of briefings on campaign strategy and policy issues, intermixed with opportunities to rub elbows with Republican stars like Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, as well as the candidate and his family.
On Friday night, the campaign hosted a welcome dinner at Park City's Olympic park. Guests were ferried from their hotels by bus, up the mountainside, and treated to spectacular views and a cookout-style dinner where former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu and former Secretary of State James Baker warmed up the crowd, and introduced Mitt and Ann Romney. The couple gave remarks and mingled with guests who were also entertained by Olympic ski-jumpers practicing their technique on the ramps and pools at the facility, which remains a training center for Olympic winter athletes.
Saturday's festivities began with a breakfast and included a strategy briefing from top campaign advisers. Among the highlights of the day, according to several donors who attended the event, was a lunchtime speech by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who received not one but two standing ovations for a speech one attendee described as "exhilarating."
Rice along with Ryan and Jindal are among the names tossed about as part of the weekend's other major storyline: with few exceptions, nearly every Republican thought to be under consideration to become Romney's partner on the ticket is also attending this event in some capacity. Sens. Bob Portman, R-Ohio, and John Thune, R-S.D., are on the guest list, as are former Govs. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Jeb Bush of Florida, as well as the current Virginia governor, Bob McDonnell.
The Romney campaign has been tight-lipped about the vice presidential vetting process, with only Florida Sen. Marco Rubio confirmed to be receiving a "thorough vetting."
But Romney's adviser in charge of that process, his former Chief of Staff Beth Myers, has also traveled to Utah, along with most of the top figures of Romney's high command in Boston, fueling speculation -- even among the donors and campaign advisers here -- that this weekend away from the rigors of the campaign trail may also figure in to Romney's vice presidential selection process.
Saturday evening and Sunday the event will wrap up with dinner, desert and dancing, according to a leaked copy of the agenda, and with the opportunity to play golf on Sunday at a private course in the area -- all designed to foster camaraderie amongst those most involved in financing Romney's campaign, and to get them excited about November.
To hear the donors tell it, the strategy seems to be working.
"Things are looking pretty darn good," Young said.
Leave a Comment:
GermanGem, can you speak German, by the way? I took it in high school, but all I remember is 'Ich liebe dich.' Which is enough, I suppose. ;)
nine lol. Mais, Je parle francais:)
Ah, ok. I can say 'I love you' in seven different languages, but French isn't one of them unfortunately. I'll have to look it up. Lol.
4 more years of obama we will have to learn mandarin
I love you in french- Je t'aime. Now you know 8:)
Gem is a flirt machine. Stuck in high gear. But it's OK because she is so HOT!!!!
Gem,
Ha! Very nice! I'm heading out for the night shortly, Sugar. Sweet dreams. ;)
xoxo ♥
Je t'aime? I'll remember that. Ich liebe dich, auch. ;)
Ciao Cubs. Have fun:) xoxo
and thank you would-i-lie
GermanGem, how did the soccer match today end? Greece or Germany win?
I believe it was Germany 4-2 or 4-1. I'm not Gem but I shaved extra close today in preperation for a big smooch.
I thought the news said Germany won, but I'm not positive. Lotsa pre-game hype with that match!
lol would-i-lie:)
The German leader looks like she uses her face to block shots.
poor Angela:( But rich germany lol
When Obama is re-elected, all the money these morons spent on the the moron in chief will just be flushed away.
Obama/Biden 2012
While Romney is having a nice weekend with all his high class friends throwing money around, I do hope that everyone of the firefighters also located in the State of Utah as well as Colorado are all ok and safe! While these guys and gals attempt to keep us safe from these wild fires probably while eating some kind of humble food, I'm sure that Romney and his buddies are enjoying whatever is being served on classy trays that cost $200 per ounce! One side of Utah, Romney and that elite crowd, the other side of Utah, people working their butts off to keep everyone safe!
Obama has been to 160 fundraisers with his elitist millionaire buddies - not only during this crisis but the tornadoes in the south and the chaos in Washington. He hasn't said a word of compassion to any of them - and he is the president!
Are you referring to the torch carrying US Military Romney refers to?
Romney is a pure embarrassment.
as a Mormon Willard is not aloud alcohol or caffeine. No coffee, no liquor, just iced tea, nah that contains caffeine . So if he is elected all of you bar hopping, cigarette smoking, coffee drinking, penthouse, playboy buying,playboy channel watching people had better watch out. Unless of course there's been some great revelation saying that is it now okay.
Barack gave up his right last election to whine about how much money is being raised by a politician for an election. As I recall, he decided to blow off the public funding mechanism. He, nor his supporters, are in a position to moan about Governor Rommneys fund raising prowess. End of discussion.
Correct, end of discussion!
Proper etiquette is Mr. Romney. Not Governor! So, and therefore President Obama is correct!
VICTOR; Willardo sends his thanks to you. He says this nation needs more folks like you to carry water for the uber rich. It really is quite breathtaking how many people like are there to make excuses for a political system so corrupt, our entire democracy is on the virge of being for sale.
What good would public financing have done Obama??? With Citizens United the floodgates of big corporate money have opened. Do you honestly think this is good for our political system? It was not that many years ago we had the McCain-Feingold bill which while not perfect, was a hell of a lot better than what we have now.
It is a cult thing. One member of the cult is running for president and the whole cult falls in line. Did you expect anything else from a cult?
Another member of the cult is Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, Ron. So think twice before taking Mormon shots. ;)
The Mormon Cult?
yup, if that's what you want to call it.
Reid's a Mormon.
Why don't the Romney's just become Wickens or something else ridiculous!
Mormons are crazy, sober people. That's why I go to a Black Liberation Church.
Cubs fan. BAD EXAMPLE. We don't want anyone comparing Romney to Inept Harry "DIRTY MONEY" Reid. dis-associate. Please. Romney is nothing like Reid. I repeat Nothing.
So I know some Morman's...one is my brother...he's a crooked SOB....HMMMM....but then I know other Morman's that know Romney is even to them...a hypocrite. You know...Romney...the one that changes his story like he changes his magical underweeeeeeeeeeeear!!!! wooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
Romney is a slug and he's not even getting full support from fellow Morman's......up yours would-I-lie.!!
VIVA ARM!!!
No honor BUSTER? there are rules.
Mormonism doesn't fit any of the six definitions of a cult. Educate yourself.
Bari keeps saying " If I'm elected I'll do this and this an ,,,,,,,, ". Why wait fool? Do it now.
he's still evolving
Thank god he grows with the times.
Hard for a turd to evolve.
Hey CUBSFAN
Mormons serving in Congress as of 2010
Jeff Flake, Congressman, Republican, Arizona - First elected in 2000, he is currently serving his fifth term, representing the Arizona's sixth district. This district includes parts of Mesa and Chandler and all of Gilbert, Queen Creek, and Apache Junction. He comes up for re-election again in November 2010. we are all doing Orrin Hatch, US Senator, Republican, Utah - First elected to the US Senate in 1976, he is currently serving in his sixth term for Utah. He comes up for re-election in 2012.hat we can to get rid of him. He is partly responsible for the worst tax hikes in the county. He also owns 65% of Pfizer pharmaceuticals and has led the charge to stop US citizens from getting cheaper meds in Canada. Yup that's just what we seniors need higher medicare costs, less coverage and higher prices on our meds.
Trust me you really don't want to start listing all the politicins who are Mormon, nit if you want to see them re-elected.
I'm neither Repub. or Dem, but I feel a guy like Romney reminds me of another guy who lied most if not all of the time. He was often seen to be confused, a drug attic by some and in the end was responsible for the deaths of many people, besides those who chose to believe his rhetoric and followed him. His name was JIM JONES
THOMAS: What this tight ass Willardo really reminds me of is Thurston Howell III. LOL This guy is like a department store mannequin, a robot. I could deal with it were it not for the fact that this guy is the most shameless liar I've ever seen.
All politicians bend the truth, sometimes go back on their word and even break certain campaign promises. But this guy is in a league of his own. Just go and take a look at his record in Massachussetts and compare it to the platform he is now running on.
And Barry is the spitting image of MALCOLM X. His mom's old friend. Before she split to Hawaii.
Romney can't even keep his lying correct INTREPID 1.....Romney is an arrogant fool who is either delusional about his importance in life...or he is simply so freak'n greedy tht he will say anything to get his way. He praises China...WHAT???!!!...then Romney says on day one he's gonna fix them Chinese once and fo all!!! But wait!! Romney likes cheap slave Chinese labor and wholeheartedly "OFFSHORED"....seriously....call it what it is.....greed....yes he outsourced./exported jobs out of the USA. Oh yes...he was savvy to this when he ran Bain Capital and fully supported such.
But G.D.......he's a true American and he looooooooooooooooves America...where the Greedy can screw over whomever they want.
But Reid is sitting on 30 Bills from the House why dont you tell your liberal pal to have the guts to vote on them.
To would-I-die..........so brave with words....VIVA ARM!!!
Viva adjustable rate mortgages????
But Reid is not running for President. To me that's all the difference in the world.
An elite in political and sociological theory, is a small group of people who control a disproportionate amount of wealth. This is not Obama, it's Romney!
One of Obama's backers bought a HAWAIIAN ISLAND last week. Good price to. Between 500-600 million bucks. What's a hundred million when you make that much every week?
At that price he could have bought 50 of them and had money left over.
Damn it!!! I guess the wildfires didn't get close enough to end everyones misery!!
Rooting for the death of Presidential candidates. Aren't you precious? Is Obama's camp that scared?
You know they are the truth about Obama can no longer be hidden.
He does have a stink on him that other Democrats are running from. It is hard to get anyone to meet him at the airport.
Barack seems to be a nice guy but definitely in over his head with this President thing. He needed another decade or so of being a Senator or maybe could have become a govenor which would have prepped him better. Every time I hear him blaming someone for something what he is really saying is: "This is somebody elses fault and I am not up to the task of fixing it." Not sure he knew what he was getting into but clearly he has not kept his committments (Gitmo was supposed to be closed long ago). I wish him the best in his next career...been a failed presidency.
That Penn st. coach seemed like a nice guy too.
Watergate is child's play compared to Republican Voter suppression and this public gathering of the Unholy alliance in the Mormon Stronghold of Park City, UT.
How quickly the Republicans forget Watergate, now they do this crap in open public with out even an afterthought. I hope the right people are taking notes and getting pictures. They will be priceless...
Ha ha ha are you from San Fransisco because you sound as ignorant as that cow who represents those tools.
You should be more worried about Obama the gun runner.
America's top Cop was the GUN RUNNER. The Pres was too busy. He was only in on his buddies cover up.
Yes you Would Lie and are doing it right now - this whole fiasco was started by your buddy Bush - why hasn't Murkasey who was the AG at the time been called to testify?
And when found out about this idiotic scheme like all of Bush's schemes - like the Iraq war was stopped by Holder
So I think you have the wrong Title - I would suggest something like your Christian name or at the least
THIS DOG DOESN'T HUNT - has a nice ring to it
By the time the last vote is over does anyone think Romney may dig a little into his gold mines?
YES!
I don't know. What does that mean? Could you rephrase the Question so it makes sense?
When is Obama going to tell us who all his donors are. When is he going to release all his college transcripts. When is Obama going to tell the truth about fast and furious. Shall I go on.
Yes, please do go on and on and on and on wasting your Fox fed brain and mouth. But go faster! and furiouser, please! It's all I live for.
You keep feeding those lies of NBC and MSNBC into that little PEA brain of yours.
Was that comment the TAT to my TIT?
Main stream media is just that.....MAIN STREAM! So then, what on earth is Fox then? They keep naming "Main Stream Media" I just don't know what they are then, Glen Becks callers?
More like LAME.
Well you go right ahead and ignore what all the news programs in the entire country say's. You'll be better for it I'm sure.
Yes I normally do ignore the lies of the left. Thank you for telling me the obvious.
It is irrelevent who their respective supporters are as I think it is pretty clear what each candidate stands for. And what the hell is this Watergate crap about? What does that have to do with anything today? Nothing. Our current president has been in office for 3.5 out of the 4 year job and that is what he needs to be measured on. All I know is that the only committment he kept was jamming through a potentially unconstitutional law that the majority of people did not want (which may be overturned any day). All the other promises he made have fallen well short of what he said he would do. Definitely in over his head and I wish him luck.
The majority, 53% do want it! Actually even more than that and the Supreme court will uphold it. Be careful of your own foolishness.
Another lie 68 % want it gone
You will soon see who wants it.
Yes we will welfare cheats and illegal immigrants.
I don't know of one person who wants the health care act or trusts it.
Gitmo is not important. Neither is Fast and Furious. Pay close attention to Syria, that's important.
Obama will prevail.
In Jail!
Are you even aware that Bush was almost tried for war crimes?
Are you aware Obama is responsible for hundreds of deaths in Mexico and the death of two US agents.
Your history quota doesn't seem to go past 2 weeks.
Yours cant get past the last four years where the media has been hiding all of Obama's crimminal actions.
PTNY, I think Bush is no longer the POTUS......ancient history that has nothing to do with decisions of our current President. Suggest you move on. End of discussion
I LOVE TRANSPARENCY. And backroom deals and sealed files and Executive Privilege.
Hey, if it ever gets out that Fast and Furious was about selling guns to cartels and claiming that they were being sold by local American gun shops - which he was claiming before the whistle blower ratted on them - it would make Watergate look like a childish prank. After all, this conspiracy to make an assault on the 2d Amendment caused the death of a border patrol agent as well as several hundred innocent Mexican citizens. He has to hide it any way he can - at least until after the election. So look for the libtards to play the race card when the House votes to hold Holder in contempt for refusing to answer the subpoena that is addressing this issue.
Obama might not have been in on the initial planning of this treasonous action but he certainly now is covering it up. He is following the Richard Nixonn playbook and hopefully the result will be the same.
Ahhh... You miss the bush regime eh???
Any regime would be better then Obama's.
Yeah... let's go with BUSH 3, it will make Obama's administration look even better.
All right. Is the Mic off? I need a drink. Eric, WTF did you get me into? You stupid bastard. If you didn't have so much dirt on Me I would let you fry . A G Holder, " Yes. I know."
How can that be when they are already worst then the Carter administration.
LOL no, that would be BUSH 2. The worst president in US History.
No that would be Carter you obviously arent old enough to remember.
In case anyone forgot "Fast and Furious" was initiated during the George W. Bush Administration
Romney meets with his donors and it makes MSNBC headline news. Obama goes to over 160 fundraisers at taxpayer expense since April - more than the past five presidents combined - every one filled with the elite rich, many in Hollywood, and not a mention. States devastated by tornadoes - he is at a fundraiser and does't even make note if it. People suffering in fires that destroy their homes and he is fundraising. Every past president - even Jimmy Carter - would visit such devastated areas and lead a relief effort - but he is schmoozing with millionaire and billionaire campaign bundlers. And he is supposed to be the president and leader. Yet nary a complaint from his propagana machine, aka NBC!
N B C U Next Tuesday
and you feel compelled to read MSNBC why? Don't like it, don't read it. Simple right?
I know. It is like being behind enemy lines. NBC against half of all Americans. That sucks. I wish they just REPORTED the news instead of playing politics.
But he said he would close Gitmo down in his first year and here we are almost three years later and there is no plan to do it. All I can conclude is that he has no problem with torturing prisoners. It is too bad he broke that committment to the American people.
millions are being spent to upgrade gitmo- soccer fields, cable t.v.s. sounds pretty nice
Just what a raghead needs more exercise.
They are fixing it up to shut it down. ????? broken Promises. The story of my life. Well at least Obama is still the ANTI-WAR candidate. And against super Packs, lobbyist and Haliburton. And he renamed the Bush Tax Cuts. Glad I voted for him.
Yeah, broken promises that we are STILL Going through from the BUSH Years..
Even more amazing isn't it... Obama wanted to permanently cut the corporate taxes.. but required congress to close the loop holes. The GOP said "NO". OH yeah, and against pacs, lobbyists, etc.. Hmmm.. Scary isn't it when the PUBS pass Citizens UNITED and then Obama plays by their rules.
All they had to do was let the tax breaks expire.
God what lies. How do you look in the mirror in the morning with such a lying mouth.
al151998
http://www.npr.org/2012/02/23/147276846/obamas-corporate-tax-cut-plan-faces-uphill-battle
Still in Denial? ENJOY. Your GOP is the one who said "NO". No lying, but tired of republicants with their head in the sand.
would-I-lie
The GOP said if we kept the tax cuts... we'd have more jobs.. that was over 2.5 years ago. Hmmm.. Companies are back to their pre-recession profits, but.. NO Jobs. Oh wait, they went to other countries thanks to the GOP 'tax cuts' for American Companies that move jobs to other countries.
Hey Al151998 - Now who is lying? Do you enjoy paying more in taxes so corporations can keep their profits?
So Obama listened to Republicans and pushed through tax breaks for the 1 %? It is still his tax breaks. Please explain again how Republicans made him sign the papers.
And as soon as the tax breaks were continued the ever so slow recovery began.
Romney wining and dining the Gentiles in Posh Park City, Mormon-style, was there any green jello with shredded carrots at the BBQ? How about Funeral Potatoes? What about the Mormon MLM Millionaires from Nu Skin and Melaleuca who've donated millions to the PAC? Were they there as well? When they say that "Big corporations are buying a president," they should say, "Pyramid Schemes are buying a president."
Nothing says transparency more than stonewalling Congressional hearings
Gotta love Romney for saying he lost the race against Kenedy for stating to much about his plan.
Now Romney won't say anything, but that he's against Obama .
How nice to be for the "against" candidate.
What are you "for"
Nothing ........I'm for Romney which means I'm against everything
Sad
Well at least he talks about a plan where is Obama's plan still waiting almost 4 years and counting.
Obama is an against candidate. He isn't running on Hope and change anymore. He is running purely on attacking. Because we have heard all his lies before.
Then have Obama put it forth once and for all.
LOL Romney has no economic plan. Some 'junky' bullet points on exactly how he wasn't go fix the economy? Amazing. All I see is a whining out of touch silver spoon wielding candidate that only cares about "RoMonomics more than American Economics"
He has a 56 point plan so you lied again.
LOL that's not a PLAN, that's nothing but bullet points. How is he going to ensure more jobs are created? Has he said he would pay down the deficit? How he is going to cut the fat out of all social, corporate, and military welfare programs? How he is going to reduce the cost of health care? Will he make SSN solvent again? Will he pull us out of Afghanistan? What about closing Guantanamo bay? What is his stance on Syria?
Yeah.. RomoNOMICS has no plan.
Its more of a plan then Obama has produced in 4 years lets get down to brass tacks where is Obama's plan clown.
Obama has more SKELETONS in his closet than the local graveyard.
You must have created a different user name. How many do you have now
Barry Soetoro, Bari Shabazz, Barack Hussein Obama. Are you in?
How about.. President Obama. And log in with one of the others, the pics are better.
Why should he you dont like the pic of dear leader.