Posted on 03/20/2009 6:18:03 PM PDT by iowamark
Romney has been active on the fundraising circuit for both his PAC and as a headliner for GOP candidates. Photo: John Shinkle
Mitt Romney’s political action committee has raised $571,000 this year, according to a report filed this week with the Federal Election Commission.
The stated mission of the committee, Free and Strong America PAC, is to support “officeholders and candidates who are dedicated to promoting public policies that will strengthen America.”
But the group also helps keep Romney – a former Massachusetts governor believed to be positioning himself for a run at the 2012 Republican presidential nomination – in the spotlight, paying for his travel and to maintain a political staff.
This year, it’s spent $10,000 on travel, $74,000 on staff salaries and benefits and $118,000 on consulting, including $20,000 for “strategy consulting” to Beth Myers, who ran his unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign, and $10,000 to Peter Flaherty, who was a key advisor to the campaign.
Those payments dwarf the $16,000 it contributed to candidates.
The 2010 campaign cycle, of course, is just getting started. But last year, Romney’s PAC donated only $240,000 of the $2.3 million it raised after Romney ended his own presidential bid (separate Romney state-based PACs contributed another $185,000).
Eric Fehrnstrom, a spokesman for the PAC, said “many campaigns haven't started to gear up yet, but when they do, we'll be there with a timely contribution and the many other forms of support we offer, including direct mail, personal appearances by the governor and GOTV calls.”
He said the PAC is not a presidential campaign-in-waiting, explaining its “main purpose … is to finance Mitt Romney's political activity on behalf of the party and individual candidates.”
Direct contributions to candidates are “a secondary purpose,” Fehrnstrom said.
Romney has been active on the fundraising circuit this year for both his PAC and as a headliner for Republican candidates.
He hosted a breakfast last month at Boston’s Taj Hotel for Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), considered a possible rival for the 2012 nomination, and is set to hold one at the same hotel next month for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, another prospective presidential candidate.
Free and Strong America, which started the year with $338,000 in the bank, brought in $188,000 in January and $383,000 in February. It spent a total of $450,000, leaving it with $459,000 in the bank at the beginning of this month.
Other potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates with political action committees include Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. But their PACs registered to disclose their finances semi-annually, meaning their first reports of the year aren’t due until July 31.
I posted my opinion about these campaign contributions on another thread.
You mean to tell me someone like you who knows SO MUCH about Mr. Romney and politics doesn’t know? Well then, why don’t you email him at his website and ask? Then you can report back to us his answer.
Good post!
Mitt the Conservitive...
Sheesh...
LOL!
Just typing his name is enough now...
Actually the DNC and media hit Romney negatively more than any other candidate last go around. The Globe did daily hit pieces on him. Hugh Hewwit detailed the DNC hit machine press releases going into gear years ago (2005) and had the stats listed about how many hits they did per candidate. Romney won that coveted spot overwhlemingly.
What is interesting is the DNC went silent on criticism of McCain and Huckabee the month right before the primary voting started. The DNC fears Romney the most.
Another interesting thing is many FReepers incessantly post the DNC's talking points on Mitt all the while claiming to be conservative.
Where do you think all the names like multiple choice, flip flopper, smooth talking, for him came from? They were DNC press releases.
PRESS RELEASE from the Democratic National Committee For Immediate Release January 3, 2007 Contact: Stacie Paxton/Mark Paustenbach Mitt Romney: The Multiple-Choice Candidate
Actually all the “flip flopper” type names used against Mitt came from his politcal record. The fact that both sides picked up on it only testifies to how true it is...
Facts is facts and they have been on display here by the conservitives of Free Republic for some time.
But thanks for playing...
Most of us do not get our talking points from the DNC. Or from the media, for that matter.
Truth is, Mitt is just not a conservative.
The DNC fears Romney the most.
In my observations, the DNC and their media henchmen seem to fear Sarah Palin more than anybody these days.
That is pure horsecrap! FReepers know what a fraud is all about and your precious Willard is a first class phony. You're treading on thin ice, bucko.
Every time I see this claim that the Dems are SOOO scared of the guy that gave them absolute 100% uncontested control of MA, it's just pure comedy. They must be laughing their asses off every time they make a comment or issue a release. They are BEGGING us to nominate this fraud because he's a f'ing gold mine for them. 4-8 years of this guy as President, and he'll eradicate the GOP permanently as a viable opposition force for the forseeable future.
Oh, and Ram, don't try to spin it anymore. I've been watching this crap for the last fifteen years, and you Slick apologists still insist on pooping in our salad and calling it ambrosia. You're not misled and you're not deceived, you're just simply lying.
“Where do you think all the names like multiple choice, flip flopper, smooth talking, for him came from? They were DNC press releases.”
No, they come from history. He has flip-flopped.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.