Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Mitt's Big Day

Governor Romney had the best day he or any other candidate has had to date yesterday, which should give Iowans for Romney (and their persistent commenter) a lot to be happy about.

While Senator McCain has been getting a lot of attention for his many pick-ups in South Carolina, Governor Romney put a dent into that by securing the junior Senator Jim DeMint. DeMint has a lot of credibility within the social conservative community in South Carolina. Known for his committed social conservatism, and his uniquely southern demeanor, this endorsement is the most important Romney has received to date.

In the meantime, 400+ Romney supporters with gathered in a hotel in Massachusettes raising $6.5 MILLION dollars for the Governor's exploratory committee. And it wasn't just the money, Fox News, the New Moscow Times, the Washington Post and many other media outlets covered the extraordinary display of fundraising prowess. The one thing we can't quite figure out, that a Romney commenter could maybe clear up, is whether the $6.5 mil was in hard cash or pledged cash (there's a big difference) and if it was hard cash, how they secured it all in one day.

Regardless, 6.5 is an astronomical figure and sets the tone for a campaign that will have plenty of money and plenty of resources. The Hotline reported yesterday that he already has 60 people on his Exploratory Committee staff all across the country. And remember, even if the well begins to dry, Romney has vast personal wealth that he could tap into to supplant his extremely strong fundraising capabilities. And as the Note noted this morning, 2008 analysts should discount fundraising ability at their own peril.

Update: the $6.5 came from cash raised on the web, checks received and signed pledges.

9 Comments:

Blogger Burton Rider said...

Cooler: the $6.5 million included both raised cash (via internet), checks collected for and at the event, and "signed pledges" that the campaign believes will be fulfilled.

The campaign was clear about this with the various press outlets that covered it. It made it into several of the stories.

Again, thanks for the post.

11:13 AM  
Blogger Caucus Cooler said...

Thanks BR. We scanned lots of articles and must have missed it. We'll make the edit.

11:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A "pledge" isn't a contribution. Nice spin.

12:25 PM  
Blogger Mimi said...

All that money.And for what??
MIKE HUCKABEE 2008!

1:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe Huckabee can ask Mitt for a loan later this year. Or get him as a co-signer.

3:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WHAT A BOLD AND INNOVATIVE MOVE !!

WAY TO GO MITT !

THIS IS WHY YOU ARE THE MAN !!!!

4:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A "pledge" is not a contribution. Nice spin.

7:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A great fundraising start for the campaign!
www.iowansforromney.com

9:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

flash in the pan. he's out of the race by year-end.

2:17 PM  

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