Romney well received in LA (And Michigan Update)
This piece at New Orleans City Business mentions Romney’s great reception in LA.
The Louisiana Republican Party held its annual Red, White and Roux Gala Dec. 9 at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel in New Orleans. A sellout crowd heard from Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential presidential candidate in 2008.
Romney, well received by GOP activists at the event, is hoping to line up support in Louisiana for his presidential campaign. Louisiana will be one of the first states to select delegates, which attracts interest from potential presidential candidates. Earlier in the year, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., held a breakfast fundraiser for the Louisiana party. State Republicans should expect more attention in the months ahead from all other presidential candidates.
Also, the latest installment of the “Battle Royale” of Romney and McCain in Michigan is covered in this piece in the Detroit News
[Weiser is] one of a number of Bush supporters who has signed on with McCain. That list includes Republican National Committee member Chuck Yob and Dave Dishaw, a former Bush campaign organizer in the state.
Romney also has roped in Bush Pioneers from the state, including Detroit-area car dealer David Fischer and Detroit builder John Rakolta.
But the contest has not been entirely peaceful. Unsuccessful efforts this fall by some Republicans to oust state party Chairman Saul Anuzis were widely seen as a fight between McCain — whose camp wanted Anuzis out — and Romney.
Other Bush fundraisers, such as Muchmore, are assessing the field.“The thing I look for, from a practical standpoint, is whether this person is capable of running a two-year election,” said Muchmore, who said he is leaning toward supporting Romney or Giuliani. “I’ve been in a lot of campaigns where you contribute money and three months later the candidate drops out.”
That sounds good for Romney . . . Giuliani is much more likely not to run or drop out than Romney judged by the amount of excited supporters, big donors lined up, and political advisors lined up.
I’m still of the opinion that if that Anuzi and clan can get it to be a “closed GOP primary” in MI, then Romney will win it running away. If they decide to still let Democrats and Independants help choose the GOP nominee then it will be a closer competition. That Chuck Yob (McCain’s point man in MI) failed to get Anuzis outsted is an initial positive sign in this regard.
Jeff
December 25th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
Well it looks like the primary in Michigan will be a semi-open primary where anyone can vote for either party, but you only can vote once. Because both parties will be voting on the same day, it is a closed primary in reality because the Democrats will be fighting for the union and African-American votes on the same day.
Personally, I think an open primary helps Rudy more than McCain because Rudy is far more socially liberal and open about it. This could attract a lot of independents and liberals to vote for him.