December 14, 2006
The Daily Troika: Romney Announcement In Early January
Top donors and prominent supporters of Gov. Mitt Romney have been told to expect a formal announcement of his presidential candidacy on the 8th of January. They've also been warned that the date could change. (Hotline sources).
This morning, Romney's press team e-mailed reporters a Q and A featuring Romney and his National Review admirer, KLo. Romney's not comfortable with the ISG report, he seems to want constructive engagement with China, and he no longer supports ENDA -- the employment non-discrimination act for gays.
Several top Romney supporters implored his campaign to respond more fully to the Boston Globe/Bay Windows blogswarm. But Romney was in Asia when the news broke, and top members of his team were busy interviewing staff and slogging through hours-long planning meetings.
One early sign that Romney's communication team will help contain stories like these: Matt Drudge didn't touch it. . Drudge is friendly with Romney's communications director, Matt Rhoades, the former research director of the RNC. Draw conclusions on your own.
Sen. John McCain's ExploreAmerica committee announced part of its nat'l finance team:
Also, banking exec James Huffines will be TX state chair. Huffines is currently the chair of the University of Texas Board of Regents and is a longtime Republican donor.
Finally, Kathleen Shanahan, a former chief of staff for Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) and VP Cheney, will join McCain's nat'l strategy team. Shanahan is currently the CEO of WRS Infrastructure and Environment in Tampa. That brings to two the number of top Jeb Bush associates who've joined McCain. The other is Phillip Handy.
Also: McCain's got the support of Michigan attorney General Mike Cox. The long-rumored endorsement means that both statewide elected Republicans in Michigan are for McCain; Terri Lynn Land, the Sec/State, is said to be on board. Cox will serve as chair of the "Law Enforcement for McCain" and also as his Michigan state chair.
The New York Daily News's Ben Smith updates the Lou Susman saga. Mr. Susman, John Kerry's nat'l finance chair in '04, will raise money Barack Obama if Obama runs.
After 40 years and 3K columns, The State's Lee Bandy is retiring (The State). We will miss him. The "It" political writer in the state is now offiically Dan Hoover of the Greenville News. [MARC AMBINDER]
Posted at 12:12 PM
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