Once Bitter Rivals, Romney and McCain Unite on Fundraising Trail
SALT LAKE CITY — In a show of Republican unity, one-time bitter foes John McCain and Mitt Romney raised money and campaigned together Thursday for a single goal — getting McCain elected president.
“We are united. Now our job is to energize our party,” the Arizona senator said in an airport hangar, flanked by Romney and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., an early McCain supporter. Both have been mentioned as potential vice presidential picks, and McCain praised each.
Romney lauded McCain and promised to do all he can to help, saying: “He is a man who is proven and tested” and without question the right man to be president.
In February, Romney won 90 percent of the vote in Utah to McCain’s 5 percent. Romney’s ties to the state run deep, from his Mormon faith to his work overseeing the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
“Look, that wasn’t the only state I lost to Governor Romney in — it was just the largest loss,’ McCain said chuckling. He joked that it was abject humiliation but understandable given Romney’s Utah links. “I was at least hoping to break into double digits though!”
“I think he did just fine in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, California …,” Romney said, laughing about states McCain won.
The two then headed to Denver for another fundraiser accompanied by Meg Whitman, the outgoing chief executive of eBay Inc. and a former Romney backer who now supports McCain.
On the flight, there seemed to be little residual acrimony between the former rivals.
They sat next to each other and ate turkey sandwiches. They laughed and talked during the hourlong flight, and were complimentary of each other when talking to reporters traveling with McCain.
A tanned and rested Romney said it was fun to be campaigning again and nice not to feel any pressure. “I don’t have to worry about goofing up,” he said. He brushed aside questions about a No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket.
At one point, McCain answered a question by lamenting an accelerated GOP primary process that he said doesn’t allow voters to scrutinize the candidates as much.
“Mitt just went through the process,” McCain said and turned to the former governor.
“The process was very good to you …,” Romney responded. McCain laughed, and Romney added that the process was good to him, too.
McCain, who has struggled to raise money compared to Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, is on a weeklong Western fundraising swing. Romney is popular in Utah and Colorado, states with large numbers of Mormons.
Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, dropped out of the race last month after it became apparent it would be near impossible to topple McCain in the convention delegate race. He endorsed the Arizona senator a week later and pledged to help him win the nomination.
Since then, McCain has praised Romney repeatedly as someone who is certain to continue playing a large role in the GOP. Romney, for his part, has suggested that he’d accept a vice presidential slot, though some Republicans privately speculate that he’s looking ahead to a possible repeat run in 2012.
Neither man appeared especially fond of the other during the campaign. Romney cast McCain as outside of the GOP’s conservative mainstream and a Washington insider who contributed to the problems there. McCain, in turn, argued that Romney’s equivocations and reversals on issues indicated a willingness to change his positions to fit his political goals.
Awsome duo - I think they could outshine the democrats and win the Whitehouse for the Republicans.
Funny thing: McCain accusing Romney of changing positions while McCain is trying to win over conservatives by changing his positions. No matter. At 72 years old, McCain will satisfy his decades long ambition of being President and then not run in 2012. That’s when Mitt will become President. I hope McCain selects Romney as his VP. It will help fill McCain’s lack of economic experience. MCCAIN/ROMNEY ‘08
Mitt Romney would be the perfect V.P. for McCain but I worry that his talents and abilities would not be utilized. I would like to see Romney wait untill 2012 but I also want what is best for our country and the Republican party so I am kind of torn on this matter. Which ever way Mitt Romney decides to go, I will support him.
That is the smartest thing that John McCain has done so far, getting Mitt Rommey to help fund raising. Maybe, my “dream team” will be realized after all.
Romney was really good about fundraising and that McCain could really use his ability to raise that kind of cash to battle with the Dem. nominated representative.
This is one great team for American Politics. The next President and Vice President of the United States of America.
McCain and Romney in 2008 the new residents of the White House.
I believe this exchange is positive for McCain, and further believe this election may be more about the Vice Presidential candidates than who is in the number one spot.
I was a Romney supporter. If he turns around and joins McCains ticket I will view that as proof that he is just another politician.
If McCain is (as Romney said during the primary) “part of the problem”, Romney should stick to his guns and wait 4 years for McCain to prove him right.
If he jumps on board he loses all credibility.
I would have contributed to Romney’s campaign; but do not feel inclined to do so for McCain.
Looking at the newest polls, it looks more and more apparent that the best chance Romney has on becoming president is IF john McCain puts him on the ticket. If McCain loses in the General, that doesn’t mean that Romney can’t run in 4 years, if McCain wins, then he has to wait 4 to 8 years, depending if McCain 1) decides to run a second term, and 2) if he wins that second term.