Republicans are Seeking access to Mitt Romney's Money Machine

Now that Mitt Romney has categorically ruled himself out of the 2016 presidential race, the battle is on for the most enduring part of his legacy — his fundraising operation. 

Romney teamed with the Republican National Committee to raise $1 billion in 2012 and still controls perhaps the pre-eminent donor list in all of Republican politics. The pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future raised $150 million almost entirely from massive six- and seven-figure checks. 

It’s a perfect match for presidential prospects and their allies who have begun quietly building their own finance networks, seeking donors who can write large checks, bundlers who can collect scores of $5,000 contributions, and massive databases of phone numbers and emails from which thousands of smaller contributions can be wrung.

Personal fundraising pitches from Romney are considered a potential wellspring for the Republican Party and its 2014 congressional candidates, while the pieces of his network have become coveted assets for 2016 presidential aspirants. 

Candidates and committees in 2013 paid Romney’s still idling campaign at least $675,000 to rent its fundraising lists, while prospective presidential candidates like Govs. Scott Walker and Chris Christie have cozied up to Romney’s fundraisers and donors in closed-door meetings and fundraisers. Romney himself quietly slipped into Manhattan in December to headline a big-donor dinner for the RNC, where he was a huge hit, sources tell POLITICO.

And last month, Romney, for the first time as an ex-candidate, signed a fundraising letter sent to the Romney for President national direct mail list on letterhead bearing Romney’s name asking for contributions to another candidate — his 2012 vice presidential pick, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, who is often mentioned as a possible 2016 contender. 

“I selected Paul as my running mate for a reason — he has one of the sharpest minds of anyone I’ve ever met,” Romney wrote. The letter, dated Jan. 17, sought contributions to Ryan’s congressional reelection campaign. “I was proud to welcome him to my campaign last year. And now I am proud to join his,” Romney wrote. “You were one of the Romney-Ryan team’s most loyal and generous supporters, and both Paul and I are grateful for all you did for us. 

” Expect to see more mailings like that, along with fundraising appearances like the ones Romney did last year for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli and the New Hampshire Republican Party, said Ron Kaufman, a top adviser to Romney’s 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.

Read the rest of the story HERE

If you like what you see, please "Like" us on Facebook either here or here. Please follow us on Twitter here.