Rep. Petri backs Mitt Romney's presidential bid

By: Ellyn Ferguson

Gannett News Service

Monday, Aug 27, 2007

WASHINGTON - Rep. Thomas Petri became the first Wisconsin congressman Monday to endorse former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's run for the Republican presidential nomination on Monday.

"On so many issues, we need to move beyond talk to action. In Governor Romney, we have a leader who has been tested and proven with a record of solving some of our most pressing problems by demonstrating creative, conservative leadership," Petri, R-Oshkosh, said.

Petri is the first Wisconsin Republican elected official at the state or federal level to back Romney, campaign spokeswoman Sarah Pompei said.

Romney won an Aug. 12 non-binding straw poll in Iowa and is among the frontrunners in a large Republican presidential field.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson dropped out of the race after a poor showing in the straw poll.

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Romney is first GOP hopeful to have Minnesota committee

By: Bob Von Sternberg

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Monday, Aug 27, 2007

The presidential campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announced a Minnesota steering committee on Monday made up of some heavyweight state GOP operatives.

Romney is the first Republican candidate to field a formal steering committee in Minnesota, which will hold its precinct caucuses on Feb. 5, a critical day in the nominating process when nearly half the states will hold contests.

Members of Romney's committee include:

- Longtime national committeeman Jack Meeks, who served as chief of staff for former Rep. Vin Weber, one of Romney's close advisers.

- State national committeeman Brian Sullivan, who ran for the party's gubernatorial nomination in 2002.

- State national committeewoman Evie Axdahl, a longtime member of the party's state central committee and a five-time national convention delegate.

- State party secretary/treasurer Tony Sutton, the party's former executive director.

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