Romney holds fundraiser in Utah

By: Debbie Hummel

The Associated Press

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007

"Republican Mitt Romney came to Salt Lake City on Tuesday to raise money for his presidential bid among supporters who say they're backing him for his 2002 Olympic success rather than because most of them share his LDS faith.

"Romney and his wife, Ann, posed with several Republican state politicians before the event and also were nostalgic about the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

"She teared up in the car and said, "'Can you remember the feelings we felt?"' Romney said of the couple's conversation during their ride from the airport.

"Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert called Romney Utah's adopted son. Under Herbert's leadership,

17 of Utah's 21 GOP state senators and 49 of 55 Republican House members support Romney for president, Romney said.

"'I found his charismatic leadership intoxicating,' said Utah Speaker of the House Greg Curtis.

"Romney took over as head of Salt Lake's Olympic organizing committee in February 1999 after it was revealed Salt Lake organizers doled out more than $1 million in cash and gifts to members of the International Olympic Committee to win the 2002 bid. Under Romney's leadership, the Games were lauded as a critical success, a model of post-Sept. 11 security and turned a $100 million profit. Romney, a successful venture capitalist before the Games, wrote a book after titled 'Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership and the Olympic Games.'

"State Senate President John Valentine, who sat on the committee that selected Romney to take over leadership of the Games, said Romney's 'can-do attitude and optimism' in 2002 earned him Valentine's support for the presidential campaign."

...

"'He's the one the Democrats fear the most,' said Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch as he arrived for the dinner.

"'He's articulate, he's smart, he's attractive,' Hatch said. 'He's been a very effective Republican governor of one of the bluest states in the union.'" ...

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