Mitt Romney’s Message Inspires Donors at New York City’s Harvard Club

Governor Romney is on a blitz to gather the phenomenal amount of money needed to see his potential presidential campaign through the primaries and take the battle eye-to-eye to Obama.

The day after announcing his presidential exploratory committee, Romney breakfasted with deep-pocket donors at the Harvard Club in New York City on Tuesday (4/12/11):

Mitt Romney, wasting no time reeling in the cash for his presidential campaign, held a meeting with high-dollar donors in New York City on Tuesday, a day after announcing his exploratory committee for president.
[…]

All attendees pledged at least $25,000, but donors say many of the bundlers will raise between $100,000 and $250,000. The $50 million fund-raising goal that came up at the last meeting was not mentioned Tuesday.

[Tom] Foley, who also served as the ambassador to Ireland during the second Bush administration, said the crowd was enthusiastic that the exploratory committee is official.

“People can jump in and begin supporting him in the best way they are able to do that,” Foley told The Daily Beast. “There is a gathering sense of momentum when everybody gets together. The gun has been fired and it was exciting for everyone.”
[…]

With Romney’s exploratory committee activated, donors like the ones who attended the Harvard Club gathering—who have already pledged between $25,000 and $100,000—can start to write checks to the committee, which is expected to become a full-fledged campaign in the coming months. In attendance Tuesday were New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, former Bush Treasury official Emil Henry, hedge fund manager Anthony Scaramucci, financier Patrick Durkin, and former Goldman Sachs chairman John Whitehead, all of whom attended a similar breakfast fund-raiser for Romney last month. New faces included Tom Foley, who unsuccessfully ran for governor of Connecticut last November, and hedge fund manager John Paulson, who along with Johnson spoke at the meeting.
[…]
…Investment banker Lewis Eisenberg, who served as John McCain’s 2008 finance chairman and helped plan the breakfast meeting, said most people in the room Tuesday morning believe Romney is the GOP’s best shot in 2012.

“I continue to think he’s the best chance we have to understand the world we are dealing with in the White House,” said Eisenberg. “He believes in the greatness of America, the importance of a strong economy, creating jobs, and reducing the perilous deficit. He will not take his eye off the ball.”

(my emphasis)

Gov Romney fired up the crowd with remarks on jobs, the economy, job creation, foreign policy and Obama’s failures, and health care. According to the article, one attendee said “Romney appeared ready to “eviscerate Obamacare.”

Don’t miss reading more here.

Next stop on the fundraising march? Onward to Florida – The Villages.

*Remember to PLEDGE to donate to MRC’s Pledge Drive: Show Mitt the Money! If you find yourself short of funds because it’s pay-Uncle-Sam month or whatever reason, try to figure out ways to cut corners or save up to donate whatever you can next month to help Gov. Romney make history. Every dollar counts. The Obama machine doesn’t rest and our man, Mitt, will need all the help we can give.

► Jayde Wyatt