Romney Headed West: Raising Cash in California

Sunset on California coast

California, here he comes!

Returning from the *presidential debate and campaigning in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney will be working his way through Colorado, Utah, and California to campaign and raise cash. He will be in The Golden State next week:

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is taking a fundraising swing through California next week, hosting events in at least five cities, according to a campaign memo obtained by The Times.
[...]
Romney will raise money at stops in Sacramento, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire between June 21 and 23.

The memo also includes a partial list of the candidate’s state finance committee chairs, including prominent Republicans such as failed gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman (who used to work for Romney), former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, Sun Microsystems co-founder Scott McNealy, prominent homebuilder William Lyon, former MGM Studios Chairman Harry E. Sloan, and Tony Pritzker (whose sister Penny was the 2008 national finance chairperson of President Obama’s campaign).

Californians were generous with Romney in his unsuccessful 2008 bid, contributing more than $8 million to his primary battle with Sen. John McCain, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

It’s unclear how much the three-day swing will net Romney, but an invitation to a June 21 barbecue at McNealy’s Portola Valley home calls for a suggested contribution of $1,000 to $10,000 per person.
[...]
The California trip is sandwiched between similar events in Colorado and Utah.

(emphasis added)

Californians are dealing with 11.9% unemployment, a flat housing market, high gasoline/food prices, and a state budget deficit exceeding $15 billion. Too bad they let Meg Whitman slip out of their fingers. Ah well, their loss is our gain. Glad to see she’s helping Mitt in Cali…

*Presidential debate… Margaret Carlson (Bloomberg) has penned my favorite summary: