Boca Raton, Florida
Ahead of the GOP presidential debate in Orlando, FL, tomorrow evening, Mitt Romney was in Boca Raton yesterday to prepare for the next go-round. He was also there to do some fundraising (the race for cash with the Perry campaign is on!):
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida gets a lot of attention because of the role it plays on election day. But even thirteen months before any votes are cast in the race for president, top candidates are hitting Florida to win another important battle: the race for cash.
Analysts say former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is playing a game of tortoise and hare with Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Many political pros called Romney the winner of last week’s Florida debate.
But opinion polls have Texas Governor Rick Perry as the front-runner for now in the GOP contest.
Romney hopes fundraising events, like the one he held Tuesday night in Boca Raton, costing between $1,000 and $2,500 per person, will help him chip away at Perry’s lead.
“Right now, Romney wants to focus on his fundraising. If he has a real good quarter, and beats Perry in the fundraising this quarter, that will say a lot about his campaign,” said Dr. Robert Watson, a Lynn University political professor.
Romney’s host Tuesday night is venture capitalist Marc Leder.
“He’s a financier, he’s a merger guy. They usually pack a big wallet, they have a lot of rich friends, I would expect them to raise a lot of money today in Boca,” said Mark Foley, a former Republican congressman and current radio talk show host.
Florida has been a fundraising machine for Romney this year. At last report in June, he’d raised $1.5 million, more than President Obama and more than all other republicans combined.
In Palm Beach County, he’s raised $350,000.
[...]
Rick Perry will be in West Palm Beach Wednesday for his own fundraiser.He is hoping his first financial report will be as strong as Romney’s.
(emphasis added)
Romney will hold a town hall meeting today in Miami. It begins at 9:00 AM ET at the Double Tree Hotel at the Miami Airport Convention Center.
► Jayde Wyatt
I’m most excited about him holding a town hall meeting in Miami. We’re at the ragged end of the time when he will be able to meet people in a fairly personal setting. As the campaign swings into gear, the opportunities for regular folks to shake his hand and talk to him will become almost non-existent. I’m sure that these people paying $1000 each for the fundraiser will get to meet him, but they’d get to meet him any time. Talking to regular folks will do the most to swing the polls, and swinging the polls will help to land the cash.
Very interesting take on social security. http://www.forbes.com/sites/lawrencehunter/2011/09/20/replacing-fdrs-new-deal-with-the-gops-version-of-the-great-society/
South Florida is Mitt Country!
Palm Beach County is your bellweather.