Bradley in DC
08-02-2007, 10:03 PM
http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/2007080275/Mitt-Romney-commits-to-W-Va-GOP-convention/
Mitt Romney commits to W.Va. GOP convention
by The Associated Press
CHARLESTON - West Virginia's Republican Party landed Mitt Romney on Thursday as the first of the 2008 GOP presidential candidates who will help it select national nominating convention delegates during February's "Super-Duper Tuesday."
The former Massachusetts governor, considered a top-tier contender among the 10 declared Republicans, is encouraged by the show of support from the Mountain State, campaign political director Carl Forti said.
"Our campaign has an organization, and a number of volunteers, who are working very hard to communicate Governor Romney's message of conservative change," Forti said in a statement.
The state party believes the rest of the Republican field will soon follow suit.
"I don't expect any of them to pass it up," said Gary Abernathy, the state GOP's acting executive director. "We're looking forward to full participation."
At least 17 states plan to hold primary elections or caucuses on Feb. 5. That's the earliest date allowed by the national Republican Party for nominating presidential candidates or selecting delegates.
But hours before the polls close in any of those states, West Virginia's GOP expects to commit 18 of its 30 Republican National Convention delegates to a single presidential contender.
In late January, party members will vote online or in caucuses to select representatives for each county. These representatives will then meet Feb. 5 in Charleston to choose among slates of national convention delegates pledged to each candidate.
State GOP officials predict their morning event will attract national media coverage. Besides the early-bird, winner-take-all format, they are banking on personal appearances by the candidates.
The state's remaining national delegates, besides the three slots held by party officials, will be selected during West Virginia's primary election in May.
Romney was the first of the declared presidential candidates to visit the Mountain State this year, when he spoke at a Kanawha County GOP dinner in March. He had also raised $22,530 from West Virginia donors as of June 30, the third-highest amount in the Republican field.
Mitt Romney commits to W.Va. GOP convention
by The Associated Press
CHARLESTON - West Virginia's Republican Party landed Mitt Romney on Thursday as the first of the 2008 GOP presidential candidates who will help it select national nominating convention delegates during February's "Super-Duper Tuesday."
The former Massachusetts governor, considered a top-tier contender among the 10 declared Republicans, is encouraged by the show of support from the Mountain State, campaign political director Carl Forti said.
"Our campaign has an organization, and a number of volunteers, who are working very hard to communicate Governor Romney's message of conservative change," Forti said in a statement.
The state party believes the rest of the Republican field will soon follow suit.
"I don't expect any of them to pass it up," said Gary Abernathy, the state GOP's acting executive director. "We're looking forward to full participation."
At least 17 states plan to hold primary elections or caucuses on Feb. 5. That's the earliest date allowed by the national Republican Party for nominating presidential candidates or selecting delegates.
But hours before the polls close in any of those states, West Virginia's GOP expects to commit 18 of its 30 Republican National Convention delegates to a single presidential contender.
In late January, party members will vote online or in caucuses to select representatives for each county. These representatives will then meet Feb. 5 in Charleston to choose among slates of national convention delegates pledged to each candidate.
State GOP officials predict their morning event will attract national media coverage. Besides the early-bird, winner-take-all format, they are banking on personal appearances by the candidates.
The state's remaining national delegates, besides the three slots held by party officials, will be selected during West Virginia's primary election in May.
Romney was the first of the declared presidential candidates to visit the Mountain State this year, when he spoke at a Kanawha County GOP dinner in March. He had also raised $22,530 from West Virginia donors as of June 30, the third-highest amount in the Republican field.