BEING a Mormon from Democrat-leaning Massachusetts would normally be a handicap for a Republican with presidential ambitions, yet Mitt Romney has broken through as a serious contender for his party's nomination with another massive fundraising haul.
The former Massachusetts governor, who outstripped his rivals unexpectedly in the first-quarter fundraising race, is set to unveil an equally impressive money haul this week.
This success is now being reflected in the latest polling.
After spending $US4million ($4.7million) since February on carefully targeted advertising, Mr Romney leads the Republican field in the crucial early caucus and primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
Rival campaigns have been forced to concede that he has become a top-tier candidate.
"There's a long way to go, but to date he's running the most logical, thought-out, structured campaign," said Scott Reed, who managed Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign. "He's raising the money, he's spending it wiser and he seems to be on track."
Mr Romney's aides admit that it is early days in the unpredictable Republican race.
He has yet to win over evangelicals, a key constituency in the party's primary electorate. Many distrust his recent reversals on issues such as abortion and gay marriage, and his Mormonism.
The official entry later this week of Fred Thompson, the Law and Order star and a conservative southerner, also throws up another significant hurdle.
Although leading in the early states, Mr Romney lags behind Mr Thompson, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani in national polls.
But Mr Romney's aides, and rival campaigns, say his slow, methodical approach has exceeded expectations.
That strategy, laid out by Romney staff last winter, was to pour resources and time into Iowa and New Hampshire, to give him the momentum into Florida and South Carolina the following week, and from there on to the multi-state "Tsunami Tuesday" on February 5 that will probably determine the nominee.
"The campaign is proceeding as we planned it," senior aide Vin Weber said. "The good news is when people see him they like him. There's no reason to think that what has happened in Iowa and New Hampshire won't be repeated when we introduce him to the rest of the country."
A key to the success of the Romney plan has been his fundraising prowess.
Between January and March he topped the Republican field, raising $US21million, against the $US16million taken in by Mr Giuliani and the $US13million reported by Senator McCain.
Senator McCain's campaign is being forced again to play down expectations for the second-quarter total after what is believed to have been another disappointing fundraising period.
But leading in Iowa is a double-edged sword. Should Mr Romney fail to win there, it could deal his campaign a fatal blow.
No comments:
Post a Comment