Press room
Romney Praises GOP's McDonnell and Bolling - Richmond Times Dispatch
May 30, 2009
By Tyler Whitley, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts said in Richmond last night that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell and likely lieutenant governor nominee Bill Bolling have the experience to create jobs and strengthen the economy in Virginia.
Romney, a multimillionaire businessman and likely Republican presidential candidate in 2012, stopped in Richmond during the Republican Party of Virginia's nominating convention to help the party raise money at its annual Commonwealth Gala and to promote the candidacies of McDonnell and Bolling.
Today at the Richmond Coliseum, Republican delegates will pick nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general. McDonnell is unopposed for the gubernatorial nomination. Delegates also will choose the chairman of the state GOP.
Romney said the national Republican Party, which suffered big losses last year and is going through an identity crisis, does not need to remake itself.
"I'm proud of our party; I'm proud of what its stands for," Romney said. "From time to time there will be setbacks, but those setbacks make us more energized."
Virginia and America "are a center-right state and a center-right nation," Romney continued.
Romney said he came to Virginia to help the running mates because Virginia and New Jersey have important gubernatorial elections this year that give the GOP an opportunity to win again. As for his own presidential ambitions, Romney said 2012 is too far in the future….