Romney Helps Massachusetts Candidate, Lays Low In New York

[ccharles000]

Mitt Romney passed over the race for the open Senate seat in Massachusetts, but has decided to get involved in his own way.

He is holding a fundraiser for Republican state Sen. Scott Brown, in his long-shot bid to become the successor of the late Edward M. Kennedy..

Romney will appear tonight with Brown in Wrentham, Mass.

The event should provide a needed financial shot in the arm for the under-resourced campaign -- Brown raised $154,000 through Sept. 30, the lowest of any of the major party candidates.

State Attorney General Martha Coakley led the four-person Democratic field with $2.2 million in receipts.

Given the state's heavy Democratic tilt, it would have taken someone of Romney's stature and resources to give the GOP a real shot at winning the seat. Brown's lack of name ID and cash make it highly likely that whoever emerges the winner of Democrats' Dec. 8 primary will go on to win the Jan. 19 special election.

Romney, however, has his sights firmly planted on the presidential race in 2012, and has been making the rounds lately to help Republicans up in 2009 and 2010. On Wednesday he endorsed Republican Bob McDonnell in the Virginia governor's race.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2009/10/romney-fundraising-for-massach.html

[AllentownJake]

1. Mitt and Huckabee are staying out of New York

Neither wants to tie themselves to closely with the ultra right wing of the party for a primary. They don't want to offend but they don't want to be the right wing candidate.