Romney paves way for possible '12 runBulk of PAC fund goes for political ambitionsBy Frank Phillips
Globe Staff / December 8, 2008
Republican Mitt Romney is laying the groundwork for a
possible White House campaign in 2012, hiring a team of
staff members and consultants with money from a fund-
raising committee he established with the ostensible
purpose of supporting other GOP candidates.
The former Massachusetts governor has raised $2.1
million for his Free and Strong America political
action committee. But only 12 percent of the money
has been spent distributing checks to Romney's fellow
Republicans around the country.
Instead, the largest chunk of the money has gone to
support Romney's political ambitions, paying for salaries
and consulting fees to over a half-dozen of Romney's
longtime political aides, according to a Globe review of
expenditures.
Romney founded the Free and Strong America Committee
shortly after dropping out of the 2008 presidential
primary. He filled its coffers by telling conservative
contributors around the country that their money would
be used to support Republican candidates and causes.
-snip-