Romney backers help Pawlenty erase debt
WASHINGTON — More than half the political donations Republican Tim Pawlenty received since ending his White House bid came from Mitt Romney’s donors, who helped erase the campaign debt of a politician whose early exit and endorsement boosted Romney, a USA TODAY analysis shows.
Pawlenty, who owed more than $435,000 to consultants, staffers and others last September, announced Tuesday he had paid off all remaining debts and was closing his campaign account.
“It was truly an honor to run for president of the United States. Mary and I will be forever grateful to the many supporters who inspired and sustained the campaign,” Pawlenty said in a statement. “I am also glad we were able to pay all campaign debts and wind down the campaign properly.”
Romney loyalists, including 11 members of his family, several key fundraisers, his campaign aides and employees of the private-equity firm he helped create, donated more than $330,000 to Pawlenty since Aug. 14 when he withdrew from the race after a third-place finish in Iowa’s straw poll, according to the USA TODAY analysis. The former Minnesota governor endorsed Romney less than a month later.
Pawlenty, who coined the term “ObamneyCare” to slam Romney’s Massachusetts health care plan only to decline to use the word to Romney’s face during the first big GOP primary debate, has emerged as one of Romney’s leading surrogates, launching sharper attacks against Romney’s rivals than he did as a candidate.
Earlier this year, for instance, Pawlenty denounced former House speaker Newt Gingrich to reporters as a Washington “influence peddler.” During an appearance on Fox News last week, Pawlenty urged another Romney rival, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, to “get real” and drop out of the race.
“It makes sense they are helping him repay his debt,” Anthony Corrado, a campaign-finance expert at Colby College in Maine, said of Pawlenty. “He has been a loyal soldier.”
Writing checks to Pawlenty also gives Romney’s donors, many of whom have given the maximum $2,500 primary-election donation to Romney’s campaign, another way to demonstrate their support for the former Massachusetts governor, Corrado said.
The USA TODAY analysis found that more than 160 Romney donors contributed after Pawlenty ended his campaign. They include Romney’s five sons, his campaign manager Matt Rhoades and dozens of prominent supporters, including Robert “Woody” Johnson IV, the owner of the New York Jets football team and a top Romney fundraiser.
“I was happy to help Gov. Pawlenty when he decided to withdraw and end his campaign,” said Mel Sembler, a Florida developer raising money for Romney. Sembler gave $2,500 to Pawlenty last year. “Did I give him money to secure his endorsement? No.”
Charlie Spies, who runs a super PAC aiding Romney’s campaign, donated $250 a few weeks after Pawlenty endorsed the former Massachusetts governor. Spies, the CFO of Romney’s 2008 campaign, said Pawlenty “ran an honorable campaign and didn’t deserve to be stuck with debt.”
Spies said no one on the Romney team urged him to donate but said Pawlenty’s endorsement “certainly made me want to help him more.”
Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul declined to comment.
Last week, Romney said he hasn’t asked any of his GOP rivals to withdraw. But he added that he hopes “we’re able to resolve our nomination process as soon as possible.”