Orlando, Florida (CNN) - Mitt Romney's campaign is gathering its major donors and bundlers for a three-day Utah retreat where supporters with deep pockets can rub elbows with the candidate, his wife and major supporters.
The event, which is being held in Park City, Utah, begins Friday and will feature a dinner speech by Romney, according to an invitation obtained by CNN.
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The weekend will include policy seminars and speeches by party heavyweights including Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, the governor's spokesman confirmed.
Several of Romney's potential vice presidential picks - including Sen. Rob Portman, and, according to other reports, Rep. Paul Ryan and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal - are speaking at various events during the weekend.
Sen. Marco Rubio was invited, but he told reporters Thursday he declined because he wanted to spend time with his family.
Republican strategist Karl Rove will be speaking on one panel during the retreat, according to one source familiar with the event.
Invited donors have all contributed at least $50,000 to the Republican effort.
"It is an opportunity to interact with the candidate and his advisers front line and behind the scenes," one donor who is attending told CNN. He requested anonymity because the event is supposed to be private.
"It is a great opportunity on a personal level," he said. "No one is involved in the campaign who isn't going."
One key part of the weekend will be to push the campaign's major backers to re-double their efforts and continue to build on the nominee's fund-raising prowess. Romney and a Republican Party committee working with his campaign out-raised the Obama re-election effort in May.
"Anytime you do something of this type you are asked to do more," said the donor.
He said he believes this type of major get together that combines social events and policy briefings for the donors is unprecedented.
"I have never heard of this before," he said.
Donors point to the Utah weekend as an example of Romney's personal engagement with them and his willingness to court them. They recount how he has joined them conference calls and hosted social events for them.
"He is good on a social level-that is why it is so shocking when people write he isn't personable. He is one of the warmest, most personable people I know," one donor told CNN.
Also see:
Romney set for biggest fund-raising day yet
From CNN Politics
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Mitt can "gather" a billion dollars, but Americans WILL NOT LET you BUY this election Mitt. You and your welthly friends can go take a flying .
I want to go
It's so they can all find out what their money has bought them. "You get a favor, you get a favor, you get a favor. Everyone is getting a favor!!!!!!"
Looks like Rubio has scratched his own name off of the potential VP list.
i guess they will be working out the quid pro quo
I would guess there won't be a socialist in the bunch. Also there will probably be a pretty wide variety of ethnicities and genders. Because its not about who you are but what you think. And of course how much you contribute.
Karl Rove running Romney campaign
They should have asked Sarah Jessica Parker for advise, afterall, she knows how to entertain a President. Her fundraiser for Obama had a price of $40,000. per person.
He's gathering funds for a retreat into private life and relative obscurity after the election.
Why in the world does Romney, a rich man, richer-than-rich in fact, need to bill our government for $77,000.00 as a "BUSINESS DEDUCTION" on his taxes and then say it was for "therapy" for his wife's horse and dressage costs for her MS? Creative accounting there, Mitt.
Who is the welfare queen here....him or, her?? Oh, wait,......it must be poor people, seniors and students.
"retreat" and "Mitt"... Figures... Get used to seeing those words together often...
My, my. A chance to rub elbows with Mr. Romney and to give huge donations to him and the pacs surrounding his candidacy. Where does that leave the rest of us who are not big donors? The picture is now clear – Mr. Romney is very intent on getting these people behind him and their interests will be his interests should he win the presidency. Is this good for the country? The wealthiest 1 or 2% of the population will influence Mr. Romney.
Romey getting all his RICH friend together will help Obama. In Texas a lot of people are starting say Romney is running for the Rich and only for the Rich. Democrat and some lower income Republican are not like it because he is not for all American and it will show in November. Texas for Obama!!
sounds pretty boring to me. Obama 2012 Forward.
Romney gave a big fat lie to the Latino, reading from someone else playbook. He didn't even blink when he said I will consider.... only sunday, he refused to answer simple question whether he will appeal the immigration order. This chicken has no bone, all he knows is go in bed with anyone who pays.
he should retreat to the caymans,for good
This man is really in touch with the working class American.
So all of his best friends are having a reunion. How nice.
All the money in the world isn't going to buy you the Presidency, Mitt Robot.
Good call, Mitt. The rest of the country will wait to hear the names of the donors that attended your retreat. Would this be the major donors to your Super Pacs that you have nothing to do with, too, or just those that max out in giving at $2,500?
If they can't get the votes, they'll buy it or steal it. Too many republican states enactting strange laws and re-districting in funny ways, and too many wealthy money meeting with the republicans on a regular basis - how stupid do they think we are?
Yeah, hear you go he going to a get together with the people that run his super pacs. What an honest guy. He going to shake hands with Karl Rove.
He's courting donors for his very own olympics in the same place the SLC games were held. it is too expensive for the average citizen to attend these games however. why doesn't he ever meet with middle class except on a bus tour – where he takes unannounced detours to avoid confrontation?
I wouldn't cross the street to see Rove. Why is a super PAC being allowed at this campaign "function" and participating as part of the agenda? That's not just campaigning on a subject. That's working directly with the candidate. Is that allowed Supreme Court?
It is sad how much money has to be raised for people to run for political office.