Romney campaign gathering donors for retreat

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.

- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.

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

Miriam Adelson gets a refund

Obama campaign: Setting expectations for a brawl

Pro-Obama super PAC raises $4 million in May