Top 3 GOP candidates look for Texas money

Houston Chronicle:

Whoever wins the 2008 Republican presidential nomination probably has Texas' electoral votes in his pocket, and prospective candidates also are making the rounds pocketing Texas cash.

Already this month, three top-tier candidates are stretching their hands out to Houston.

U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona was in Houston on Monday, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is scheduled today, and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani headlined a dinner last week.

Though Romney has lagged behind McCain and Giuliani in fundraising and organizing in Texas, he said he will name a state team of financial and political supporters after meeting with potential backers this evening at the Houston home of L.E. Simmons, the founder of SCF Partners, which invests in energy companies.

Romney said he will draw on ties cultivated in the Lone Star State when he headed Bain Capital, a venture capital firm that did business with energy interests.

"I have a good network in Texas," Romney said in a phone interview with the Houston Chronicle.

Another notable Texan backing Romney is Kevin Rollins, of Austin, who recently left as chief executive officer of Dell Computer.

Rollins and Simmons, like Romney, are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Romney said the Mormon religious affiliation will pique the interest of voters but will not hurt him among evangelical Christians who make up a key part of the Republican base in Texas.

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Texas has long been viewed as a donor state. And this time Texas money is truly up for grabs because the state has no favorite son or daughter in the early running.

The three big contenders are coming through and meeting with high-dollar donors, but they aren't reaching out to the grass roots yet. Texas State Republican Party Chair Tina Benkiser said that is a mistake.

" I don't think there is any contender who can even purport to have a lead in the state of Texas," she said. "Conservatives are taught to never kiss on the first date, but to look for a longer courtship to make sure it's true love."

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I think any of the three would be able to carry the state if they get the nomination. Giuliani is still my favorite, but I would vote Republican regardless in the general election. While some have been critical of Romney and Giuliani on the social issues, both are going to be better than and Democrat on those issues and both will have more concern for the Republican base's position on those issues. Not mentioned in the article is Giuliani's ties to a major Texas based law firm where he is a name partner, Bracewell & Giuliani. It is a high quality law firm with many high quality clients.