Submitted by Fox First at Ten on June 22nd
By JACK GILLUMAssociated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Mitt Romney is hosting a posh retreat in Park City, Utah, for his top donors this weekend, giving the campaign's major financial backers a chance to dine with their favored presidential candidate and other Republican heavyweights.
The retreat will offer private meetings and receptions, with a chance to see Republican stars like Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Florida Gov. Job Bush and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, according to a Romney campaign email.
The donors, invited if they've raised at least $50,000 for Romney's White House run, can sit in on strategy meetings that provide detailed updates of the campaign's progress. They'll also mingle with Romney's top advisers and Karl Rove, founder of an independent "super" political committee helping Romney this election. The event is closed to the press.
Although currently enjoying a financial advantage over President Barack Obama, Romney is wasting little time securing - and maintaining - high-dollar support to win the White House. He and the GOP raised $76 million in May, newly released figures show, compared with $60 million from Obama and the Democratic Party.
A schedule of events, obtained by The Associated Press, details get-togethers among the campaign's state fundraising chiefs and a dinner with Romney. Also slated for the weekend are an afternoon tea and small group dinners around Park City. The weekend ends Sunday with a round of golf for donors who've raised at least $100,000.
The retreat is one of many perks that Romney is offering to his signature donors, not uncommon for candidates seeking the presidency. Those donors who pulled in at least $500,000 for the campaign are entitled to weekly campaign briefings, VIP entry to finance events across the country, and special access to the Republican National Convention this summer.
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