LAS VEGAS — Mitt Romney told a gathering of Jewish Republican campaign donors Thursday evening that he planned to support whomever the GOP nominates in 2016 and would help in any way that nominee sees fit.
Romney addressed the crowd during a dinner at the home of mega GOP donor and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson during an event that kicked off the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual spring meeting. The former Massachusetts governor and 2012 GOP presidential nominee thanked the crowd for their financial support in his race, according to sources in attendance, and offered a few thoughts on the emerging field of GOP 2016 contenders.
“Mitt was really open,” one source said. “He actually went through every candidate who he thinks is running and said one to two sentences about them.”
Paraphrasing, here is how Romney characterized some Republican candidates in the field:
— On Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas: He’s incredibly intelligent and will do great in the debates.
— On former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush: He’ll certainly be able to fundraise and has built-in name recognition.
— On Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: This is somebody who has really done something. He’s won three times and took on the unions.
— On businesswoman Carly Fiorina: She’s very intelligent and has executive-level experience. She’ll be the only [GOP] female in the race and belongs in the field.
— On former Texas Gov. Rick Perry: He has a great track record.
— On Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida: He has a great story and is a fresh face in a party that needs it.
— On New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: Everyone loves a comeback kid and he thinks Christie has got that in him.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was the only other speaker at this dinner, held for coalition board members and a few other top supporters to the GOP Jewish Group. Adelson serves on the board of the Republican Jewish Coalition. The spring meeting, running Friday to Sunday, is being held at The Venetian hotel and casino that he owns.
Romney also discussed foreign policy matters and the brewing scandal around presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her family foundation’s relationships, and her husband Bill Clinton’s relationships with foreign donors while she served as secretary of state. On the situation regarding Clinton’s email server, Romney said mockingly, according to sources:
“How many of you even have a server in your home?”
