The ‘why’ behind the effort to recruit Romney for president in 2024 – By Brigham Tomco (Deseret News) / Dec 30, 2023
Jennifer Franks, chair of the newly-created ‘Draft Romney Manchin Committee,’ wants to reuse a playbook from Romney’s 2002 gubernatorial bid
The woman behind an effort to persuade Sen. Mitt Romney to run for president on a bipartisan ticket said it wouldn’t be the first time the former Massachusetts governor was recruited for public office.
It took prodding from prominent party members, as well as a grassroots display of support through polling, signature-gathering and fundraising, to overcome Romney’s hesitancy to transition from leading the 2002 Winter Olympics to launching a gubernatorial campaign, according to Jennifer Franks, chair of the newly-created “Draft Romney Manchin Committee.”
Now, in the face of a potential rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, Franks’ political action committee aims to provide the numbers to prove to Romney, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and their third-party vehicle, No Labels, that the two-time presidential candidate and his hypothetical running mate have a pathway to victory.
