Romney Goes for Expatriate Gold

Mitt Romney is following in the footsteps of previous GOP presidential candidates, holding a $2, 500-per plate fundraising dinner tonight in London. The event is expected to bring in more cash than similar UK fundraisers by Giuliani, McCain and Obama.

During the last presidential election, about 40 percent of campaign funds raised abroad came from the United Kingdom. London was first proven a successful town for acquiring campaign funds when Rudy Giuliani starting the fundraising trend in 2007 – charging between $1,000 and $10,000 per person for attending a luncheon  – with a photo opportunity raising the minimum price by $1,300.

In 2008, both McCain and Obama held similar fundraisers in London, charging the same price for a spot at their luncheons.

Now Romney is hosting a dinner for American expatriates in the UK – suggesting a contribution of $2,500 per person. If the Dartmouth House – the event’s venue – is filled to capacity, Romney is expected to raise $875,000.

To compare: In 2007, Giuliani raised around $30,000 from his UK luncheon and Obama raised double that amount. Romney’s event, if all 350 seats are filled, will raise much more.

Besides fundraising for his campaign, Stacy Hilliard, Vice Chair of Republicans Abroad UK, said Romney is also trying to appeal to the 250,000 Americans living in the United Kingdom.

“Right now it’s talking and reaching out to the American community,” she told FrumForum. “People find him to be an interesting candidate, especially since he ran last time and didn’t get the nomination. They see him as being a very polished candidate.”

Hilliard suspects that other GOP contenders will soon follow Romney’s fundraising path, holding their own luncheons and dinners in the British city – where many wealthy American bankers have made their homes.

It is also a trend to meet with British political figures – like the prime minister, or in Romney’s case, National Security Advisor Peter Ricketts – during this type of campaign fundraiser, said Hilliard.

However, only American citizens and green card holders are legally able to contribute to U.S. presidential campaigns. Since it is still early in Romney’s campaign, his focus is on potential GOP voters and contributors – not foreign leaders.

But in 2008, McCain was under investigation by Judicial Watch after being accused of accepting monetary contributions from Lord Rothschild and Nathanial Rothschield. The group’s suspicions were never proven.

Lynn Forester de Rothschild has offered her estate to Romney for his fundraising event – but it appears unlikely that she would even attempt to offer him any financial contribution.

“I feel sorry for Mitt Romney,” she told the Boston Globe. “I think Mitt Romney has the Al Gore problem, which is that he’s perfect on paper but he does not connect with people and I don’t think there’s anything he can do.”

“And I think his flip-flopping is not a good thing,” she said. “He’s made too many Faustian bargains and we need somebody who stands up for what they believe. I think Obama would roll him…I don’t think he can beat Obama.”