Romney dismisses rumors of 2008 presidential hopes

WASHINGTON -- Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney brushed aside talk of his presidential aspirations last night at a formal dinner held at the White House for the nation's governors.

''Presidential talk is way too speculative and way too early," said Romney. ''Now is the time for policy and progress, not presidential ambitions."

Presidential pageantry was on display last night in the State Dining Room as President Bush and his wife, Laura, welcomed the governors, who are in town for their annual winter meetings.

Bush, raising a glass of water for a toast, reminded them of the long history of governors rising to the presidency.

''Many of our presidents first served as governors. And there's a reason why" -- the experience of running a state is ''invaluable" preparation, he said.

Speculation has started about the next White House race, less than four months after the election that narrowly sent Republican Bush to a second term.

Ed Rendell, Democrat of Pennsylvania and former head of the Democratic National Committee, said he and many other governors cannot really pursue a White House bid if they want to be reelected.

''If I went to New Hampshire, it would become an issue in my 2006 election," he said.

Other governors -- Rendell singled out Democrats Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Tom Vilsack of Iowa, and Mark Warner of Virginia -- are being closely examined by political donors because they either are term-limited or are so popular at home their reelection is secure.

Some say contenders must start planning now.

''A year and a half from now will be a year too late," said T. J. Rooney, chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and a state legislator. ''People will be called earlier than they ever have been, people will be signed up earlier than they ever have been."

Governors are always in the mix; four of the last five presidents once led their states -- Jimmy Carter of Georgia, Ronald Reagan of California, Bill Clinton of Arkansas, and Bush of Texas.

More than a dozen governors are quickly mentioned in conversations with political fund-raisers, organizers, and consultants, but few will acknowledge the early jockeying.

Romney visited GOP activists this month in South Carolina, an important primary state, and set up a fund-raising operation to distribute money to Republican candidates outside Massachusetts.