Romney ends formal relationship with consultant Mike Murphy

BOSTON --Gov. Mitt Romney has ended his formal relationship with Mike Murphy, the political consultant who guided Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign and helped Romney chart a course for his own potential White House run in 2008.

A spokesman for the Republican chief executive said Friday that Romney made the decision after announcing last month he would not be seeking a second term as governor in the fall. Romney paid Murphy's firm, DC Navigators LLC, $208,000 last year, according to campaign finance reports.

"Since Gov. Romney is not seeking re-election, there is no campaign to run, and so he has ended his contractual relationship with Mike Murphy," said Eric Fehrnstrom, the governor's communications director. "Mike has been a trusted friend and adviser, and he always will be."

Murphy had publicly expressed ambivalence about working on a Romney presidential campaign as long as there was a possibility that McCain, an Arizona Republican, may make a second presidential bid. Both Romney and McCain have yet to announce their decision on a presidential candidacy.

In an interview with The Associated Press, the Los Angeles-based consultant said: "It's just that I love John McCain very dearly and I also feel very close to Mitt Romney. I have a personal belief that when you work for somebody as intimately as I do, they trust you with a lot of information and let their guard down around you. I feel it wold be unethical to work against somebody who's trusted your with everything."

Murphy had also served as chief political consultant to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, but there were reports of friction between the consultant and California first lady Maria Shriver after several ballot initiatives supported by Schwarzenegger were badly beaten in November.

Daniel Zingale, Shriver's chief of staff, said of Murphy: "He remains close to both of them personally and professionally, and she likes and trusts him a lot."

Murphy said that he would continue to serve as a volunteer consultant to Schwarzenegger and provide informal advice to Romney. He said he is trying to develop several projects in Hollywood, including a program for Comedy Central.

"I'm trying to take some time off this year. That's what this is really all about," Murphy said.

He noted Navigators Partner Trent Wisecup will continue running Romney's political action committee. Wisecup was accompanying Romney on a trip to Nebraska and Iowa on Friday and Saturday.

Under Murphy's tutelage, Romney not only won his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, but he also navigated his way through the Republican hierarchy and became vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association. In December, Romney was elevated to RGA chairman, a post that will allow him to raise his national profile this year as he travels the country in support of 36 GOP gubernatorial candidates.

In recent weeks, though, Romney has been tightening his political circle as he plots his political future. He has installed aide Spencer Zwick atop his personal and philanthropic office and Phil Musser as executive director of the RGA. Murphy has had less involvement in his day-to-day political affairs.

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EDITOR'S NOTE -- Glen Johnson has covered local, state and national politics since 1985. He can be reached at glenjohnson(at)ap.org.