Romney receives backing in Iowa for 2006 -- and perhaps 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa --Gov. Mitt Romney, kicking off a spate of politicking in the early presidential states of Iowa and New Hampshire, received the backing Wednesday of a key state legislator -- even though he has yet to announce whether he will mount a White House campaign.

Iowa House Speaker Chris Rants said the two would work together over the next six weeks to help Republicans retain control of the state House of Representatives. Rants said he also would support Romney should he decide to run for president in 2008.

The governor, who leaves office in January, has said he expects to announce a decision early next year.

"I hope the governor chooses to keep this alliance moving forward," said Rants, R-Sioux City. "I'm certainly on board for the long haul."

With his decision, Rants becomes the highest-ranking Republican elected official in Iowa to sign on with a potential presidential candidate.

Romney said he would lean on the speaker for advice about how he could help in this year's midterm elections.

"His experience and wisdom about places where we could be helpful is invaluable to me and our team," Romney said.

Romney has been a frequent visitor to Iowa, where precinct caucuses launch the presidential nominating process. He's also criscrossed other states critical to the early nominating season, such as South Carolina and Michigan.

Last Sunday he was in New Hampshire, which will hold the first presidential primary, and he returns Saturday to speak at the Republican State Convention.

One of his potential competitors, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., issued a statement Wednesday announcing a slate of New Hampshire sheriffs who are supporting him. Earlier in the week, Romney announced that Tom Rath, a veteran GOP operative in New Hampshire, would be serving as an adviser to his political action committee.

Romney said he would use that committee, The Commonwealth PAC, to funnel money to Iowa legislative candidates, a common tactic presidential candidates use to cultivate grassroots support. The governor was raising money for three races during his latest swing, which was slated to continue Thursday.

"It's kind of a close race right now," Romney said. "It's very important that the funds that we have at The Commonwealth PAC be directed to places where they can make a difference in Iowa."

Romney also serves as chairman of the Republican Governors Association. Last month, he hand-delivered a $500,000 check from the RGA to Jim Nussle, the GOP gubernatorial nominee in Iowa.

Rants said he studied the potential Republican candidates who have been flocking to his state before deciding to back Romney. The speaker said he posed each candidate a series of questions, some about politics, others about specific issues.

"I saw in Gov. Romney a leader that I could put my trust in, somebody I thought would inspire other Republicans to follow," he said.

Rants added: "I will speak for myself; I hope he has plans beyond 2006."

Romney and Rants held a news conference after the governor addressed workers at the Principal Financial Group in a forum that has been a presidential campaign staple. During his speech, Romney rejected suggestions that the United States should pull troops out of Iraq, even suggesting that more troops may be needed.

"My inclination would be more boots on the ground, not less," said Romney. "If we were to withdraw precipitously, we would have a very significant threat of a full-scale civil war with massive casualties."