Romney to announce presidential bid next month

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will form a presidential exploratory committee in a few weeks and hold an announcement event shortly afterwards, the Associated Press reports.

The Globe has not indepedently confirmed these dates.

Romney could file papers as early as Jan. 2 according to the report. Forming an exploratory committee allows a candidate to raise money and is legally no different than a formal presidential committee.

He visited both early primary voting states Iowa and New Hampshire this week.