Looking to 2008, Romney, others make pitches

Officially, Governor Mitt Romney was just making impromptu remarks at a casual dinner in the North End, welcoming members of the national media to town as part of a Republican effort to counter the dominant Kerry campaign message during convention week.

But as Romney spoke to the small group a week ago, describing his success in running the Salt Lake City Olympics (message: I'm an efficient executive), sharing self-deprecating stories about being a Massachusetts Republican (message: I'm bipartisan), introducing his wife and talking about their five sons (message: I have family values), it was possible to detect glimmers of his own aspirations in another race already visible on the political horizon: the 2008 presidential campaign.

''I wasn't expecting a speech," Romney said modestly as he stood to speak, before launching into a routine that may have sounded new to some out-of-town guests but sounded remarkably like his campaign pitch.

Similar introductions took place across Boston this week, as Democratic convention participants and Republican surrogates for President Bush participated in an endless political sideshow: angling for a shot at the next campaign before the present one is even finished. Although Romney is far from announcing any such candidacy, several national party officials said they were not surprised to see him lay some groundwork in building relationships with the national press, in case he does run for president in 2008 or beyond.

''The reason US senators often jump out of the box in the presidential race is that they work in Washington, and so do we," said Rich Galen, a Republican strategist and columnist who attended the dinner. ''If Romney were a governor from Michigan, [we] might never have laid eyes on him by the time the next cycle rolls around, so having something like that dinner, to establish early introductions, was really pretty smart."

Romney was hardly the only politician in town during the convention likely casting an eye toward the future: Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor who lost to Kerry in the primaries, is likely to run again in 2008 if Kerry loses, Democrats close to him said. (No Democrats are openly entertaining the idea of challenging Kerry in an '08 primary, or publicly hoping he will lose.)

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is also mentioned as an aspiring candidate in 2008 -- a notion fueled by her much-anticipated convention appearance. A slate of other rising stars in both parties took advantage of myriad opportunities to host parties, make media appearances, befriend donors, and quietly spread the word that they have bigger aspirations -- all, of course, in the name of helping to elect Senator John F. Kerry or President George W. Bush.

''They are all running around attending caucus meetings, hosting breakfasts for the Iowa delegation," Galen said of the Democrats. ''Iowans haven't bought a meal at a national convention since 1789."

On the current list of likely Democratic aspirants are:

Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, a former Clinton official who is Hispanic, hails from a critical swing state and had a high profile on the FleetCenter stage as the convention's chairman.

Governor Mark Warner of Virginia, a new face on the political scene who won office despite the strong GOP presence in his state.

Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, whose family name and moderate record have boosted him to national prominence.

Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona, one of several female rising stars in the party, who has a strong record on crime after serving as a popular attorney general.

Governor Tom Vilsack of Iowa, another swing-state politician who is popular at home.

US Senate candidate Barack Obama of Illinois, who addressed the convention Tuesday night.

While it may seem absurd to contemplate the next presidential race so early, it is inevitable and, political strategists said, perhaps essential in helping potential candidates lay the groundwork for future races, especially in what increasingly feels like a perpetual campaign.

''If you are thinking one day of running for the White House, then practicing good politics at conventions is basic Politics 101," Jenny Backus, a Democratic consultant, said. ''This is tailor-made for buzz-making and planting a seed that you could potentially be someone to watch. And it's not even just the speaking order -- it's the delegation breakfasts at their hotels each morning, it's the seating charts. There is always a subtext."

Political strategists expect the same sort of tea-leaf-reading in New York next month, when Romney and nearly a dozen other ambitious Republicans place themselves on the national stage for early consideration. The party's nomination in 2008 is likely to be a free-for-all even if Bush wins reelection, because Vice President Dick Cheney has said he will not seek the top post.

Among the Republicans who are thought interested in running -- in addition to Romney -- are Senate majority leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, former mayor Rudolph Giuliani of New York, Governor George Pataki of New York, Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Governor Bill Owens of Colorado, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, and Senator George Allen of Virginia.

Despite an earlier candidacy, McCain has indicated that was his last attempt, and although there was once speculation that Governor Jeb Bush of Florida might want to assume the family mantle, Republican officials say they do not think the president's brother is as eager for the job as he once was.

Anne E. Kornblut can be reached at akornblut@globe.com.