Mixing money messages

Per the AP, Mitt Romney told a crowd in Long Beach, Calif. yesterday that his personal contributions to his own campaign -- $9 million so far -- mean he will be less beholden to special interests.

"I don't like the fact that money has such an impact on politics, but this to me is a reason I'm investing at least as much as everybody else — probably a little more," Romney said.

This explanation might have worked a bit better if Dutko Worldwide, a Washington-based lobbying firm, were not holding a fundraiser for him today, the AP story notes. On its website, the firm describes itself as consistently ranked among Fortune magazine's top 10 lobbying firms.

Ron Kaufman, the Massachusetts Republican National Committeeman and one of Romney's top advisers, is chairman of the firm's executive committee.