Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s preparation for a seamless transition into the White House is moving at full tilt, even though his campaign has encountered some serious speed bumps recently.
Romney’s Washington team is ramping up its operations, moving into official office space and holding meetings with key members of Congress,
Politico reports. Obviously the candidate wants to be prepared to hit the ground running if he does win, and showing a lack of confidence isn’t a good way to do so.
Mike Leavitt, a former Utah governor and fellow Mormon who is expected to play a key role in any Romney White House, is leading the effort. Leavitt also was Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary under President George W. Bush.
The transition operation is called “The Readiness Project,” and really took hold after the Republican convention. It’s concentrating not just on putting together a list of job candidates, but also designing a 200-day roadmap for dealing with Congress during the post-election lame duck session and beyond.
The focus on transition may seem a bit odd given the recent travails of the Romney campaign. But, “their task is doing their job no matter what,” a source close to the campaign told Politico. “Just because the guy had a crap week last week, doesn’t mean they stop. This is a very volatile presidential race. They have to prepare as if he wins.”
Knowledgeable Republicans are impressed with the group’s efficiency. “It’s a typical Mitt Romney operation, there’s a lot of forethought, good planning, well-organized and well-led by Mike Leavitt,” former Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson told Politico.
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