Bennett says GOP race down to Romney, Giuliani

Plus, he said, the Thompson campaign has yet to really organize while Romney already has strong operations in the key early voting states, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

Giuliani is catching up in those states, Bennett said. But as for McCain, — who has the backing of several prominent Utah political leaders, including Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. — Bennett said his organization is "just an absolute disaster."

And that, Bennett said, "is a commentary on his management skills to be president of the United States. ... He's a terrible manager."

McCain's campaign has run short on funds, and the candidate has let go much of his staff.

Huntsman and other Mormon politicians who are behind McCain could still be considered for appointments in a Romney administration, Bennett said, despite suggestions that a Mormon president would be reluctant to name fellow Mormons to top-level posts.

"I think that will all be over by then. But we shall see," Bennett said of Romney's membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints being an issue in the presidential race.

Besides, he said, if Romney wins, at least one other Mormon would participate in the swearing-in ceremony, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. And if the GOP reclaims the majority in the Senate, Bennett would be there, too, as head of the rules committee.

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