| Salt Lake City |
 |
 |
| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
 |
| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
|
| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
|
| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
|
| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
|
| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
|
| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
|
| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
|
| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
Romney to poll voter interest
Massachusetts race is looking more likely
The Associated Press and Deseret News staff
BOSTON — Republican businessman and Winter Olympics chief Mitt Romney has commissioned a poll of state voters to help him decide if he should challenge acting Gov. Jane M. Swift, his aides said.
Romney advisers, who did not want to be named, told The Boston Globe that the potential candidate wanted to see how he stacked up against Swift and several Democratic candidates.
Romney in Salt Lake City on Wednesday declined to discuss the possibility of his entering the Massachusetts governor's race.
"I'm just going to focus on Paralympics out here," he said. "I would consider politics if I thought I could make a difference and if I thought I could win. Clearly, one needs to gather information" to make that decision.
Romney told the Deseret News shortly before the 2002 Winter Games ended on Feb. 24 that he had not authorized any polling or other political activity on his behalf in Massachusetts. This marks the first time he has authorized a poll to see how he would fare in the governor's race.
Romney is committed to staying with the Salt Lake Organizing Committee through the Paralympics, which end March 16.
Republican activists who oppose Swift have been working delegates for the April 6 state Republican convention. They said they have enlisted the leaders of 50 local GOP committees.
Swift's campaign secretary, Dominick Ianno, called Romney's decision to poll his prerogative. However, he downplayed Romney's potential run, saying Swift was the only candidate in the race.
Romney said last fall that he wouldn't run against Swift. But after Swift's popularity numbers began to fall and Republican activists began asking Romney to run, he announced last week that he would consider running.
Romney visited Boston over the weekend before returning to Salt Lake City for the Paralympics. He is not expected to make a decision about a campaign until after those Games end.
Republican organizers said they have won about half the 500 delegates they need to get Romney on the ballot. Under GOP rules, candidates need the support of 15 percent of convention delegates to qualify for the Sept. 17 primary.
Former Suffolk District Attorney Ralph Martin told the Boston Herald on Tuesday that a number of people have approached him about the possibility of running for lieutenant governor. Martin said he was flattered but is currently not interested in politics.
Romney has been hailed for saving the Winter Olympics from scandal and overwhelming security concerns. He made an impressive but failed run against Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in 1994.
Contributing: Deseret News staff writer Lisa Riley Roche
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March 6, 2002
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