Romney May Announce VP Pick Very Soon

After many months of speculation about who Mitt Romney's running mate will be, we are about to find out very soon:

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney acknowledged on Tuesday he is considering naming his choice to serve as vice presidential running mate earlier than usual to better compete with President Barack Obama.

As they work from a short list of leading Republicans, Romney and his advisers say they are weighing whether he should announce his choice some weeks earlier than the traditional time of around the Republican National Convention, which is to be held in Tampa in late August.

The reasoning, advisers say, is that two candidates would be able to raise more money and engage Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in battle with polls showing Americans closely divided on whether to pick the Republican challenger or Democratic incumbent in the November 6 election.

Picking the choice early could also serve to guarantee some positive news coverage at a time when Romney is under fire from Obama over whether he should release more financial information about his wealth.

The subject of when to announce the pick was brought up by a voter at a lively town hall meeting Romney held in a high school gymnasium in Grand Junction, the largest city in western Colorado. The man asked whether Romney would announce his vice presidential choice before the convention.

"I can't give you the timeline for that. That's a decision we'll make down the road. Nor can I give you the individual," said Romney.

We do have a time line for when Mitt will announce his VP. In a campaign fundraising e-mail blast sent out today by Mitt Romney's campaign, the announcement will come sometime between now and the GOP Convention in Tampa, Florida:

I am very excited to find out who Mitt's VP will be. I can't wait!

Mitt Romney Continues To Expand His Campaign Staff

If there is anyone who knows how to run things efficiently, its Mitt Romney. He's hired Brian Ballard to take on two jobs in his campaign. He has hired a man by the name of Brian Ballard to be the Finance Co-Chair on his Florida campaign staff  and also made him a member of National Leadership Team.

“I am proud to announce the addition of Brian Ballard as a Florida Finance Co-Chair and a member of the National Leadership Team for Romney for President,” said Mitt Romney. “Brian’s level of talent, expertise, and enthusiasm characterizes what is needed to beat President Obama in Florida.”

“It is an honor to join Mitt Romney’s team in Florida,” said Brian Ballard. “This is the team that will beat President Obama. I look forward to working with Mitt as he campaigns across Florida uniting Americans with the common goal of winning the White House.”

Brian Ballard Is The President Of Ballard Partners, Inc. Ballard has nearly twenty-five years of experience in Florida politics and government affairs. Ballard earned his stripes serving as chief of staff to Gov. Bob Martinez from 1988-1990. In 2008, Brian Ballard served as the McCain for President Co-Chair for Florida/National Finance Co-Chair, as well as the RNC’s McCain Victory Florida Finance Committee Chair and National Finance Co-Chair. He also served as the Inaugural Committee Chairman for Governor Charlie Crist and Inaugural Committee Finance Chairman for Governor Rick Scott. In addition to his work in Florida politics, Ballard taught Florida Government as an adjunct professor at Florida State University. He and his wife, Kathryn, reside in Tallahassee with their three daughters.

Mitt Romney Busy In Michigan With New Staff Members and Speaking At A Major Michigan GOP Event

Mitt Romney's team is growing across the country. Recently, Mitt Romney added hired some great staff members to work on his campaign in Michigan: 

With Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney headed to Michigan for events this week, he announced his in-state campaign staff on Tuesday.

Lori Wortz, a consultant who previously served as chief of staff to former state Senate Majority Leader Dick Posthumus, joins the campaign as senior advisor, and Rob Macomber, who served as director of candidate and party assistance for former state Republican Party chairman Saul Anuzis, takes over as state director.

Lauren Rakolta joins the campaign as finance director in the state. The daughter of John Rakolta -- the head of Detroit-based construction firm Walbridge Aldinger who served as a national chairman for the Romney campaign in 2008 -- Lauren Rakolta worked as a fundraiser for Romney’s 2008 run and his 2002 campaign for Massachusetts governor. Bryce Sandler, who was finance director for former U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, comes on as deputy finance director in Michigan. 

In addition to adding excellent staff members to work on Mitt's campaign in Michigan, Mitt Romney has also pledged to attend the state GOP’s biannual Mackinac Island policy conference in September:

Romney, who was in Michigan on Thursday on a brief campaign tour, is the second presidential hopeful slated to address the conference. The first to confirm was former Georgia congressman Newt Gingrich. 

This isn't the first time Mitt Romney will be speaking at the MacKinac Island policy conference. He gave a speech there in 2007 prior to announcing his candidacy for the 2008 Presidential election.