Romney visits North Texas to raise more campaign cash

By Anna M. Tinsley

DALLAS -- Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney traveled to Texas on a fundraising mission Tuesday, the same day he was confronted with one of his biggest controversies since he won the nomination last month.

As he and his wife met with North Texas donors at venues including the home of former President George W. Bush and a ritzy Dallas hotel, Democrats took Romney to task for his comments that nearly half of Americans are dependent on government assistance and "believe that they are victims."

"This is a man who has a disdain for middle and working-class families," former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk said during a conference call set up by the Democratic National Committee. "Most middle-class Americans should be frightened."

But Romney's main focus in Texas appeared to be raising money.

Texans have already pumped more money into Romney's presidential campaign than anyone else's -- $13.45 million compared with $10.7 million given to Texas Gov. Rick Perry's brief GOP presidential bid and the $7.89 million given to Democratic President Barack Obama, according to data from the Washington, D.C.-based Centers for Responsive Politics.

And political observers say Texans will likely continue to give.

"Wealthy Texans have long understood the idea of buying access" to politicians, said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. "Large contributions out of Texas have been part of American politics for 80 years or more.

"They will continue to give -- the question is just in what amounts and with what enthusiasm."...

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/09/18/4270214/romney-visits-north-texas-to-raise.html#storylink=cpy