Who?
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) — 2012 Republican presidential nominee
LISTEN: Laslo & Romney
Ask a Pol asks:
What do you make of Trump raising money from your party's base for his legal fees?
Key Romney:
“I don't think there's any norm or barrier that former President Trump won't be ready and willing to cross if it's in his personal, financial or egotistical interest,” Romney exclusively told Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo. “Well, you see, the party has to exist beyond and after Donald Trump and I are gone. And so weakening the party by making it a personal appendage is not a good thing.”
How was the RNC helpful to your presidential race?
“It helped raise money for me, and it turned out the vote. So to win elections, it's helpful to have an organization. Ground game still makes a difference,” Romney told us.
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Mitt Romney
SCENE: Romney’s traversing the basement of the US Capitol as he rushes to vote on the Senate floor.
Matt Laslo: “Quickest man in the Senate.”
Mitt Romney: “Hey there.”
ML: “What do you make of Trump raising money from your party's base for his legal fees?”
MR: “I don't think there's any norm or barrier that former President Trump won't be ready and willing to cross if it's in his personal, financial or egotistical interest.”
ML: “Do you think that's going to hurt the party though, going into November?”
MR: “Well, you see, the party has to exist beyond and after Donald Trump and I are gone. And so weakening the party by making it a personal appendage is not a good thing.”
ML: “What do you think about the shakeup at the RNC, losing 60 heads in a day?”
MR: “You know I don't know much about what their operation looked like, and so I can't really comment on it.”
ML: “How much did the RNC mean to your presidential campaign?”
MR: “Well, it was a very helpful organization in turning out the vote.”
ML: “Yeah, that’s its point.”
MR: “So it helped raise money for me, and it turned out the vote. So to win elections, it's helpful to have an organization. Ground game still makes a difference.”
ML: “And you worked well with them?”
MR: “Yeah, there was — once I became the presumptive nominee, we worked hand in glove.”
ML: “Do you have any concerns with the president's daughter-in-law being there? Former president’s.”
Sen. Romney chuckles.
MR: “You know, there's no appearance that surrounds former President Trump that will dissuade the people who are committed to him. Yeah, I think most people would say, ‘Oh, this looks like nepotism.’ Likewise, having family members serve in the administration looked like nepotism. Didn't seem to bother him, didn't seem to bother the voters who put him there.”
Reporter: “Senator, can I ask you about carbon tax real quick? There was a resolution…”
ML: “Thank you, sir.”
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Romney on Trump's RNC takeover: "weakening the party by making it a personal appendage is not a good thing"