Romney’s Return?

ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., is putting all the pieces in place he needs to for 2012 — if he wants to give it another whirl.

The data points: He took some time to hit Georgia for Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., in his successful run-off reelection race last month, joining a parade of other 2012 contenders.

Romney inserted himself into the national debate over how to handle the plight of the Big Three automakers, with an eyebrow-raising suggestion that Detroit needs bankruptcy to save itself — a clear signal that he wants to play a role in the GOP’s efforts to tweak its brand.

Now comes a report in The Boston Globe, by my former colleague Frank Phillips, that details the ways Romney is using his Free and Strong America political action committee to keep himself in the mix for 2012.

He’s kept in his employ a network of top aides from his presidential run — including former campaign manager Beth Myers, and other top staffers Peter Flaherty, Spencer Zwick, and Eric Fehrnstrom.

He spread some $244,000 to other candidates in races this year. Some of the donations — like those to senator Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn, and representatives Rodney Alexander, R-La., and Phil Gingrey, R-Ga. — went to politicians who didn’t face serious reelection challenges. All four were key supporters of Romney in the 2008 primaries.

“In essence, Romney is financing a political enterprise that he can use to remain a national GOP leader and use as a springboard should he decide to launch another presidential bid for 2012,” Phillips writes in the Globe.

One other item I’d add: Romney has a strong and loyal base of well-connected Washington footsoldiers — including strategist Ron Kaufman, communications gurus Matt Rhoades and Kevin Madden, and admaker Russ Schriefer — ready to jump on board if Romney gives the signal.

Romney aides and associates say he’s far from making up his mind about 2012. One noted that he has no current plans to visit Iowa; former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., and Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., have already visited the first-in-the-nation caucus state in the weeks since the election.

Still, Romney associates say he wants to play a role in rebuilding the Republican Party, and will continue to use his PAC to finance travel and help GOP candidates. Another presidential run could easily be an offshoot of that.

Fehrnstrom, a Romney spokesman, said the PAC exists primarily to support other Republican candidates. Romney has established five state-level PACs in addition to the federal entity, to funnel money to GOP candidates across the country.

"Mitt Romney’s going to continue to travel, campaign, raise funds and do everything he can to support the Republican Party," Fehrnstrom said.

Another Romney bid would be met with some skepticism, including from some in the party — including Mike Huckabee — who have been critical of his shifts in policy positions.

Another factor: The health of his wife, Ann, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and last week had a pre-cancerous lump in her breast removed.

But some Republicans took note of the fact that Romney chose the automakers’ financial crisis to make his first major foray into post-election policy. It was shades of “Mitt the manager,” emphasizing his business acumen and experience rather than, say, his position on gay marriage or abortion rights.

What do you think about another Romney run?