Mitt Romney Heads to Washington … A Few Days Late
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James Devaney/WireImage(WASHINGTON) — Mitt Romney is headed to Washington, D.C.
Not in the way he would have liked and not in time for Monday’s inauguration, but the former GOP presidential candidate and his wife, Ann, will be in D.C. Friday for a luncheon reception in their honor at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, according to two former aides.
National Journal was the first to report the information, adding the luncheon is being thrown by two former campaign fundraisers: Virginia philanthropist Catherine Reynolds and Marriott Hotel’s own Bill Marriott Jr.
Earlier Wednesday, Paul Ryan, Romney’s former running mate, may have let the cat out of the bag, telling the Wall Street Journal that he e-mails “quite a bit” with Romney and expects to have lunch with him in the next few days. Ryan aides did not immediately return requests asking if the House Budget Committee chairman would be attending the luncheon.
Romney currently serves on Marriott International’s board of directors, rejoining after his loss in November. The Romneys have long been family friends with the Marriotts; Romney’s first name, Willard, is from J. Willard Marriott.
The former Massachusetts governor was a no-show at Monday’s inauguration, instead spending time with his family at his home in La Jolla, Calif., according to a former aide.
He has avoided the spotlight since losing to President Obama in November, but has been spotted everywhere from Disneyland to Costco, and even the Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas last month. He has been to D.C. since the loss, though, having lunch with the president at the White House in November.
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