That's how much a small and exclusive group of Portland Republicans paid earlier this week to attend a private fundraiser with GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Roughly 70 people attended the lunch event, paying $1,000 a plate for the privilege of meeting with Romney. Those who wanted their photo taken with Romney paid an additional $1,500 for the privilege of standing Romney for a grip-and-grin shot at small gathering that occurred at the 7,500-square-foot West Hills home of a local builder. The stop was one of two that the former Massachusetts governor and one-time GOP presidential candidate made in the Northwest this week. Romney was also scheduled to appear at a similar fundraiser in Seattle at the home of a former Microsoft executive. The stops are part of Romney's early campaign trail strategy that has focused on amassing a big war chest for next year's election while keeping a low profile. Romney made no public appearances in Oregon during his stop and has largely avoided media interaction, a move that is largely seen as an effort to avoid his moderate record on issues like abortion and health care that could be a liability in the wingnut-driven GOP primary campaign.
