Romney camp moved London fundraiser out of Huntsman supporter’s home

By Matt Viser

July 1, 2011

2 minutes to read

WASHINGTON — The Mitt Romney campaign thought they had the perfect place staked out for their fundraiser in London next week: an elegant home that once belonged to famed American portrait artist John Singer Sargent.

The home now belongs to wealthy financier Sir Evelyn de Rothschild and his wife, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, a well-connected American lawyer and entrepreneur.

But one major problem got in the way: the Lady joined up with one of Romney’s rivals, Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. She hosted a dinner for him last week at another one of her homes, in New York, and says they raised $1.2 million.

“He’s the real deal,’’ Forester said of Huntsman in an interview. “He is a genuine fiscal conservative. He’s not doctrinaire. He sticks to what he believes in. He’s just a pragmatic, non-ideological, let’s-roll-up-our-sleeves-and-get-it-done kind of American. I really think he’s fabulous.’’

She said she agreed to allow the campaign to use her home several months ago, mostly as a personal favor to Woody Johnson, who is the owner of the New York Jets and one of Romney’s major fundraisers.

But Forester said she made clear that, while they could use her home, she would not make the maximum $2,500 contribution and she would not be supporting Romney.

“I feel sorry for Mitt Romney,’’ she said. “I think Mitt Romney has the Al Gore problem, which is that he’s perfect on paper but he does not connect with people and I don’t think there’s anything he can do.’’

“And I think his flip-flopping is not a good thing,’’ she added. “He’s made too many Faustian bargains and we need somebody who stands up for what they believe. I think Obama would roll him…I don’t think he can beat Obama.’’

The Romney campaign declined to comment on Forester’s remarks.

Forester was once a prominent fundraiser for Hillary Clinton in 2008, but then drew attention when she later supported Senator John McCain against Obama.

She said she is still registered as a Democrat, but considers herself independent and won’t support the party as long as Obama is president.

“America needs a president who understands the special sauce of what it is that makes this country great,’’ she said. “The fact of his personal story of being half black and all that is a wonderful, inspiriting story. But it doesn’t qualify him to be president.’’

She said she told the Romney campaign several weeks ago that she was fully backing Huntsman. She told them they could still use her home, if they like, but the campaign decided to switch venues.

“I think they really liked the house,’’ she said. “There are fortunately other nice houses.’’

The campaign instead is holding the fundraiser at Dartmouth House, a building not far from Hyde Park that has marble fireplaces, Louis XIV walnut paneling, and a painted ceiling by Pierre Victor Galland.