Romney to skip Texas GOP convention

By Joe Holley

For their state convention in early June, Texas Republicans will have to settle for an also-ran after being spurned by the presumptive nominee for president.
Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator who suspended his White House campaign a few weeks ago, will be one of the featured speakers at the convention's June 8 banquet in Fort Worth. Mitt Romney will not.
"The (Romney) campaign was extended an invitation, and we never heard back," state party spokesman Chris Elam said.
Romney campaign spokesman Ryan Williams blamed a scheduling conflict.
"I am very pleased that we have been able to confirm Senator Santorum's appearance at our Convention Gala," said Texas Republican Party Chair Steve Munisteri in a statement. "His campaign was very active in Texas during the primary season, and I am excited to offer our convention attendees the opportunity to hear from a major national figure in our party," he said.
Rice University political scientist Mark Jones, acknowledging that he does not know the specific circumstances of Romney's Texas turn-down, said the political benefits of a convention appearance are overshadowed by the liabilities.
"Given his need to pivot back to the center, the state convention of the Texas Republican Party is not an ideal venue for that," he said. "The Texas Republican Party is one of the most conservative in the country, and the activists who will be attending the convention are even more conservative."
Jones also noted that Romney is likely to win Texas in November regardless, so spurning the convention probably is of no significance.
Minds are changing
According to the results of a Public Policy Polling survey released last week, Texas Republicans are coalescing behind Romney, however reluctantly. They initially supported their favorite son, Texas Gov. Rick Perry. When he dropped out of the race in January, they sashayed over to Santorum.
Now that the former Pennsylvania senator is out of the race, Romney leads Texas with 45 percent to 35 percent over Newt Gingrich - who is scheduled to withdraw from the race on Tuesday - and 14 percent for Texas Congressman Ron Paul.
Favorable poll
A Public Policy Polling survey in January showed Texas voters were divided in their feelings about the former Massachusetts governor, with 44 percent rating him favorably and 44 percent rating him unfavorably. The recent poll put him at 66 percent favorable, 23 percent unfavorable.
Romney is winning Tea Party voters, 44 percent to 38 percent, although evangelicals still support Gingrich, 45 percent to 40 percent.
"Strong might not be the word to describe Mitt Romney's position in Texas," Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling, said in a news release. "Voters in the state don't like him all that much, but he's still the favorite for both the primary and general elections."
Perry, who had his differences with Romney during the extended debate season and who endorsed Gingrich after his own campaign ended, switched his endorsement to Romney last week.
joe.holley@chron.com