Romney’s retreat for wealthy donors kicks off this weekend

Over the course of this weekend, more than 700 super wealthy donors are expected to arrive in Park City, Utah, as presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney hosts a victory retreat to allow his supporters get a chance to mingle with the campaign aides.

One of Romney’s supporters, a donor who owns various shopping centers in California, said the day when Mitt Romney would win his bid to the White House “will be the happiest day of my life, after the day I got married and the birth of my children," according to a report by ABC. The donor said that was his first-ever donation to a candidate this election season and he had taken time out of his business and family commitments to network with the attendees of the event and with Mitt Romney himself.

The event is only open to individuals or groups who have already raised $50,000 or will be raising $250,000 to help Mitt Romney win the presidential bid.

The schedule for the retreat at the Utah ski area includes indoor gatherings with former presidential nominee, Senator John McCain and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. The meetings will also include Romney’s running mate prospects, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Wisconsin Rep Paul Ryan and Ohio Senator Rob Portman, who will be speaking and socializing with the donors.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and James A. Baker III will be discussing foreign affairs with the attendees.

While hundreds of Romney backers will be gathering at the Park City, Marco Rubio (R. Fla), who is one of the biggest Romney supporters, has announced his decision to skip the event and spend more time with family.

“If I had gone to Utah, I wouldn’t have seen my kids for 15 days,’’ he said at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, according to a report by Wall Street Journal. “And so I had a choice to make and I chose my kids,” Rubio said defying media propaganda that he was not invited at the event.

The arriving attendees will be given a bag with the words, “Believe in America”, written on the side. Inside the bag is a blue baseball hat with “Romney” written over a circular American flag and a binder containing the schedule of the event.