Former Massachusetts Gov. and two-time presidential candidate Mitt Romney is being considered for top Republican leadership positions should he decide to run for the Senate in Utah, The Atlantic reported Friday.
On Thursday, Romney said he would announce Feb. 15 whether or not he will seek the Utah Senate seat that will be open following the retirement of Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch. Romney moved to Utah following his defeat as the Republican presidential nominee in the 2012 election.
According to unnamed sources, some GOP leaders are eyeing Romney for chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). That position is responsible for recruiting and vetting prospective GOP candidates for the Senate, as well as fundraising for the Republican party.
His close ties to GOP establishment leaders and donors could sweep him into such a position, even though he would be a junior senator.
"He's got the stature and a virtually unmatched fundraising base to draw upon. And, he's running because he wants a national platform to help the party anyway," one source said.
The move may have the support of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was quizzed following a call reportedly made Thursday by the current NRSC Chairman Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner.
"I was not on any Gardner calls yesterday and am therefore unaware of any conversations he may have had," said a spokesperson for McConnell.
Some have speculated Romney could also look for a Senate leadership role should he decide to make another run for president in 2020, the article explained.
However, the NRSC position could be a thorny one for Romney due to his tenuous relationship with President Donald Trump. Romney has often been a critic of the president on issues including foreign and domestic policy.
Trump has encouraged Hatch to seek re-election, with some speculating his motivation could be to keep Romney at bay.
"Mitt becoming Sen. Mitt Romney and chairman of the NRSC elevates Trump's biggest intra-party foe," an unnamed Republican donor said. "This is not the outcome Trump wanted when he encouraged Hatch to run again."