Rep. Morgan Griffith (above) and Mitt Romney have some connections.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) might soon have an unlikely ally on the Hill — conservative freshman Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) is likely to endorse his presidential candidacy.
Griffith, it turns out, has a connection to Romney via his son’s allergist. Dr. Dane McBride, based in Roanoke, Va., was Romney’s mission partner in France decades ago. “I’m constantly being reminded of what a great guy he is,” Griffith recently told Roll Call.
For that reason, Griffith endorsed Romney in 2008 while serving as Majority Leader in the House of Delegates. And at McBride’s request, Romney contributed early to Griffith’s successful bid to unseat Rep. Rick Boucher (D).
“Dane called upon the batphone and got through all the red tape and said, ‘Send Morgan money,’” Griffith said.
It’s only a matter of time before Griffith comes through for Romney’s second bid.
“I have not endorsed him yet, but there’s a personal tie,” he said. “I don’t have any problem with his religion, which some people in my district do, but I don’t.”
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra and Rep. Joseph Crowley, vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, address a news conference immediately after the closed caucus meeting.
Roll Call has launched a new feature, Hill Navigator, to advise congressional staffers and would-be staffers on how to manage workplace issues on Capitol Hill. Please send us your questions — anything from office etiquette, to handling awkward moments, to what happens when the work life gets too personal. Submissions will be treated anonymously.
