Ted Welch commits to GOP Prez candidate

With Frist out, prominent Republican fundraiser heads North

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

With the unexpected withdrawal of former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist from the presidential race, the state's most prominent GOP fundraiser, Ted Welch, went on the market. Apparently, he has found a suitor.

Welch, a Nashville developer and the go-to guy for any pachyderm political hopefuls, is now raising money for the presidential campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

The Washington Post reports this morning that Welch was recently in Boston, where he and other political fundraising heavyweights from across the country raised over $2 million for Romney's campaign.

It will be interesting to see whether Welch's committal to Romney paves the way for more Tennessee Republicans to open their checking accounts. Romney, who is of the Mormon faith, will have to allay the fears of the Bible belt and Christian conservatives who are learning more about him and his religion.

On the Democratic side, the state's most prominent Democratic fundraiser Johnny Hayes has yet to commit to a contender.

Welch was unavailable for comment at the time of publication of this article.