Romney in Fort Worth (Evan Vucci/AP)DALLAS—Mitt Romney's two-day fundraising swing through Texas is expected to bring in at least $15 million for his 2012 bid, one of the biggest financial hauls of his campaign to date.
Ray Washburne, a Dallas investor who is one of Romney's top donors, announced the total at the first of two fundraising events the Republican nominee was headlining Tuesday night in the Lone Star state.
Roughly 500 people turned out to hear Romney speak at the Belo Mansion in downtown Dallas, paying $2,500 to attend a general reception with the GOP nominee or $10,000 to pose for a photo with him. The event and a dinner held afterwards at a private home were expected to bring in at least $3.5 million for Romney's campaign.
"I know you're not writing checks for me, or even for the party, but because you are concerned about the country," Romney told a room of donors, who munched on appetizers as the candidate delivered a variation of his stump speech.
The former Massachusetts governor is set to hold two more fundraising events Wednesday in San Antonio and Houston before heading to St. Louis for a campaign event Thursday.
Romney's two-day total is nearly three times the $5.8 million the candidate has already raised from Texas donors since launching his 2012 bid a year ago.