Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Yes, yes, Mitt Romney filed papers to form his exploratory committee today… well, actually, he didn’t, his general counsel Ben Ginsberg did. Name sound familiar? He was legal counsel to the 2004 Bush/Cheney campaign – until he was forced to resign when it turned out he was also advising the legally-separate Swift Boat Veterans. Why, just one month ago Ginsberg signed the paperwork by which the Swifties agreed to pay $299,500 in civil penalties for violating campaign-finance laws. (See for yourself.)

Ginsberg was also at the time chief counsel to Progress for America, the very well-funded conservative 527. Ginsberg was also a legal advisor to Bush/Cheney 2000, and played a major role in the Florida recount strategy. He has also played roles in GOP redistricting efforts after the 1990 and 2000 Censuses. And he consulted for the Republican Governors Association, which Romney chaired last year. And you’ve probably seen him on Hardball.

Basically, he’s a major-league, top-notch, super-connected, down-and-dirty Republican lawyer-to-the-stars. So, a great catch for the Romney team!

Oh, and according to his bio, he was once a reporter for the Boston Globe.