Romney visits Miss.; mum on ‘08 plans
The Associated Press

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney spoke to a Republican women’s group Thursday in the hometown of U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, but wouldn’t say whether the trip is a precursor to a 2008 presidential run.

During a news conference before his speech in Pascagoula to the local Federation of Republican Women, Romney told reporters he doesn’t dismiss questions about whether he’ll run.

“I think there are a number of good people in our party, and maybe one or two in the other party, who are thinking about running in ‘08. And they want to keep their options open. And that’s an active effort,” Romney said.

Romney, current chairman of the Republican Governors Association, spoke earlier this week in Iowa and was scheduled to travel to California after his trip to Mississippi.

Romney and Lott, who also is a Republican, toured neighborhoods hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.

“It’s a lot worse than the TV shows it,” Romney said.