Romney lays groundwork for 2012

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney Romney kicks off a 19-state book tour observers say could be an effort to garner support for a 2012 presidential run.

The three-month tour to promote his book, "No Apology: The Case for American Greatness," includes speeches and appearances in early-primary states as the one-time 2008 Republican presidential hopeful wages what some see as the most methodical campaign of any GOP presidential wannabe for the 2012 party nod, USA Today reported Monday. The tour begins next week.

At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington during the weekend, Romney polled second in a straw poll to libertarian Texas Rep. Ron Paul, ahead of more likely 2012 party hopefuls.

Mainstream conservatives, put off by Romney's roots in liberal Massachusetts and his past support of abortion and gay rights, have been won over, Tony Fabrizio, who ran the CPAC straw poll, told USA Today.

"They view him as one of the party's elder statesmen," Fabrizio said. "They see him as more thoughtful and measured than before, with nothing to prove. He's earned his spurs."

Romney has yet to announced his candidacy.

"At this stage, we're really just pushing that off and anticipate that we're not going to give it time for consideration until after the November elections," he told USA today.