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Mitt Romney Campaigns In Atherton And Pebble Beach

ATHERTON (KCBS) - Mitt Romney brought his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination to California again Friday, hopscotching around the Bay Area to raise money.

The former Massachusetts governor began a day and night of fundraising by charging $500 a head for lunch at the walled estate of a prominent literary agent in Atherton.

Then it was on to Pebble Beach in a money motivated blitz that marked the third time in a week that one of the major Republican primary candidates campaigned in the Bay Area.

KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:

Unlike Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Romney had no time for reporters, or even leaders of his own party. He declined to speak at the California Republican Party convention in Los Angeles this weekend.

Bachmann, who's fallen to a distant third in the polls, is the keynote speaker at the state GOP convention.

George Garrick was among many at the Atherton lunch who believe Romney is more electable than Perry.

"Frankly, they're both good candidates. So I'd say right now I'm leaning toward Romney, but I want to hear what he has to say and what their strategy is for overcoming the gap in the polls," Garrick said.

Romney does have the vote of Republican Gene Pratt, who sees Romney as the candidate who can bring some business savvy to the White House.

"Experience, I think what we have to have now is someone with experience. We've had hope and change, so it's time for experience," Pratt said.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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