Romney making decision 'after holidays'

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, said Friday he's bringing his top financial advisers to Massachusetts this weekend to thank them for helping him raise money.

Romney, who has been traveling extensively as he considers a campaign, said he will not be affected by Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) or former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, fellow Republicans who announced this week they were establishing presidential exploratory committees.

"I'm not planning something of that nature anytime soon — not within the next few weeks," the governor said after a news conference on a local project.

Romney said the focus of the weekend meeting, first reported by The Boston Globe, is to thank the people who helped raise $8.75 million for the Commonwealth PAC. Romney has used the committee to finance his travel and make donations to candidates in critical presidential states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Michigan.

As for when he will announce his decision, the governor stuck with his previous statement that it will most likely be after New Year's Day. The governor is hosting his five sons, their wives and his nine grandchildren for Christmas at his vacation home in Deer Valley, Utah.

"I'm planning on making my decision sometime after the holidays," Romney said.