U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney plans to raise campaign money
in private while in Israel, so what he tells wealthy American
supporters abroad will be kept quiet from voters at home.
Romney's
campaign is barring reporters from a fundraiser at Jerusalem's King
David Hotel and not saying why. At U.S. events, Romney's remarks to
donors in communal spaces such as hotels are typically public.
President
Obama allows reporters to hear his words at fundraisers, though he
generally bars them from listening to question-and-answer sessions with
those in attendance. The president sometimes allows coverage of his
remarks at events in private homes.
Romney traveling press
secretary Rick Gorka, asked to comment, simply said, "Closed press,
closed press, closed press," as he walked down the aisle of the
candidate's campaign plane during the flight from London to Tel Aviv.
Some
of Romney's wealthiest U.S. supporters plan to attend Monday's
fundraiser. They include casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who's donated
millions to a group backing Romney and is a leading backer of Republican
Jewish groups in the U.S.