Report: RNC, Romney campaign to launch joint fundraising efforts

Mitt Romney will begin raising money jointly with the Republican National Committee, as the GOP front-runner's campaign moves its focus from a protracted primary fight to the general election.

The arrangement between the RNC and Romney camp would allow donors to contribute as much as $75,000 per person, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story.

The joint committee would allow potential contributors to donate to multiple pro-Romney fundraising efforts simultaneously. Donors would be able to donate up to $2,500 to Romney's primary and general-election campaigns, $30,800 to the RNC and up to $40,000 to state Republican parties, according to the report.

The move reflects growing concern that the party's presumptive nominee must begin looking ahead to a November match-up with President Obama, whose team has assembled a fundraising juggernaut.

The Obama campaign raised $45 million in February, the most recent month for which data is available, and has hauled in just under $300 million for the election cycle. Romney, by comparison, raised $11.5 million in February.

Obama’s campaign has already launched joint fundraising efforts with the Democratic National Committee.

Romney has proved to be a fundraising powerhouse as well, but his campaign has been spending at a high clip, warding off challenges from a once-crowded GOP presidential field. 

The RNC invited Romney's rivals, former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) to also participate in united fundraising efforts, but both candidates declined, reports the Journal. 

While Romney is short of the 1,144 delegates needed to clinch the nomination, in recent weeks he has gained key endorsements from GOP heavyweights hoping to avoid a continued primary fight or brokered convention.

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