What should Mitt call his bundlers?

Published Dec 19 2006, 09:21 PM by David S. Bernstein

In 2000, you could be dubbed a "Pioneer" if you raised $100,000 for George W. Bush, usually by getting 100 close friends to each give $1000. In 2004, you could again be a Pioneer, or shoot higher for "Ranger" status by raising $200,000.

John Kerry did the same thing in '04, as did Howard Dean -- but they didn't have good names for their big donor levels. And, did they become President? See what I'm getting at?

Rudy Giuliani is no dummy. Roy Bailey, finance chair for Giuliani, tells the Houston Chronicle that he's planning multiple tiers of donors, using a baseball theme: "We'll have team captains, sluggers, all-stars and MVPs."

If Mitt Romney wants to compete, he needs a theme for his big donors. My guess: he harkens back to the Winter Olympics, and makes his bundlers Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalists.