Despite being saddled with a record of enacting health care reform while governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney hopes to swamp all competition in the money race:

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has quietly launched a 15-city push to secure financial commitments from big-money “bundlers,” hoping to reveal a fund-raising network that would establish him as the prohibitive frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president.

Mr. Romney and top aides will meet Thursday in New York with nearly 100 donors—many from Wall Street— at the Harvard Club. Attendees are being asked to raise between $25,000 and $50,000 for Mr. Romney within 90 days, in an effort to post large fund-raising totals quickly, one person familiar with events said.

Meanwhile, Tim Pawlenty wants to counter the perception that he can’t compete financially.

An aide to Tim Pawlenty explicitly asked donors on a conference call Monday not to give money until April, to avoid the impression that the former Minnesota governor had tried and failed to produce a big number by the end of March.

But Pawlenty won’t be the only Minnesotan vying for delegates. Michele Bachmann intends to form an exploratory committee in the next few months. It’s still early to make predictions, but it seems like Romney will enter the race with the most money, the most Establishment support, and the worst albatross hanging around his neck of any of the candidates. Maybe Pawlenty can win the nomination by being the only other guy with any money. But don’t count out Newt’s ability to raise cash, or even Bachmann’s.

I just hope The Donald gets in and actually joins the debates. He’d be hilarious. I picture a more famous and personable Mike Gravel.