McCain

NEWPORT — “She was wild. She’s 96 years old, and I’m not kidding you, I was amazed at her energy and enthusiasm. I pray I get that opportunity years down the road.”

Thus spoke Robert Watson, the chairman of Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign in Rhode Island. The target of his admiration last night was Roberta McCain, the senator’s mother, one of a number of Republican luminaries who attended a fundraiser at the Astors’ Beechwood mansion on Bellevue Avenue.

The affair was closed to the media.

Watson, who represents East Greenwich and is minority leader of the Rhode Island House, said the goal was to raise $150,000. He said up to 200 people attended the function, “if I had to guess — I’m not a fire marshal, and I don’t check rooms for a living.”

Watson said that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney delivered “brief remarks, very funny. He does have a way with humor.”

Others in attendance included Governor Carcieri; Carol Mumford, a Scituate representative and national Republican committeewoman; and Robert Mosbacher, who heads up McCain’s national campaign.

“Mrs. McCain sincerely thanked Rhode Island people in the room for supporting her son,” Watson reported. “It was kind of fun to watch. I know Senator McCain is fond of Rhode Island, and she expressed that.”

Of the money raised, he said, “We had a goal and we met it. Both candidates pledged to be part” of the public campaign financing law, “but Barack Obama has broken his pledge and is raising gazillions of dollars.”

He said McCain “is at a disadvantage going into the fall.”

Watson said that it was particularly thrilling that Romney was present.

“By Friday, he may well be McCain’s choice,” he said. “Think about it — Mitt Romney ran against John McCain. [Romney] did not win. Governor Carcieri supported Mitt Romney, then Carcieri hosted tonight and it was very well received. I think that is testament to what is happening to the Republican Party. The question mark lies with the Hillary camp and [the Democrats’] incompatibility this week in Denver.”

Watson said that he will leave Friday to attend the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.

“A bunch of us in the room will be heading for Minneapolis, and the fact that [Romney] might well be the vice presidential nominee was part of the energy in the room,” Watson said.

tmorgan@projo.com