Mitt Romney says files papers for White House run

BOSTON, Jan 3 (Reuters) Massachusetts Republican Gov Mitt Romney, a former venture capitalist credited with turning around the scandal-hit Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, took the first steps today toward a 2008 White House bid.

Romney, 59, said he had filed papers with the Federal Election Commission in Washington to establish a presidential exploratory committee and fund-raising apparatus.

''I have a feeling we are going to be pretty busy,'' Romney told reporters outside his office in Massachusetts. ''We have filed exploratory papers today. So the process is moving forward on that front.'' A devout Mormon and former bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the son of former Michigan Gov.

George Romney has several advantages, political analysts say.

He is a polished communicator with an actor's good looks.

He gained national attention for rescuing the 2002 Olympics and earned degrees from both Harvard business and law schools before going on to make millions in business.

But as a one-term governor from a state with a liberal reputation, Romney still has hurdles to overcome among conservative Republicans, who are a major force in the party's nominating process. He has no foreign policy experience and has made conflicting statements on some social issues.

Romney has cast himself as a social conservative to the right of both Arizona Sen John McCain and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, two of the early Republican favorites.

He has courted Republican donors, met with prominent evangelical leaders, huddled with lobbyists in Washington and recently hired advertising specialist Alex Castellanos, who worked on President George W Bush's 2000 campaign.

Some conservatives, however, are bothered by his inconsistent record on social issues such as gay rights and abortion, which he said in 1994 should stay ''safe and legal'' before more recently declaring himself ''firmly pro-life.'' REUTERS PB HT2217