Despite Mitt's support for McCain, many of his robber baron friends are reluctant to commit to McCain, because they don't much like or trust the Republican maverick. But a McCain-Mitt '08 ticket could make all the difference, says Ted Welch, a former national finance co-chairman for Romney." You can raise a lot more money if you're passionate about what you're doing."

Other Romney supporters are holding their tongues out of fear their comments could hurt Mitt's chances. Says one:

The fact remains that Romney supporters are demonstrably better givers and more aggressive givers. But nobody's going to come out and say anything to make it look like they're putting Senator McCain into a corner. . . . John McCain is a fiercely independent individual who's going to pick what his gut tells him to pick.