Mitt Romney, the outgoing governor of Massachusetts, appears to be on the verge of confirming what many political observers have long speculated: he intends to seek the Republican party's presidential nomination in 2008.

Mr Romney - who first drew national attention when he took over leadership of the struggling 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games - convened a meeting of his top advisers and leading supporters at the weekend to discuss the potential launch of his White House bid.