Sacramento, California -- Although most of the media attention at the California Republican State Convention today was on Rudy Giuliani, there was also considerable strength and a show of support for a Giuliani rival for the '08 presidential nomination, Mitt Romney.

"It's amazing how much support my Dad has," Matt Romney, San Diego commercial real estate man and son of the former presidential candidate told me, "Just the number of people who are contributing to him from California is a huge sign of support." Romney, who worked the convention of his father's behalf, was introduced to me by Gene Prat of San Francisco, former chief of staff to the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa (R.-Cal.). Prat said he was for Mitt Romney because "he has values, and after Clinton and some of the things that have been going on in this Administration, a candidate with values will have a lot of appeal in '08."

Rep. Buck McKeon (R.-Calif.), one of three Whips for the Romney campaign in the House, recalled to me how "I raised about $100,000 for Mitt a month ago. McKeon is a strong conservative, as is the just-announced political director for the Romney campaign in the presidential primary next February 5th, former State GOP Chairman Michael Schroeder.

"I'm for Mitt because he's the only conservative in the race," said Schroeder, who supported Pat Buchanan for President in 1996. When I mentioned the controversy over what critics say is Romney's "evolving positions" on abortion and other social issues, Schroeder shot back: "If I have two candidates and one is against me on many things and another is a convert, I'll go with the convert." Another strong conservative in the Romney camp is Tony Strickland, former state assemblyman from Ventura County and the '06 Republican nominee for state comptroller.