Mitt Romney, once seen as the favorite to win the Republican nomination for president, will campaign in Lancaster County next month for Sen. John McCain, the man who forced him out of the race.

The Lancaster County Republican Committee confirmed Wednesday that Romney will speak on behalf of McCain, the presumptive GOP candidate for president, on April 10 at Willow Valley Resort.

There will be a VIP reception with the former governor of Massachusetts at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets — $45 for committee members and $100 for noncommittee members — can be purchased through the Lancaster Republican Committee by calling 392-4165.

"Mitt Romney is a very high-profile celebrity, a political figure," said Dave Dumeyer, chairman of the Lancaster Republican Committee. "The fact we have gotten Mitt Romney indicates the importance the McCain campaign attaches to Lancaster County. If you can't get McCain, (Romney's) one of the better persons to come in and speak."

Romney has stepped out of the public spotlight since he "suspended" his presidential campaign in February. He quickly endorsed McCain after dropping out of the race, saying that, although they disagreed, it was important for the GOP to unite for the general election against the Democratic candidate.

"As all of you saw over the past year, things can get pretty rough in a political campaign, and in the thick of the fight, it's easy to lose sight of your opponent's finer qualities," Romney said the day he endorsed McCain. "But the truth of the matter is, in the case of Sen. McCain, I could never quite do that. Even when the contest was close and our disagreements were debated, the caliber of the man was apparent."

Romney is the son of George Romney, a popular Michigan governor, and became a successful businessman, founding the investment firm Bain Capital in 1984.

Romney became the Republican governor of Massachusetts in 2003.

Some pundits suggested Romney's upcoming appearance here is more than just a simple stump speech.

"Of course, Romney in Lancaster raises interest in the possibility of having Romney join the ticket" as McCain's running mate, said Chris Borick, director of Muhlenberg College's Institute of Public Opinion.

G. Terry Madonna, director of Franklin & Marshall College's Center for Politics and Public Affairs, said Romney would be a "good" vice presidential choice for McCain.

"It's helpful to get a governor," Madonna said. "You want someone younger (McCain is 71 years old, Romney 61), you want someone the press won't argue whether he should be president. And in this case, you get someone who has a business background."

Dumeyer said local Republicans, many of whom are considered staunch conservatives, are supportive of McCain, considered more of a moderate.

"Is it universal? Probably not, but the vast majority find him more acceptable than either of the two Democrats, certainly," Dumeyer said.

E-mail: dpidgeon@lnpnews.com