Governor Mitt Romney launched a new political action committee today just days before he is set to spend the weekend at the Arizona home of Senator John McCain.

The Free and Strong America PAC founded by the former presidential candidate and Massachusetts governor has the declared mission of supporting “officeholders and candidates who are dedicated to advancing social, fiscal, and foreign policies that will strengthen America at this critical time in the nation’s history.” The PAC will focus on electing candidates that are committed to “military strength,” low taxes, small government, and “strong families.”

In an e mailed statement announcing the launch Romney said, “America is at a crossroads. If we are to remain a leader in the world, we must be prepared to tackle the numerous challenges ahead of us with the same innovation and spirit that has made us the envy of the world. Together with the candidates we support, and the help of the American people, we can embrace solutions that will create a strong economy, strong families and a strong military.”

The political action committee has already announced several candidates that they will support including John McCain, Representative Connie Mack of Florida -a former Romney supporter, and Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, among others.

Advisors from Romney’s presidential bid are back at the PAC including Press Secretary Eric Fehrnstrom who is now a senior adviser. Peter Flaherty who was Romney’s liaison to religious conservatives will be the executive director and campaign manager Beth Myers is also back as a senior advisor.

The PAC will support conservative candidates now, but will be ready in force by the time 2012 rolls by. There has been talk of Romney launching another presidential bid — the chatter began the day he dropped out of the race.

This weekend he will be traveling to McCain’s Sedona ranch with Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal and Florida governor Charlie Crist. All are widely thought to be possible vice-presidential picks, but the McCain campaign stresses that the weekend is just “social.”

In an email titled, “Defeating the Democrats,” Romney for President Campaign Manager Beth Myers sent a goodbye note to supporters Friday informing them of Mitt Romney’s decision to endorse Sen. John McCain, and asking them to the same.

“It is time for our party to come together by standing behind Senator John McCain for President in order to keep our country prosperous and strong,” Myers wrote. “The Governor and his family thought long and hard about this decision and feel that it is best for the Republican Party to bring the country together and unit behind one candidate. We need to provide our party with the best opportunity to defeat the Democrats in November.”

Full email after jump… (more…)