Mitt Romney is Coming to a Woodbridge Fundraiser Next Week

is coming to next week for a fundraiser, and the possible appearance in the township of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has taken most local and county Republicans by surprise. 

"I had no idea," said Woodbridge Republican Chairman John Vtraric. 

Romney will be at the fundraising event on Tuesday, June 26, at the Hotel on Route 1 in Iselin, according to a report in the Star Ledger.

Tickets start at $2,500 for the event.

"I'm really proud he's coming to Woodbridge. We invited him twice last spring. Woodbridge is the 5th largest municipality in the state and Christie carried it," Vtraric said, adding he'll "probably go," despite the hefty price tag.

So far, no one in the Romney campaign nor at the Republican State Committee will confirm that the event is on, or that Gov. Chris Christie - rumored to be - will be at the Woodbridge event.

NJ State Senator Sam Thompson (R-12) was equally surprised at the news Romney will be swinging through the state. 

"This is the first I'm hearing about it," said Thompson. "I'm thrilled to have [Romney] as our candidate. We badly need a change in Wshington. He will turn our country around."

Thompson said he's one of about 30 people locally who will be delegates to the Republican National Convention later this summer in Tampa, FL, who will be tasked with nominating the former Massachusetts governor as the party's presidential pick.

It wasn't just for Christie - a Republican governor in a traditionally blue state - that Romney was traveling through New Jersey, Thompson said.

He pointed to fellow NJ State Senator Joe Kyrillos (R-13) who will be challenging U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for his seat in November. 

"Joe ran Romney's campaign in 2008," Thompson said, adding he wouldn't be surprised if Kyrillos makes an appearance at the Romney fundraiser. In fact, in April. 

Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, who supported Christie and when the Republican governor was first elected, 'probably won't' be making an appearance at the Romney event next week, said Woodbridge spokesman John Hagerty.

"The mayor is a Democrat. I have no idea who he'll be supporting, but I'd expect him to endorse the Democratic candidate," Hagerty said, referring to President Barack Obama. "He's made no endorsements at this time."