On Monday, Portman helped raise $200,000 at an event at the Columbus Club. Portman to deliver $500K to Romney

As Mitt Romney closes in on picking a running mate, Sen. Rob Portman is about to deliver a halfmillion dollars to the campaign.

The Ohio Republican, a top vice presidential contender, headlined two Buckeye State fundraisers that were expected to pull in more than $500,000 for Romney Victory, two GOP sources with knowledge of the figures told POLITICO.


( Also on POLITICO: Veep Watch 2012)

On Monday, Portman helped raise $200,000 at an event at the Columbus Club in the state’s capital city. And later Tuesday, the first-term senator will join Frank Sullivan, chairman and CEO of RPM International, at a reception at the manufacturing company that will haul in more than $300,000, based on contributions made prior to the event.

A spokesperson for the Romney campaign declined to comment on the record.

But the big-dollar figures should give the presumptive GOP presidential nominee confidence that Portman would be able to carry out at least one central running-mate duty: raising cash.

Portman raised $16.5 million during his successful 2010 campaign for the Senate, besting Democrat Lee Fisher by more than $10 million. His Promoting Our Republican Team leadership PAC, or PORT PAC, has raked in nearly $1.2 million this election cycle, some of which he’s distributed to GOP candidates for the House and Senate.

Portman’s also given $5,000 to both Romney and Romney’s presidential rival-turned-surrogate Tim Pawlenty.

“When you look at it more broadly, the fundraising he’s been able to do through his PORT PAC and reelection campaign shows a history and strong ability to raise money,” the GOP aide said. “And that will be important as you head into a tough general election campaign.”

Portman, a former congressman who served as President George W. Bush’s top trade ambassador and budget director, has been one of Romney’s top surrogates on the campaign trail.

After the Medina event, Portman will head to Colorado on Wednesday, where he’ll rebut President Barack Obama as he campaigns in the state. The Ohio senator is planning stops in Johnstown, Thornton, Lakewood, Littleton and Pueblo.

Portman will join Romney back in Ohio next week on the final leg of his swing-state bus tour that will also roll through Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. Two other V.P. hopefuls are expected to meet up with Romney along the way — Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.