Mitt Romney Celebrates July 4th Events in New Hampshire, Photo of the Day

Gov. Romney’s Independence Day Statement:

For more than two centuries America has stood for the principles of liberty and self-government. These values remain every bit as important today as the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. As we gather today to celebrate the Fourth of July with family and friends, may we remember the brave men and women who are fighting to protect and preserve our freedoms. May God continue to bless America.

He’s the Photo of the Day (Click on photos to enlarge)…

Mitt Romney, on the go in running shoes, is shaking it up with a full Independence Day schedule in New Hampshire:

★ 9:30 AM
Mitt Romney
Participating in Amherst’s 4th of July parade
80 Boston Post Road, Amherst, New Hampshire
Mitt Romney

★ 1:30 PM
Mitt Romney
Visiting Andover Village Green
Proctor Academy, Village Green, Andover, New Hampshire

★ 3:30 PM
Mitt Romney
Participating in Laconia town parade
Laconia, New Hampshire

* The Gov was his usual cordial self as he crossed paths with Jon Huntsman Jr today:

AMHERST, N.H. — Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman came face to face today at an Independence Day parade here, but there were no fireworks.

After arriving at the parade at the last minute, Mr. Romney thanked his supporters and parade officials, then walked to Mr. Huntsman’s section.

“Welcome to New Hampshire,” Mr. Romney said, and Mr. Huntsman said the same.

Mr. Romney then gave Mr. Huntsman’s wife, Mary Kaye, a hug. He remarked to Mr. Huntsman, who resigned recently as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to China, that New Hampshire is nicer than Beijing, and then bolted back to be with his own supporters.

To read what followed, click here.


I’ve seen some news coverage trying to make something of Huntsman jogging a little along the parade route as he slapped parade goers’ hands while Mitt was walking. Meh… Romney knows what he’s doing; he’s taking the time to look folks in the eye as he greets them. Plus, he has TWO parades to march in; Huntsman doesn’t.


At some point along the parade route, Gov Romney stopped to support budding capitalists and quench his thirst:

In between our own July 4th celebrations, Team MRC will keep you updated on Gov Romney’s day. Check back for updates!

UPDATE: Gov Romney sponsored a float in the Amherst Parade.

Romney’s campaign was first, with the only float sponsored by a candidate — a large, three-dimensional model of the New Hampshire state seal featuring a warship built in Portsmouth in 1776.

Sounds like Huntsman Jr. came upon the same lemonade stand Romney had visited earler…

“Get some stickers,” he [Hunstman] told his staff when he stopped to buy some lemonade from two young girls wearing Romney stickers.
[...]
Several parade watchers remarked “Jon who?” when hearing Huntsman’s team shout “Jon 20-12! Jon 20-12!”

* More on Mitt’s approach to Jon Huntsman Jr. this morning:

“Welcome to New Hampshire,” Mr. Romney said to Mr. Huntsman, shaking his hand and patting him on the back. Mr. Huntsman politely thanked him. Mr. Romney, who has a vacation home in the state, noted that the atmosphere in New Hampshire must be decidedly more pleasurable than that of Beijing, where Mr. Huntsman was until recently the United States ambassador. “The air is breathable,” Mr. Huntsman said in response. And that was the end of that.

Ann Romney attended the annual Winni GOP breakfast in Wolfeboro, NH and rode in a Model T Ford in the Wolfeboro parade.

UPDATE 2

UPDATE 3: Mitt Romney’s $5 lemonade (Amherst parade)

The sign declared 25 cents. Mr. Romney pulled out his wallet.

… [T]he former Massachusetts governor quickly revealed a $5 bill, handed it to the young proprietor [...] and took a paper cup of lemonade. “That’s an expensive lemonade, governor,” a reporter noted.

“Expensive lemonade, but good kids,” Mr. Romney said before sprinting off in search of another hand to shake.

WBZ-TV – Lauren Leamanczyk reports on Amherst parade (nothing I could do about the er… ‘shadow’, that trailed Mitt in the parade, being first image on the video):

To view a photo album of Mitt at the Amherst parade, click here.

To view a photo album of Mitt speaking in Andover, NH, click here.

The Gov knows how to pace himself and finish strong!

Laconia Parade: Romney sets the pace

Mitt Romney is enough of a student of politics to avoid the dreaded moniker of front-runner at this stage of the campaign. But he sure did play the part on Monday, literally jogging from voter to voter over miles of parade routes, getting every last ounce from his well-worn Reeboks.

The message seemed to be “I’m energized” as he zipped to and fro with a bedraggled group of photographers and reporters in his wake. There he was, signing the shirt of Bobby Grogis, 11, (“Awesome!” the lad exclaimed) or whipping supporters into a rousing rendition of “Hooray for Romney,” adding, “This is the song they sang during my dad’s campaign, and it worked.” (Mr. Romney’s father, George Romney, was the governor of Michigan and ran for president in 1968.)
[...]
As he came to the end of the parade route after 4 p.m., he was even ready for more. “Where’s the next parade?” he asked. But there were no more, so he could go home.

(emphasis added)

► Jayde Wyatt