L to R: Justin Catalano, Annie Hogan, Patrick Nee, Ryan Bilodeau, Sarah Highland
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Over the last several days, several Rhode Islanders have been quite actively campaigning for Governor Mitt Romney in New Hampshire.
Romney’s headquarters in Manchester buzzed with excitement and anticipation for the January 8 election despite what recent polling numbers were reporting. On Sunday, Ryan Bilodeau headed up to NH to call voters gauging support levels for Mitt and reminding them of Romney’s fiscally conservative and strong on immigration record. Monday, Annie Hogan, Ben Gatti, Tom Daly, Nick Richards, and I journeyed up the road to help out with the final 24 hours. We continued with phone calls and went door to door across NH dropping off palm cards and gauging support levels. It’s always interesting to see and listen to your candidate’s supporters and this was no exception. I personally walked a trailer park in Exeter, NH and many of the issues I found important to them were fair gun laws, education, and family values.
Later that evening, Mitt Romney came to the headquarters to rally on his volunteers in the final stretch. His family joined him and we had a neat opportunity to be up close to him and wish him luck in the primary.
Tuesday proved to be exciting as well. Justin Catalano, Patrick Nee, and Ryan Bilodeau joined the rest of us in New Hampshire. We began making calls urging voters to the polls when Carl Cameron of Fox News showed up at the headquarters. He began reporting live and most of the Rhode Island contingency was seen in the background actively making calls to voters. I guess we have faces for the camera. Other visitors to the headquarters included Former Mass. gubernatorial candidate Healey, Bay Buchanon, Scott Romney, Ben Romney, Craig Romney and countless top advisors and leaders across the state of NH. Later on Tuesday we held signs in Manchester’s Ward 9 where we made ‘friends’ with some Dennis Kucinich supporters who tried to manipulate us with their outlandish liberal beliefs. We concluded Tuesday with a rally at C.R. Sparxx in Bedford, NH where Romney addressed us and the nation reminding us that with 2 silvers and a gold, he is not deterred and will persevere to the finish line.
As avid Romney supporters, us Rhode Islanders were a little disappointed in the results but are not losing hope. I still think Romney has the experience America needs and the drive to seek the nomination. As the candidate field begins to narrow, his success in private sector and as governor as Massachusetts will only shine more. He has a strong message, and I think that will resonate well with the rest of America.
