Dover NH, Rochester NH, Portsmouth NH, Laconia NH, Sanford ME
& & PORTSMOUTH – Hours before Mitt Romney arrived to give a stump speech at the Portsmouth Fish Pier on Monday, local Democrats gathered at the pier to offer their support for the president.
Romney was scheduled to campaign alongside New Hampshire senator Kelly Ayotte on Monday, April 30, at the pier and address federal regulations that affect local commercial fishermen.
As early as 8 a.m., more than two hours before Romney's scheduled appearance, about a dozen Obama supporters gathered on the sidewalks lining the road to the fish pier, holding sings in support of President Barack Obama and intermittently chanting.
At about 9:30 a.m., a contingent of seven Obama supporters advanced to the center of a small bridge overlooking the fish pier and began hollering "flip flop" toward the stage – an apparent effort to lampoon Romney.
They were eventually asked to exit from the bridge by security personnel in anticipation of the 10:50 a.m. Appearance at the pier, which was attended by tight security.
Among the Romney opponents in attendance Monday was Hampton resident Marcella Quandt, who held a tall, wooden paddle with at least four Obama campaign posters affixed to it. Quandt said she holds liberal beliefs on social issues and is fiscally moderate, but began supporting Democrats when the country waged war in Iraq, and wanted to show her support for the president.
Ben Wessel, of Manchester, and Bonnar Spring, of Hampton, focused their energy on Romney's record. They were holding an over-sized representation of an Etch-of-Sketch, made with canvas, paint and paper plates.
Wessel said the sign was constructed last week by the Obama campaign to highlight a remark made by a Romney campaign strategist earlier this year.
In a television interview, the advisor said Romney's efforts to craft his message for a general election audience are tantamount to erasing an Etch-a-Sketch image.
"Romney has had so many positions," Spring said. "I lived in Massachusetts when he was governor, and he's not saying the same things he was then. I don't know who he is anymore."& & & &
| & & Haddadin/Democrat photo& Local supporters of President Barack Obama gather at the Portsmouth Fish Pier on Monday morning, April 30, ahead of a campaign appearance by Republican Mitt Romney. | &
In an early morning appearance at the fish pier, Portsmouth Rep. Terie Norelli, the Democratic minority leader of the New Hampshire House, also offered a rebuke of Romney's "budget-busting" policies.
Ticking off a list, Norelli highlighted Romney's support for the budget advanced by Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan and his efforts to "cut health care services for women," give tax breaks to the wealthy and "eliminate Planned Parenthood."
By contrast, Norelli said, the president is implementing policies that will foster an "economy that's built to last."
"I think that there's a very sharp contrast between (the president's economic policies and) Mitt Romney's economic policies that are all too familiar and troubling," she said. "Whether that's tax cuts for the wealthy, or fewer rules for Wall Street, those are unfortunately the same formula that did benefit a few, but it collapsed our economy, and certainly hurt the middle class."
Romney's appearance in Portsmouth Monday was his second in New Hampshire in less than one week. It followed on the heels of a speech in Manchester on Tuesday, April 24.
Romney scored decisive primary victories in five states last Tuesday. His most potent challenger for the GOP nomination, former Sen. Rick Santorum, also suspended his campaign earlier this month, paving the way for Romney to challenge Obama in the fall election.& & & &
