Photo Credit: Lorenzo Hall, WTVR via Bob McDonnell on Facebook.
Governor Mitt Romney rallied in Chesterfield today at the Mobility Center on Midlothian Turnpike. I happened to be there right in the front row, and yes, yes I did shake his hand. The weather was perfect. The sky was clear. And the crowd was fired up. I’ve yet to see an official count, but the Richmond Time-Dispatch says “More than a thousand people” which is accurate in the sense that 2,000 or 2 million is “more than a thousand.” But the place was packed.
Prior to the official beginning, Jett Williams, daughter of the legendary Hank Williams warmed up the crowd with some of her dad’s favorites:
Senator Steve Martin welcomed the crowd to Chesterfield with this scripture from Proverbs 29:9 “If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.”
Every person there knew he was referring to last night’s debate. Martin also reminded the crowd that Chesterfield was the location of the first coal mine, the first iron works and the first cable car in the nation. More importantly Chesterfield consistently provides one of the Commonwealth’s largest margins for Republicans.
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli reminded the crowd that government just needs to get out of the way.
Congressman Randy Forbes said it’s a new day in America.
Governor Bob McDonnell introduced Governor Romney. But first, alluding to this weeks earlier rally in Newport News, he apologized for the sunshine saying he knew how Governor Romney liked the Virginia rain.
Governor Romney gave a great speech, repeating many of his campaign themes. Saying that while the Democrats theme is “four more years” that the Republicans theme is “four more weeks” which doesn’t work quite as well with only 25 days to go, but it’s a great line.
Referring to the Vice Presidential debate Governor Romney said that there was one person in the room who had a command of the facts and figures. And the other person interrupted him 82 times.
Repeating again the theme that Virginia is a battleground state, Romney said, “Thanks to you, we’re going to win in November, Virginia’s going to get me the White House and we’re taking back America.”
After his speech, Governor Romney worked the crowd and many of us got to shake his hand and wish him well.
Apparently there were some protesters out front. On my way out I only saw one woman with a baby in a stoller. The woman kept yelling “Obama forever” and trying to get her 11-12 month old to do the same.
I don’t know the official size of the crowd.
But, I do know that Chesterfield belongs to Mitt Romney.
I’ll have more pictures on my Facebook page.
