Romney Tries To Close The Deal With NH Voters
NASHUA, N.H. (CBS) - As he works to close the deal with voters, Mitt Romney is leaning on people close to him to help convince undecideds he is a man of the people, and the right man for the job.
In Rochester Sunday, the person who knows Mitt Romney better than anyone shared some personal stories with the crowd.
Related: Poll: Romney Holds Commanding Lead In NH
Ann Romney told voters, "As a young mom, I had 5 rambunctious boys."
She says when Mitt was traveling, "He was great, because he would remind me that my job is more important than his job and he meant it, and that was the cool thing about that."
"Now being a grandmother is all about revenge, and when these little ones are naughty and I look at my guys and say you guys deserve it."
Ann said after Mitt's defeat four years ago, she said she wanted no part of another presidential campaign.
"I know one thing for certain, I'm never going to do this again. Mitt laughed when he heard me say that and said you said that after every pregnancy."
But a year ago, Mrs. Romney says she had a change of heart.
"I told Mitt, I'm sorry sweetheart, you have to do this again," she explained.
"I couldn't predict if he was going to win, but if he did, he would be the one person that could turn this country around and that's why we need him so desperately."
Romney held two rallies on Sunday.
At the Rochester Opera House, former rival now supporter, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty introduced Romney.
On stage, after Mrs. Romney introduced their family and shared some stories, Romney began his closing argument.
He spoke of his love for the country, and his desire to replace President Obama.
"I look at these last three years and I just shake my head. I don't think the President gets it. I don't think he gets what's so unique about America. I don't think he gets the power of people pursuing their dreams."
Romney went on to say, "I don't think he feels it, he experiences it the same way you do and I do, by virtue of having lived in the real world. There's nothing wrong with your entire life in politics, but it's kind of a bubble," Romney said.
"I care very deeply about the American people, and it frightens me to see a President who has made so many mistakes when people are hurting so badly."
Then, working to connect with voters with attacks from all sides to his business background, Romney strayed from his stump speech and said, "I know what it's like to worry whether you're going to get fired. There were a couple of times I wondered whether I was going to get a pink slip."
The campaign has not said where or when that was.
Romney told the crowd, as he has at every event over the past several days, that he never imagined he would run for president.
"I was just a high school kid like everyone else with skinny legs. I imagined I'd be in business my entire career."
Romney also took time to explain more about his business background.
He talked about Staples, where 90,000 people work today.
He says they spent $5 million to open the first store. He contrasted that with Solyndra, the solar company in which President Obama invested $530 million.
"This President is a nice guy who just doesn't get it," Romney said.
"I spent my career in the private sector, I'm not perfect, but I do get it and I will use what I know to get America to work."
Romney, who has led a disciplined campaign focused on jobs and the economy, then told the crowd this election is about something larger than jobs.
"This is also a battle for the soul of America. This is a campaign where Americans will ask - who are we as a people? What does America stand for?"
WBZ-TV's Karen Anderson reports
At Romney's evening event in Exeter, the rally became more of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's show.
Romney introduced Christie, who is known as a dynamic speaker.
When protesters began shouting "Christie kills jobs" he responded, "Something may go down tonight but it ain't going to be jobs, sweetheart."
He also then turned the protesters frustrations into an attack against President Obama.
