‘Rock star’ Mitt Romney gets big ovation in Utah |
By Lisa Riley Roche
Deseret News
Tracy Parker, a wedding hostess from Centerville, was already starting to read her pre-autographed copy of his book, included in the ticket price. Parker said the evening was a surprise 50th birthday present from her husband, Rich.
“I’m excited to read it. Oh my gosh, there are so many things I think about,” she said, tapping the cover of the book. “I have no idea what we should be doing. But this man is so smart.”
Some Utahns in the audience paid extra to spend time with Romney at a reception held before the speech that also was attended by fellow Republicans politicians, including Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch and Rep. Jason Chaffetz.
Chaffetz joked about the large turnout for Romney. “He’s a rock star. Jon Bon Jovi doesn’t get this many people.”
Larry Deans, who moved from Southern California to Hooper, Weber County, after losing his aerospace job, said Romney spoke at the reception about his time as head of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and “how warm and wonderful the people of Utah are.”
Deans said he wants to see Romney make another run for the White House to bring his business expertise to Washington, D.C. “I shook his hand and told him I wanted him to run again in 2012,” Deans said.
Romney’s wife, Ann, spoke to the crowd before his speech, reminding them of the years their family spent in Utah during the 2002 Winter Games.
“We had a life-changing experience by being here. It was such a wonderful blessing in our lives,” Ann Romney said, noting they were just in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
“Yes, those Games are nice, but there’s nothing like Salt Lake,” she said.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700016373/Rock-star-Mitt-Romney-gets-big-ovation-in-Utah.html?pg=2
Tags: Bob Bennett, Jason Chaffetz, Mitt Romney, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, Orrin Hatch

