December 17, 2007
Posted: 06:12 PM ET

Romney got emotional at a campaign stop Monday.

LONDONDERRY, New Hampshire (CNN) — Republican Mitt Romney got emotional at a New Hampshire campaign stop Monday, a day after the former Massachusetts governor choked up on NBC's Meet the Press.

Romney was relaying a story — one he tells often on the stump — about watching a soldier return home in a casket at Boston's Logan airport while he was governor.

"The soldiers that I was with stood at attention and saluted," Romney told the crowd. "And I put my hand on my heart, and tears begin to well in your eyes, as you can imagine in a circumstance like that. I have five boys of my own. I imagined what it would be like to lose a son in a situation like that," said the former Massachusetts governor, whose voice quivered noticeably.

"As I looked up there, every single hand was on every heart, and I recognized this is a nation that comes together and respects and reveres those who serve this great nation, and who joins in mourning when one of them is lost," Romney continued.

Romney's emotional display comes just one day after an appearance on "Meet the Press," during which the presidential hopeful was again visibly misty while discussing the 1978 decision of the Mormon Church to extend blacks full rights.

In the interview, Romney said, "I pulled over and literally wept, even to this day it's emotional. And so it's very deep and fundamental in my life and my most core beliefs that all people are children of God."

When asked about his recent emotional displays, Romney told reporters, "I'm a normal person. I have emotions just like anyone else and I'm not ashamed of that at all."

– CNN New Hampshire Producer Sareena Dalla

Filed under: Mitt Romney • New Hampshire


Savea, Houston, Texas   December 19th, 2007 3:54 am ET

It's funny how many people have different opinions of why Mitt cried. Let's not make stupid judgements because none of us know for sure. All we know is that he cried because a soldier is dead. And why are we judging him because his sons didn't serve in the military? So you're not a good person because you don't serve?

Huckabee is on a roll because of the evangelists, their ignorance and bigotry. Learn what he did as a governor of Arkansas. That ride will slow down somewhere because we want a leader with experience not a guy who's using Christ for his own political end.

JD, Syracuse, NY   December 18th, 2007 3:00 pm ET

The way romney attacked his rivals, I dont think that he has emotions.

Tom - Dedham, Mass   December 18th, 2007 2:00 pm ET

Posted By RB, from the bay state :

Posted By penguinn, Edmonds WA :

Posted By Justin, New York : December

Posted By Anom cal : December 18, 2007

Since NONE of you stated it, I imagine the closest any of you got to putting on a uniform was McDonalds.

I proudly VOLUNTEERED and HONORABLY SERVED, unlike Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, does that mean I can become President?

What's your point?

PW Va   December 18th, 2007 12:08 pm ET

Now this is a new tactic for the candidates: sobbing your way into the Oval Office. How trite!!!

ME / USA   December 18th, 2007 10:31 am ET

The thought of Romney being President makes me want to cry. He panders to the worse America has to offer instead of inspiring the best.

Cindy, Austin TX   December 18th, 2007 10:09 am ET

Perhaps he should be crying about the fact that he's a devoted follower of a religion that took until 1978 to disavow the mark of Cain doctrine.

Tom - Dedham, Mass   December 18th, 2007 9:47 am ET

"Tear" Huckleberry a new one Mitt.

That phony Conservative will be discovered for the charlatan that he is once people look at his number of pardons for MURDERERS and tax after tax after tax.

The difference here between he and Clinton is that her staff admits they are doing stops and websites with these "softer" themes to MAKE her look human.

After meeting the "Mittster" while he was running for Governor and campaigning for him, he does come off as way too clean cut and polished, but in a smaller setting he is just a decent guy who should be judged on his words and actions and not his buttoned down appearance.

Since when did it become bad to love your wife and not cheat on her, raise good children and become successful and not drink, smoke or do drugs?

Z, St. Louis, MO.   December 18th, 2007 9:44 am ET

He's as cheesy and phoney as a used car salesman.All he needs is a lot full of used Hyundai's and plaid polyester suit..Not that Hillary's boo-hooing in Iowa was any better yesterday! And she has pleanty of polyester pantsuits! So help me if i see John McCain or John Edwards start balling at a rally i'll start packing for Costa Rica immediately!My vote is
for NONE OF THE ABOVE!

AJ, IL   December 18th, 2007 9:36 am ET

To usually cry on demand requires tapping into a sad place mentally. Mitt, reminds himself of how his polls number went south after Huckabee's surge, and this brings him to tears.

Sorry Mitt you didn't cry early on when the death toll was at its highest. Now two weeks before the Iowa caucauses you and Hillary start the "boo-hoo" campaign? GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

Joseph, Grand Rapids, MI   December 18th, 2007 9:26 am ET

Romney is the real deal here. I think it is normal to get emotional when discussing our troops, and all they give to allow us to remain free. As a way of reminder, Mitt Romney watched his father march with Martin Luther King, and why wouldn't it be something that would get him emotional? The comments on this blog are so typical of the type of American that things there are no sincere people anymore. Mitt Romney is a man of character and strength, and when he wins IA, NH, MI perhaps than the rest of you nut jobs will truly have something to cry about. News flash, just because someone cries does not equal a new political move. Some people are sincere, and Mitt Romney is one of those people.

Steve, NY   December 18th, 2007 9:04 am ET

Smokey Robinson said it best……….."Tears of a Clown"

Jud Carroll, Adrian, MI   December 18th, 2007 8:22 am ET

Funny isn't it, some with 1 or 2 sons have 1 or 2 in one of the armed forces, he has 5 and I understand, not 1 has seen fit to defend this country. Amzing isn't it. I'm from Michigan and I REMEMBER his father and if he is anything like his father, I wouldn't vote for him for dog catcher.

ken, worcester, ma   December 18th, 2007 8:08 am ET

Romney choking up on MTP, he should be in Hollywood, what an act. When he was Gov. of Mass he could care less for the poor. He passed health care for all. Ya all that could afford it. It's been a disaster and will eventually be abolished. He made the rich richer and the poor poorer in his stop over in Ma on his way to his goal of being Presiden. The biggest flip flopper I've ever seen.

Who is this man running for President they call Romney? He sure isn't the same man that was Governor of Ma. The only thing that hasn't changed since then is the hair on his head, every other thing about him has totally changed since he was elected.

Do what ever yopu have to and say what ever is needed as long as you get elected, that's Mitt's platform.

Glenn, Cary, NC   December 18th, 2007 7:25 am ET

In the interview, Romney said he was driving through the Fresh Pond rotary and "pulled over." A good follow-up question for this "lifelong hunter" turned two-time varmint plinker would have been "Where did you pull over?" It's been a while since I was in the Boston/Cambridge area, but I don't remember any place to pull over at the Fresh Pond Rotary. Could be wrong, just wondering.

Ken, Caldwell - NJ   December 18th, 2007 5:38 am ET

Romney is a Ken Doll with a pull string. They just added a feature! NOw he can cry! Next week they are going to add the "wet your pants" feature, and China can start to manufacture little talking, crying, and wetting Romney dolls for children across the US to play with. They don't have to poisen the product, because him being elected will poisin the minds of children everywhere. This guy is a complete joke. I have a hard time believing that anyone can take this clown seriously. IN my view he is Bush reincarnated with a diction coach! So there you have it…."wet your pants Romney Dolls" The next fad!

Shawnie Cannon, Grants Pass OR   December 18th, 2007 4:06 am ET

Anti-Romney crowd: Either he is too polished or he is just imitating someone else if he cries?

How about there are just some things he really cares about. I cried when the blacks got the priesthood too and I was only 16. It's means a lot to some of us. Mitt has taken many slings and arrows these last few months, and he is finally getting used to it and just being himself. Take it or leave it.

Romney '08

vtercell, just wanderin' around in America   December 18th, 2007 1:06 am ET

That really took some brass balls for the Mittster to go and say that viewing the coffin of returning war dead made him think how he'd feel if it were one of his own sons who'd fallen.

Fat chance of that. Isn't this the same guy who said that his five sons didn't need to serve in the military because they were "already serving their country" by volunteering in his campaign?

Yeah, real good comparison there, Mitt. Tell it to the soldier's mother — or better yet, suggest to her that her son could have served just as honorably (and a lot more safely) by campaigning for you, and wouldn't she like to take over there where her own kid dropped the ball?

And as for your 1978 experience: practically every Mormon I've ever known wants people to think they opposed the policy against the blacks before it was changed, but precious few of them can back that up with anything they'd written, said or did at the time. Are you claiming you actually stood in opposition to the policies of your own church leaders back then? That's real convenient for you to be able to claim now, but if you really did then prove it.

Anom cal   December 18th, 2007 12:54 am ET

Mitt can rest assured his boys will never go to war!
Isn't funny how that works, save your simpathy for somebody that believes it!

Justin, New York   December 18th, 2007 12:49 am ET

Well, Romney, if you were moved to teats, why won't you enlist your sons into protecting our country and serving our interest in the middle east?

Hmm. Didn't think so.

K. Wilkinson MG TX   December 18th, 2007 12:17 am ET

Anyone would feel and show emotion in a situation like this.

I hope that we have not become so cynical that we can't believe that a man can feel and express sincere sorrow over a soldier coming home in a casket?

If you are not moved and humbled by the death of an American soldier and his journey home then I would question where YOUR heart is.

Is it really that hard to believe that a person can show sincere sorrow and respect for the greatest sacrifice any man or woman can make for his or her country?

Mitt Romney is very patriotic and service oriented. His service at the olympics FREE OF PAY is only one example of his love for his country and doing the right thing.

Your quick and negative judgements of Romney's heartfelt feelings are shallow at best.

Derrick, Hagerstown MD   December 17th, 2007 11:46 pm ET

Romney comes across as soooo pandering and inauthentic it's ridiculous. He seems completely robotic. I find it hard to look past that. I'm with either Ron Paul or John McCain.

Kim Brenner   December 17th, 2007 11:19 pm ET

It is Mitt Phoney not Romney. This guy is such a fake.

KEITH JAMES LOUTTIT   December 17th, 2007 11:17 pm ET

OMG!!! This is just incredible!

Hill and Mitt are both suffering through the moon part of their respective circadian rhythms with synchronous precision! Will there be a love-fest soon? Is the beginning of a let's be polite enough to win strategy before the big start?

My tea leaves say yes!

Ed, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA   December 17th, 2007 11:09 pm ET

ahhhhhhhhh!

Becky, Katy, TX   December 17th, 2007 10:39 pm ET

Awwww… just warms the cockles of my heart. Get over it and lead the freakin country Romney!

Chris, Washington, DC   December 17th, 2007 10:29 pm ET

Operative word: imagined. Romney imagined what it would be like to lose a son. But that would never happen because his kids have chosen to serve their country by helping out on his campaign. They're doing it for love of country, not for their own benefit.

penguinn, Edmonds WA   December 17th, 2007 9:30 pm ET

He's got five sons – none of them in Iraq…

RB, from the bay state   December 17th, 2007 9:16 pm ET

Five healthy boys of his own that never bothered to enlist in the armed services of the United States of America………….how touching, Mitt.

Charles, Keokuk Iowa   December 17th, 2007 8:59 pm ET

"In the interview, Romney said, "I pulled over and literally wept, even to this day it's emotional. And so it's very deep and fundamental in my life and my most core beliefs that all people are children of God.""

He wasn't weeping because the change in the injustice served to the Black man. Rather the decision signified the beginning of God's reign on earth in Mormon doctrine.

Walt, Belton, TX   December 17th, 2007 8:45 pm ET

He's also got some lovely beach front property just outside of Taos he'd like to sell you.

Mari Fernandez, Salt Lake City, UT   December 17th, 2007 8:41 pm ET

Oh please, what's with all the emotional stuff?! Hillary and now, Romney?! He expects us to believe he cried when the LDS allowed African-Americans into their inner sanctum?

Julian, Port-of-Spain Trinidad and Tobago   December 17th, 2007 8:32 pm ET

Mitt has a heart. This is so Wizard of Oz esque. The Scarecrow got a heart. Mitt Romney would not actually be a good President if you could believe one word he says or anything he does. Why do politicians feel the need to phony up. Come on Huckabee is whipping the field cause he's the only one "keeping it realish".

A. J. Freeman Globe, Arizona   December 17th, 2007 8:28 pm ET

Was Romney's display of emotion "designed" as your fellow producer asserts Hillary's was? Oh no! Of course not! Gimme a break.

Mrs. America   December 17th, 2007 8:20 pm ET

It's the emotional time of year, or campaign. Hillary, Mitt. Who is next?

Caroline, San Diego California   December 17th, 2007 7:56 pm ET

Tears are a clever way to get the audience to warm up to him, but his demeanor makes them seem–whether or not they are really–ungenuine.

Dave, Ashland, KY   December 17th, 2007 7:56 pm ET

"I pulled over and literally wept, even to this day it's emotional. And so it's very deep and fundamental in my life and my most core beliefs that all people are children of God."

Does that core belief include people who are gay and deserve the same rights and privileges as the "all people" you speak of?

Bob, Seattle   December 17th, 2007 7:40 pm ET

Hilliary tries to get 'softer'. Romney tries to get more 'human'. Edwards tries to 'care' about the poor people. All this in response to the natural humane-ness of Huckabee and even McCain. Somebody is reading the polls again. Imagine that.

Joe Ossai, Bedford, NH   December 17th, 2007 7:38 pm ET

Crying is now the new political move. What a bunch of Joker.

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