Romney doing debate prep at $3.9 million mansion
West Windsor, Vermont (CNN) - Debate prep doesn't get more preppy than this.
Nestled high atop a tree-covered hillside overlooking Vermont's Green Mountains, Mitt Romney is preparing for his upcoming debates with President Obama in a sprawling mansion, assessed at $3.9 million, according to local officials.
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The driveway to the home, which is owned by Romney's former Lt. Governor Kerry Healey, is guarded by Vermont state troopers in the midst of a steady traffic flow of news crews and neighbors on horseback.
"I'd like there to be a little more excitement but there doesn't seem to be," Healey's next door neighbor, Bob French said.
Still French said it's the most action he's seen at the home in months. The Healey family uses the residence as a second home, French added.
"Only there twice a year. Sits empty otherwise," French said.
Described as a "mansion," Healey's home is 6500 square feet and "boasts six bedrooms, five full baths, two half baths, three fireplaces, five porches, and an unmarred view of the surrounding Green Mountains," according to an article in the local "Valley News" newspaper.
Kathy Atchibald, the township clerk in West Windsor, confirmed the home's assessed value to CNN. She cautioned that price tag is not unusual for the neighborhood.
"We have quite a few up there that assess high or higher," Atchibald said.
It's a zip code that also offers privacy. Shrouded by a lush grove of large trees, Healey's home is not visible from where the end of her driveway meets the public road.
Reporters in search of another view of the residence may not have much luck with another Healey neighbor who did not offer his name.
"If you were with Fox News I'd let you up there to get a picture," the neighbor said. "You found the one Republican on the street."
Despite Vermont's reputation as perhaps the most liberal state in the U.S., Romney may be on the verge of winning over at least one of Healey's neighbors.
A self-described undecided voter, Bob French said he may make up his mind as the election draws closer.
"Check back in a month," French said.
Romney's debate prep is the talk of the nearby town of Woodstock. Residents have periodically stopped reporters to ask about the GOP nominee's movements.
The Republican candidate's selection of this woodsy New England backdrop did make the front page of the "Valley News,' but not "top of the fold." That honor went to a story with the headline: "Wild Boar Strolls Into Downtown Lebanon, Snacks on Apples."
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So many lies to learn. So little time.
And Obama preps for his debate in the White House. Let's face it, neither one of these guys are middle class, so let's stop with this class warfare nonsense. Obama's rich and Romney's filthy rich. Both make more money than the average American–a lot more. It's not even Romney's house (or one of them). This is a pointless article.
Makes sense, hes so out of touch with the middle class, and even well to do people that he probably thinks this place is a shack! Hes a joke, and so was his wifes speach about how they struggled living off only the stock his daddy gave them. I can't WAIT for the debates, when Obama crushes romney and that ever present snarky slime smile.
Romney gets "preppy" Ha Ha!
Meanwhile Obama will be styling at Camp David, which includes a gold driving range, putting green, swimming pool, tennis courts, bowling alley, and a skeet range. 400 people work at Camp David, and it's total running costs are $100 million taxpayers dollars per year
Probably a shanty compared to where Obama does his prep on the government dole.
Wow, 3.9 million? Can't Romney do his debate prep in a 1.4 million dollar home like the rest of us?
GOP and Romney is out of touch with ordinary people and he's 1% super rich and now how to make money and fire people
Looks like an American "Eagles Nest" to me.
Country is divided thanks to FOX news
Now that is a heck of a contrast to the middle class values of the Democratic Convention. Romney holed up in a multimillion dollar mansion practicing for the debates by using a rich white guy sitting in as Obama. Very 1% of Romney.
Preparing for the debates so soon? Romney sounds worried. Past presidential candidates spent their time on the campaign trail immediately after their conventions, not preparing for debates.
That's less than what RoMOney gives away to his religion of choice.................per year.
And they claim he can relate to middle class familes who probably won't make $3.9 million in a life time.
No, we're not all that stupid, but a minority are.
I guess all the Gop bafoons from mass are crooks ,healy was party of romney s the tax cheat failed govonership !!!
It sits empty most of the year. Must be nice.
At least he didn't spend taxpayer dollars for this place to use.
Yup, and he expects us to believe that he can "CONNECT" with the average person. His first advce to a stressed mother or father? Find a mansion in the mountains to go and relax in
Romney, out of touch and out of time.
Yeah, but does it have a car elevator like Romney's beach house? If not, how can Romney possibly manage in this shack?
Where dd the Kennedys prepare for their debates I wonder? IOKIYAD.
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Who cares?
Jeesh. Give it a rest already.
Great, so VT residents have to pay for the state troopers to guard Romney? With more than 200 million dollars he can't pay for his own security?
Romney and the republicans know how important the debates will be to his chances for the White House. If Romney blows anyone of the three debates, he's finished.
I guess these rich Gop bafoons can't afford to pay a little extra in taxes to help the country ,but that's alright ,the Gop trash will be swept away in,Nov ,for good ,then they will be paying a little extra . Talk about greed , they never have enough ,and then they want a tax cut or don't pay any at all like romney the tax cheat !!!
Guess he and the mrs wanted to get away from "you people".
Mitt the Twit doesn't have enough time to prep for the debates. My 4-yr old would rip him a new one, never mind Obama. Mittens has so much NOTHING to offer and his constant flip flopping on EVERYTHING has given the Dems and the late night talk shows enough material to cover the next decade !!
Actually both Romney and Obama are part of the 1%. Think about it: Obama is rich and Romney is super-crazy rich. and Obama is the executive of the most powerful nation and military on the planet. And he returned his Wall Street investments-donations by letting Wall street do what it wants over and over. And they are both raising $1 trillion each. and the DNC out-spent the RNC in 2008 to buy the election. Both are 1%-ers.
Vote Green Party – power to the people.