Romney guest mash-up: Everybody loves Meatloaf?
Canton, Ohio (CNN) - As the standard-bearer of the conservative party, Mitt Romney may not draw as many Hollywood endorsements as his rival.
But what his celebrity backers lack in quantity they make up in unconventional appeal.
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Case in point: aging rocker Meat Loaf, who wore a sequin-sleeved blazer to endorse Romney in a halting but heartfelt speech Thursday.
The entertainer didn't perform his signature hits, but he did paint in stark terms voters' choice this November.
"This is the most important election in the history of the United States," he told an audience in Defiance, Ohio. "Because there has storm clouds come over the United States!"
"There is thunderstorms over Europe," he continued, warming to the weather theme. "There are hailstorms, and I mean major hailstorms, in the Middle East."
Meat Loaf also offered a dubious defense of Romney's running mate's controversial budget plan.
"I want you to know at 65 that Paul Ryan has not pushed me off the cliff in a wheelchair," he joked.
The next evening, "Everybody Loves Raymond" actress Patricia Heaton cracked some edgy jokes of her own at another football field rally in North Canton.
Telling the audience she came from an Irish-Catholic family, Heaton invoked Romney's Mormon religion – something he does not frequently mention on the campaign trail.
"I have over a hundred first cousins on my mom's side, so we're giving those Mormons a run for their money," Heaton said.
After joking about nearby Akron ("I was born on the west side of Cleveland. You know what Cleveland's motto is? At least we're not Akron!"), Heaton couldn't resist poking fun at the well-toned body of Romney's clean-cut running mate Paul Ryan.
"I have to tell you, backstage I didn't recognize him with his shirt on," she said, adding: "And I did wear orange, not only because I'm a [Cleveland] Browns fan, but I was afraid Paul would have his shotgun."
On Friday, as has become common over the previous weeks, Romney supporters were also entertained by a folksy band who voiced their support for the candidate in between twanging riffs. The parade of country singers who have backed Romney are perhaps an unusual fit for the former governor of Massachusetts, whose running mate has joked is an aficionado of elevator music.
None of these high-profile fans could equal the pithiness of Romney endorser and football great John Elway, who announced in October he was backing Romney with perhaps the briefest speech on record.
His entire statement, including a reference to a winning football game a day earlier, is below:
"I must say today has been a very good day," Elway told an audience in Denver Oct. 1. "Not only because of what happened yesterday, but because I get the opportunity to introduce to you the next president of the United States, Gov. Mitt Romney."
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Meatloaf was disgusting beyond belief. I don't think I can even prepare meatloaf for months.
Stars?? I think these has-beens are just trying to get attention for themselves, and sinc e the classless Romney campaign wil pay homage to the devil himself in exchange ro an endorsement, thats's who these "stars" pretend to endorse
I find Meatload disgusting and very repulsive to look at and listen to. Yuck factor of 100.
These people are courageous because in Hollywood everybody steps over each other to see how liberal they can be – so they can get work from the liberals who control Hollywood. These people have the guts to stand up for what is right for America – Obama is not a leader – look at what he has done, thrown our money at free cellphones, more welfare, more disability, more food stamps, more people out of work. Why in the world would anybody vote for him? His Hollywood backers are rich so they like they idea that Obama is giving away OUR money. They don't care and they don't pay full taxes either.
Meatloaf? Weren't they one of those 80's "perfect hair" bands? This is the best "celebrity" support Romney's handlers could come up with? Now the undecideds have to choose bewtween Meatloaf and Honey Boo Boo.
When Romney win 53-47, 53-1%=52 the working class.
Meatloaf and Romney remind me of Laurel and Hardy. Romney looks stiff, uncomfortable with forced laughter, and not ready to appear in the same frame with Meatloaf during that partially weird video clip. Romney's body language signals disapproval and wishing he was elsewhere, probably with his rich tax dodging friends where they can joke and belly laugh at the expense of the 47%ers. If nothing else, that should tell you how limited Romney's social skills are if he can't even relax with a supportive artist.
Obama as usual set around waiting for someone to tell him what to do while Americans died in Libya.
Isn't it amazing. What little mention on CNN of Colin Powell's endorsement was buried and lasted one day. This is day two of the Meatloaf endorsement. Meatloaf????? Wow! How impressive.
At least I know who to boycott now. "The Middle" was a horrible show, anyhow.
People who are participating in the potential destruction of our country don't deserve my financial support. Not that they'll give a rat's patootie, but the advertisers are all set to receive my lettters.
I choose Romney based on reason.
Obama is for all Americans, not just the 53% romney supports...higher taxes on the rich means they may have to cancel a vacation, or not buy that new summer home, exotic car, or one less shopping spree, but for the 47% that may be a decision of wether WE can put adequate food on the table, or pay a utility bill.
This tells you Mitt is leaving in the past,he want's to bring us back to the past, but guess what we moving FORWARD
in 2012. I'm voting for Obama!!!
Why would any one Vote for Romney "The Big Bush ?"
I choose Romney based on reason not based on which Hollywierd flavor spouts off.
Nice. A lot of really good looking guys up there on stage. Like fine wine, Meatloaf just keeps getting better with age. Hot.