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Subscribe to RSSGREENVILLE, S.C. -- The folks at Tommy's Country Ham House in Greenville are expecting a record crowd Saturday morning, and the mob's not coming for the grits.
In a state famous for its bizarre brand of Republican politics, mere hours after polls open in South Carolina, the primary's two frontrunners are hosting dueling campaign events at the restaurant over breakfast. Same time. Same place.
Call it the Ham House Showdown.
Incredulous reporters first thought there was a mistake. Both Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney scheduled events at Tommy's Country Ham House in Greenville, S.C., at 10:45 a.m. ET Saturday. For Romney, the event will be his final public appearance before results are announced Saturday night.
Not quite a duel at high noon, but close.
The Gingrich campaign put their public schedule on their website roughly an hour before the Romney campaign emailed out theirs to reporters. Now, neither campaign is backing down.
"We have had this event on the books. Our schedule went out first. We are confirmed at our event," Gingrich campaign spokesman, Nathan Naidu, told reporters aboard the USS Yorktown following a Gingrich event. "We are more than happy if Gov. Romney would like to join us at our event and have some ham."
A Romney aide said: "It is pure coincidence the events were scheduled at the same time and we are not changing our schedule."
The Gingrich spokesman added, "We are more than happy to treat Gov. Romney to ham at our event."
Reporters were told that Caroline Vinvick, Gingrich's Greenville regional director, called and woke up the owner of the restaurant, Tommy Stevenson, Friday night. He said none of Romney's people has contacted him about an event. The Gingrich campaign is confirmed for 10:45 a.m. ET, Stevenson reassured Vinvick. Meanwhile, outside Romney's rally Friday night in Greenville, volunteers were overheard telling supporters to head to Tommy's Saturday morning to support Romney.
National media -- seizing on the opportunity for pithy, ham-related headlines and the potential for a political showdown that could rival any from the debate stage this season -- are preparing to flock to the restaurant Saturday morning.
Some may want to bring helmets to prepare for what could be a dangerously packed house. All will bring their appetites.
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I Love this!
can things get any dumber?
Yes,,,,,, Newt & gang think the "Sermon on the Mound" was a liberal media attack against him
Santorum, Paul & Romney seems to be calling for religious fascism
My wife and I have complained (2010) and again today (2012) that voting machines overheat - and - of 3 machines 1 is taken to a bus outside on the curb (for Wildwood elderly) for approximately 1 hour - even as the lines grow inside the building all the way to the same outside sidewalk and curb (standing in the rain). One "KEY" inside at the voting booths to be shared by 3 machines and 1 key outside in a bus is either incompetence or fraud. We phoned The Richland County Commission, Deputy Director with our complaints as soon as we left the Polo Road Recreation Center building on Polo Road. This sounds like a rant and doesn't seem coherent but that is precisely the point - voting should not make you feel as though your voting rights have been raped. Everyone we have approached about irregularities at the voting booth has been courteous within their perceived areas of responsibility - HOWEVER - this is not adequately reassuring. Courtesy is not a shortcoming in South Carolina.
Foot in Mouth Newt will be MUCH more fun for the Media than Robot Mitt, the Dukakis of the GOP
Choosing well known dudes like Mitt Newt and the White Haired Wrinkly Dude makes the GOP seem so YESTERDAY, archaic even
You're right. THAT is precisely why I believe McCain picked Palin. An age thing? Image?
The GOP seems to be so desperate in every election... The party cannot figure out what it wants to be...
Maybe Newt will pick Palin so he can have a little action on the side.
John Edwards... boink, boink, boink. Its not MY baby!!
Some of those social policies are back a lot further than yesterday. Try 1850
You've got it, LG. That's what we need. A Gingrich-Palin ticket. ROTFL
Is the hog fest over yet? I really think this super pac nonsense is a total waste of Americans time and the money they waste trying to con lie cheat and steal could be used to help the elderly and poor heat their homes if they have one left. I will say this again? AMERICANS? STAND UP AND PUT A STOP TO SUPER PACS BUYING OUR ELECTIONS. DEMAND THIS STOP NOW TODAY. IF THE USA COURTS AND JUDGES DONT STOP IT NOW.....THROW THEM OUT TOO.
Hooo-rah, Newt should have been a Marine. I like the way he just tares peoples face off and put them in their place. I hope he is the one who goes up against Obama so Obama can put him in his place. Like what ever happened to "death do us part". I feel sorry for the present Mrs. Gingrich; she must be sitting on pins and needles hoping not ever to get sick. Americans have reached an all time low to think this kind of behavior in their elected officials should not disqualify them from office. That is nothing like the kind of family values I want in my presidential candidate.
Swift boat Baptist Birthers say Mitt is a Polygamist cult leader!! Pass it on!
According to the Southern Baptist, Newt does not have a Biblical gound for divorcing his last two wives; so in effect he has three wives. I hope all those Bible belt states keep this in mind. But alas, they probably think he is the lesser of the two evils. No one wants to get fired by Mitt Willard Romny.
Yeah... Gingrich is a serial polygamist. That's the Republican message-- have as many mistresses as you want, but maintain "family values" by only having one wife at a time.
newt, mitt -- what's next - toad?
Let's have a one hour a night reality TV show where we follow he family life of Mitt and the Newt. Think of the ratings! And the lead ins-- You know things like, Is Newt REALLY going out to get just a PIZZA?? Stay tuned! AND Is that a late night business meeting Mitt is attending OR does it have something to do with SATAN!! More after this!
How about, "Is Newt trying to outdo Liz Taylor in racking up spouses" stay tuned.
Occupy the federal courts TODAY. The auction of America has closed. Remove the super pac today. DEMAND it stop NOW. America is not for sale and Americans will not tolerate another day of the greedy 1% and their ignorant poor followers making a sham of our elections and vote. Demand that the Federal Courts Remove this rape of america.
Speaking of forgiveness, I'm surprised Newt hasn't dragged out the thief on the cross next to Christ! Or Mary Magdalene-- the OTHER Mary
Then again if he peruses the Bible he might come across something to do with rich dudes, camels and the eye of a needle. Better to just keep it shut!
Newt Ging - Rich :)
I'm just f#@$ing sick of it all. Obama, the repubs., all of it! No one running has a clue how to fix this mess we are in. If they do, they won't say because they will p&^% - off all the Mexicans and the Cubans, and the gangs and whoever else we need to get rid of to help the country. We HAVE TO bring manufacturing back to this country not the others. We have to lock down the borders to stop the influx. We have to stop the gangs cold. This can't continue or WE WILL FALL! WE MUST buy American Made NOW. We must STOP selling our land to other countries, and stop letting them invest in us!
No one running will ever admit to this - but it must be done. IT MAY ALREADY BE TOO LATE.
Hey, what have you been doing? Is your head in the ground or what. Have you not been following the gains that the president has been doing, or is it just you can't give a black president credit.
GOTTA be a Ron Paul groupie!
I am a moderate conservative Independent Voter and I have a clue how to stop this nonsense. Its gonna take majority of Americans......standing together without labels. Demand and Action at the steps of ALL the federal courthouses in this country. Who's In? NO party hats, leave them at home.
First off, who the h*ll names their kid, Newt? OR Mitt, Second, do they really spend millions of dollars, just to throw mud at each other??? Have you noticed...none of them are really talking about the issues of our country. What's up with that? if you want my opinion, they are ALL crooks !!! And third...SUUUEEEY!
Actually is Newt McPhearson......he was adopted soon after birth.......newt senior was a mean abusive alcoholic that beat his while pregnant with our little newt today.......this might explain his personality defects and lack of family value.
Would vote for Obama over dirty Newt. Dems have all the dirt on his ethics violations, $300,000 fine. Repubs kicked him out as their speaker.
I will be the first to say. I will Vote for President Obama Again.
Newt got dissed, then got pissed, and now Mitt's on his big time **** list! THAT will teach them to mes with the Brainiac! Mitt is now synonymous with no good corporate raider!
Money talks and everyone else walks.
We the people have no control in the elections. 2 out of 4 of the candidates that did not get enough signatures to be on the ballot in Virginia primaries have already dropped out of the race.
If you beleive your vote counts that iss good but unfortunately it does not.
There are only a few ways that we the people will get our countery back. It's not at the ballot box.
To be honest with all of you, I believe we the people will not be able to vote in the election in 2012
This GOP campaign is nothing but a horrendous waste of money. I don't think any of the Republican nominees have a "snowball's chance in h*ll' of beating Obama, and rightfully so. The only two (Santorum and Paul) that seem to have a core and convictions are unelectable against Obama. That being said, it is interesting to watch this clown-show full of lies, hypocrisy, baseless rhetorical (and boring) talking points, and the ideals of a Party that are completely out-of-touch with the reality of the average American citizen today. I can't wait for the post-election commentary in November on Fox News for their take on why the pendulum swung back in favor of the Democrats, after disastrously giving Republicans the House in 2010.
Yesterday.....RNC ask all the candidates to come speak. 25 people showed up, newt canceled and rom too but paul showed up. Maybe just maybe South Carolina woke up and said move on and get out of our state and take that pac of bs and money with you.
What happened to Rob Dufus? Quit crying and come back Robbie! We want to see more of your idiotic rightard posts.
More than likely busted a gasket. or moderator terminator had enough.
Seriously, this crop of idiots is the best the Republican party can come up with? Then where's Sarah P...was G.W. on the interview committee? What a bunch of LOSERS !!!!
Please do not even breath the word.....palin....toe fungus, kiss of death.....she caused enough ignorance....lets hope Alaska finally threw her entire family in jail and threw away the key. Freaken rapture, crazy, B, ........cannot stand that entire family.
WELL SAID !!!!
At this point Americans, its not a party thing? It is Americans against a few controling the elections, money, jobs, banks, gas, electric, food, healthcare, etc etc. Until we stand together at the federal court house and DEMAND this end immediately.....its gonna get worse. Its up to us. We have to fight for our America.
Beyondthereef - I take it you are NOT a business owner.
Ive been in business...was the focus in college.....and found it was cheaper years ago to work for someone else/corporation... I work two jobs.....legal and medical......and there is NO decline in business at all.
If your intention was to complain about Obama, he is trying to help bring jobs home and help small business. I know its not happening quick enough but hang on help is on the way. The taxes with my small business plus the cost of private healthcare with a pre existing ate my family alive. This happen during the bush years. We might attempt again in the future.
Holly,,, I take it you are not a business owner,, We've had continuous private sector growth for 3 years
There is a difference between private sector growth and job growth. The companies with mid level jobs paying between $35K and $60K a year are turning those jobs into $18K to $30K a year jobs. It happens every time that unemployment goes up. The employers rape the situation and start paying people peanuts. It is simple supply and demand. Profit growth is up but employee wages, healthcare and retirements are down. Heck, almost half the country is making between 1/2 and 2/3 of what they made 3 years ago. That is devastating.
For you political amateurs the federal government does not control the economy. The Federal Reserve does and Obama is content letting the FED bankers print as much money as they please, loan it to themselves at 0% interest then buy up all our homes, business's and stocks at 25 cents on the dollar. The FED could stay in this depression for another decade..... EASY. They are simply bleeding the middle class dry and Obama is just helping them in every way he can.
Catch the piggies bye the toes. Oh my, just have them go pray and they will be nice and clean, cause God talks through them!
Vote them all out, get some fresh blood that works for the people........
The richies will have to spend more on the new ones, they are going to be expensive to buy, because they won't be able to skim off the top anymore.
There is plenty of skimming to be had if a mainstream party candidate from either party makes it to the Presidency this term. It will be business as usual and the lobby's are lined up like parasites awaiting their new "host".
Obama is pure poison to the economy. He is assisting these corporations to strip this country of jobs like a car to be sold for junk. He has become a central banking cartel and military contractor stooge. Obama let the FED shove $16 trillion out the back door to European investors between 2009 and 2010. That is $700,000 per America family!!! Obama refuses to even bring it up much less do anything about it. I never thought I would see the day we had a Democratic President that was "pro war" and most of all pro war SPENDING.
The list of additional taxation with ObamaCare is pages long with most of them conveniently not taking effect until 2013... after the election. I am not saying Bush was not a FED banker stooge too but we need someone besides a "mainstream" party candidate from these two party's....... BAD. Both party's are totally corrupted beyond repair by decades of lobby influences.
We will all soon live to regret letting these federal theives hold trillions of our healthcare money. The ObamaCare money is no more safe than Social Security was. Congress already has the IOU's written and ready to replace the surplus cash. This ObamaCare theivery will make Social Security look like a kid's lemonade stand that went bad.
Newt wins South Carolina!!
Oh boy.... that is like getting a soup ladle to bail with on the Titanic as far as addressing the problems here in the US. Newt does not comprehend the word "cut" and all he can think about is killing ragheads. He is a lot like Bachman but Newt does not give a crap about God or Christians etc... he just wants to kill ragheads and could not care less what it costs or what the consequences are for borrowing all the money.
Do you really want this smart ass, hot tempered, arrogant, full of himself politician with his hand on the button to turn on WWIII?