Roemer On Rumford Street [VIDEO]

One of the great things about New Hampshire’s First-in-the-Nation presidential primary is that the campaign for the most important job in the world is waged, literally, in the living rooms and kitchens of the state. Lucky people get to meet the candidates at least once, if not more, and the candidates will go just about anywhere to make that pitch for support.

Not unlike other candidates in the 2012 race, former is searching for support: Small donations under $100 and yes, votes. And on Sept. 15, he was in an unusual place: The home of long-time commentator and former Democratic gubernatorial and congressional candidate Arnie Arnesen.

As it turns out, to most everyone's surprise, Arnesen’s husband, Marty Capodice, is a registered Republican, and he’s decided to invite a few of the presidential candidates – ones who will be “a leader and can work across the aisle but will not be held hostage by fear” – to their home to meet voters. Interestingly enough, Arnesen and Capodice’s new home on Rumford Street is the former home of the first female Speaker of the House in New Hampshire, Caroline Gross, a former Republican, as he noted in an invitation to neighbors.

“When I heard Buddy Roemer’s interview and listened to the words he was saying and understood the ethics around his intentions, I realized that he is a person that deserves to be heard by a lot more people that are hearing him now,” he said.

For an hour, Roemer captivated the crowd of about 30, looking them in the eye, sometimes hugging them, cracking jokes, and talking about public policy.

“I run because I love America,” he said. “And I don’t see anybody running who is dealing with my issues … I’ve been out of politics for 20 years. I’ve been getting ready.”

Roemer has focused most of this ire at the free trade system that has shuttered America’s factory floors and sent millions of jobs overseas. He has ideas on how to bring those jobs back while reforming and restructuring both the corporate and person tax code, which need to be simple and understandable.

“I’m a jobs man,” he said. “I’m not a lawyer. I’m a banker. I work with small companies to make their debt-free. Excessive debt sinks a nation.”

Roemer, who is refusing all political action committee money, is also limiting his donations to $100. He said that the president needs to be “free to lead” and not be controlled by the money of the political system.

“I need a million people,” he said, “to stand with me … we need to clean up the system. You do common sense things that keep the system constitutional. It’s going to be tough but no one else is going to do it. I don’t take their money and they laugh. Join me and we can do this.”

Mary Lou Sayer asked Roemer about his personal life and the candidate said he was married to his second wife, a nurse and concert pianist. He said he had three children from his first marriage and was still friendly with his wife.

“She lives in North Carolina,” he said, “and happy to say she’s helping me with my campaign there.”

John Kjellman asked Roemer about energy policy and taxes and how petroleum products seemed to not be taxed enough while labor was taxed high, which made it difficult to keep and retain employees.

Roemer said while not only challenging unfair competition from the Chinese and other nations, he would also end a slew of corporate loopholes and energy subsidies. At the same time, these changes would lower the cost of the federal government by 1 percent, which could be used to lower the debt. Roemer would also raise tariffs on imported oil to not only reduce the deficit and force innovation on energy and conservation.

“It’s not a surprise why I haven't been in a debate,” he said, “they’re scared of me. They don’t want me talking about these things.”

Rob Rainer asked about taxes, specifically tackling all the corporations that were escaping paying taxes, including General Electric. He said he would lower the rate to 15 percent but require that all companies pay it. He would also lower the personal tax rate and lower and eliminate many deductions. Roemer said it was more important to elevate the living standard than to worry about rates and deductions.

The voters from Capodice’s neighborhood seemed to be impressed by Roemer, calling him down-to-earth and genuine.

Kjellman said he was pleased with the answers to his questions.

“I like him,” Kjellman said. “I’m going to send him $100. I’m a Democrat. Why not?”

Rainer also liked what he heard although he wasn't completely sold on the elimination of the home mortgage deduction. Although, maybe over time, it might be OK, he noted.

“The only difference is that it takes time,” he said. “It’s not an overnight fix; it’s a term, it’s a four-year term, or more.”

Capodice said while he was disappointed there weren’t more people in the room to meet Roemer, he was “very impressed” with the candidate.

“I really liked him and agreed with most of his stances and there’s not many I can say that about … not even the president,” he said.

Capodice said he would be inviting other candidates, like former , to meet with voters too.

Arnesen said that Roemer deserved to be on the stage with the other Republicans because many of the issues he was speaking about were not being discussed by the other candidates. If Roemer were allowed to participate, "it would change the conversation."

"The issues that he talks about nobody talks about," Arnesen said. "We know there are still problems with the financial system (and) not one person has really addressed that at all. He's the only one who even knows what Glass-Stegall was and why it should be reinstated ... He belongs on that stage."