Merrimack Residents Energized by Scott Hamilton's Romney Endorsement

Margaret Roy of Merrimack is a big fan of U.S. Olympic gold medal skater Scott Hamilton. She's also a fan of Mitt Romney for President, which is why she was thrilled to see Hamilton climb off the Romney/Ryan tour bus in downtown Nashua on Tuesday.

"We need more name recognition endorsements, people like Scott Hamilton coming out for Mitt Romney," said Roy. "Romney needs to reach out to whoever he can reach out to. This is great."

Hamilton, a four-time gold medal world champ and 1984 Olympic gold medalist, is also a cancer survivor. During his brief stop outside City Hall Hamilton said he's only ever endorsed one other candidate, then vice presidential candidate George H.W. Bush, who was campaigning in Hamilton's Ohio home town with a guy name Ronald Reagan. That turned out to be a successful endorsement, too, Hamilton said.

"So this is big deal for me," said Hamilton.

The Olympic skater-turned-commentator spoke about Romney's advantage – namely his broad experience in the public and private sector, which Hamilton said is a contrast to what President Obama brought to the office.

Hamilton, a self-described Independent voter with conservative leanings, said he supported Obama in 2008.

"I was really thrilled when Barack Obama was elected president, because I saw the promise and I saw something amazing happen to this country. My concern was a lack of experience, you know, he didn't have that broad experience you need to pull this thing off," Hamilton said. "Where with Gov. Romney, it was just amazing that he was able to team build and work together with both sides of the aisle, and it's just been an extraordinary example of what this country can produce in a great America."

Jim Milton of Merrimack said he had come to see Hamilton, a fellow cancer survivor.

"I had brain cancer, too – I'm a survivor seven years now. I have young kids and this makes me more energized about this whole election," Milton said. "I don't know how many more chances I'll get to make things right with my vote. This one's important to me."

Among his greatest concerns is the lack of a budget in Washington, D.C.

"How do you run a country, let alone a small business, without a budget? This country's debt keeps me up at night. I just personally feel that with Romney you have a better future, and the country will be moving in a better direction, hands down," Milton said.

Hamilton has a few more stops today on the Romney tour bus – 2 p.m. at Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, 4:30 p.m. at MacKenna’s Restaurant in New London; 6:30 p.m. at New England College in Henniker; and then to watch the second Presidential debate at a watch party at Jillian's, 50 Phillipe Cote Street, in Manchester, at 8 p.m.