Update, 2:30 p.m. Tuesday: The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is alleging that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan committed election bribary by offering "subs-for-votes." Patch will have more updates about their accusations as soon as more information is available.
Original: Mitt Romney was handing out sub sandwiches to voters in Waukesha, courtesy of with Congressman Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, who has stuck by Romney’s side while he has been campaigning in Wisconsin. Romney handed voters turkey subs while Ryan handed them the ham sandwiches.
Later, the pair encouraged the crowd to get out and vote. They also took the chance to criticize President Barack Obama as Romney is the likely winner of the GOP nomination.
“Today is a very special day for us as Wisconsinites, because it is Primary Day,” said Ryan, who endorsed Romney late last week. “It is a very special day for the Republican Party. It is a very special day for America. We are witnessing another day in which we have a president who is really good at giving good speeches. The problem with our president is he is not good at leadership. He is not good at solving problems.”
Romney thanked supporters who already voted and said his campaign has a lot of work ahead of them as they eye the White House.
“The president has been busy over the last couple of days doing what he likes to do a great deal, which is finding somebody to blame for his own problems,” said Romney, to which the crowd chuckled. “If you are going by the gas station these days, it is kind of a frightening experience. Your credit card may max out. The pump may stop if it hits $100. … It is a tough time. And so the president put an ad out yesterday talking about gasoline prices and how high they are. Guess who he blamed? Me!”
Meanwhile, Tracy Davies, of Mukwonago, saw the signs for Romney at Cousins Subs on Pearl Street as she was driving her two children – Taylor, 2, and Andrew, 5 – from swimming lessons. They stopped for a sub and posed for pictures with Romney.
“They thought it was amazing,” Davies said.
Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas was also at Cousins Subs where he talked about the impact Wisconsin will play on the GOP candidate. Wisconsin is fortunate to play a part in the nomination process.
“I think a lot of people thought that at this time a candidate would have been chosen and Wisconsin would have lost its relevancy in the primary. It is the opposite,” Vrakas said. “Tonight I think you are going to see candidates make decisions, major decisions, and I am going to predict a Gov. Romney victory in Wisconsin.”
While Vrakas said he hadn’t made an endorsement, “I am going to be supporting Romney,” he said.
Keep checking back with Patch for Election Day updates, including unofficial results at the end of the evening. For by-the-minute updates and to ask Patch editors questions, be sure to
Did Romney walk across the bypass and work the counter at City News and Video as well? Just to show what a regular guy he is, you know.
The difference is that ten years ago it was an overzealous party worker who got into trouble for it. This time it was the candidate himself, and standing next to him was a Wisconsin native who should have warned him rather than hand out ham to Romney's turkey. I had to laugh at everyone on The Ed Show getting the name of the sub shop wrong when there was a big 'Cousins' sign right up there on the wall and a shot of the CEO herself fawning over Romney.
The only reason Republicans win is by promising tax cuts and prosperity. Except the prosperity isn't for 90% of the people who are tricked into voting for them.