Romney Makes His Pitch to Pella

They were packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the Smokey Row coffee shop in Pella Saturday, politely edging their way in to get a little closer to Mitt Romney.

A few latecomers peered in the window, and others stood on tiptoes in the doorway trying to see what was happening inside. The former Massachusetts governor was making his final pitch to the people of Pella in the closing days of his Iowa caucus campaign, and the people of Pella were eager to hear it.

Much of Pella, pop. 9,832, claims Dutch heritage and boasts of strong community pride. It is also a deeply religious community, where most stores and factories are closed on Sunday and many consider themselves evangelical Christians.

So what do the people of Pella think of this Mormon from Massachusetts? As the event was wrapping up and Romney was driving away, Iowa Independent asked a few of the attendees for their thoughts.

Mark Van Zee, who was seated in one of the booths near the spot where Romney spoke, was impressed. "I enjoyed it. I thought he was speaking very well and he hit on a lot of topics that are very important to our country and the future of our country," said Van Zee. "I've made up my mind. I'm planning to vote for Romney."

Pella resident Todd Leathers said he "definitely liked" what Romney had to say. "I like his support of family values," said Leathers, "and his views on the education system." Leathers is certain he is going to participate in the Republican caucus on Jan. 3, but he's not yet ready to commit to any candidate. "Not yet, I'm still considering Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee both, so it's between those two."

An elderly Pella couple who were crowded in the back of the room were also impressed by Romney. Harold and Wilma Den Besten said they are "very likely" to participate in the Republican caucus. "I thought he was very interesting and he was speaking right to the point," said Wilma Den Besten. Asked if she had made up her mind on who she would support in the Republican caucus, she said, "I think I have, pretty much. I think Romney."
Her husband agreed, but hesitated to say outright that he is absolutely certain. "Well, at first, early on, it seemed Romney was the only one that was running. Then a few others came along, and so I think we had a decision to make, to kind of weigh the candidates. But we're here today and I think that says something. I think without a commitment, that says something," he said.

Out on the sidewalk, a young man was snapping photos of Romney as the presidential candidate gave a final wave good-bye to Pella. Billy Swain, 22, said he hasn't made up his mind on which candidate he will support, or even which political party he'll be affiliated with. "Oh yeah, I'm definitely going to the caucus, it's the first year I'll get to do it," said Swain. "I'm still kind of waiting to get to meet more of them personally. They're still coming around."
Swain said he's been turned off by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. "It seems like, between Hillary and Obama, it's just about who is more popular or famous, which kind of makes me mad in a way. I really liked Romney. He's trying to do a lot of things that the other people are doing, but I think he's trying to do it a better way. He's trying to unify the country without having to be so obscure about it."
Swain said he's also considering John Edwards as a possible candidate to support on Jan. 3.