Mitt Romney's not-so bombshell admission: He 'tasted a beer and a tried a cigarette once, as a wayward teenager'



Mitt Romney is out to prove he's not the boring guy depicted by some commentators, and has, in fact, got an edgy side.

The Republican presidential candidate drops a bombshell revelation on voters in the forthcoming issue of People magazine: he once 'tasted' a beer and a cigarette.

Despite the Mormon Church's ban on smoking and drinking, he said in the December 5 issue of the magazine that he tried both as a wayward teenager, according to Politico.com.

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The only way is up: Mitt Romney in buoyant form in New Hampshire on Monday

Asked if he had ever had a beer, he responded: 'Never had drinks or tobacco. It’s a religious thing. I tasted a beer and tried a cigarette once, as a wayward teenager, and never did it again.'

The rock 'n' roll admission comes hot on the heels of a Saturday Night Live skit named Raw And Unleashed, where Romney, played by Jason Sudeikis, tries to portray himself as a wild and crazy dude.

The segment starts with the line: 'Hi there America, you know me. I'm Mitt Romney, candidate for president and the current leader in the polls for the Republican nomination.



Wild and crazy guy: SNL's Raw And Unleashed spoof where Romney, played by Jason Sudeikis, asks a former employee if he ever sexually harassed her

'But you don't hear much about me in the news, because the other candidates like Herman Cain and Rick Perry are hogging all the headlines with sex scandals and whoopsy-daisies. That's why my staff and I decided that I was too boring. And therefore I should become fifteen to seventeen percent more edgy.'

Then comes the crazy moment - he unbuttons his jacket!

He brings on a former female employee and asks if he ever sexually harassed her.

She said 'No' but he once said she was a sharp dresser, to which Romney replies: 'Keep away from me ladies because I'm a real dog, bark! Bark!'



The beer and cigarette shocker comes a day after New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte announced that she is throwing her weight behind the former Massachusetts governor.

Just hours later, Mr Romney beamed broadly as the senator told Americans why they should back his White House bid.

On the up: Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney speaks on the steps of City Hall in Nashua, New Hampshire, yesterday after receiving the endorsement of Senator Kelly Ayotte (left)

Stellar support: Mr Romney looks on as Senator Ayotte backs his presidential campaign

Mrs Ayotte told a crowd outside city hall in Nashua, New Hampshire: 'There's one person in this field who is prepared to lead the United States of America and that is Mitt Romney.

'And most importantly, there is one person who I know will ensure that Barack Obama is a one-term president and that is Mitt Romney.'

NECK-AND-NECK: GINGRICH AND ROMNEY LEAD REPUBLICAN PACK

Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich (pictured) has roared into the lead of the Republican nominating race, brushing off concerns about his work for a troubled housing company, a Reuters/IPSOS poll showed. Twenty-four per cent of registered Republican voters would support the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives if the contest were held now, an increase of eight percentage points from roughly a week ago, according to the poll, which was conducted on November 18-19. Mitt Romney garnered support from 22 per cent of Republicans, slumping six percentage points from the last survey conducted on November 10-11 and ending up essentially tied with Gingrich. Despite allegations of questionable business ties, Mr Gingrich is the latest favorite of conservative Republicans eager for an alternative to Romney, whom they see as too moderate. Support for Herman Cain, a previous frontrunner, is crumbling after sexual harassment allegations. The former pizza executive dropped eight percentage points in the poll from last week and fell back into third place. Support for him has halved since late October.

In a sign of further relief for Mr Gingrich, 46 per cent of Republicans said the revelations that he had received up to $1.8million in consulting fees from mortgage giant Freddie Mac had no impact on their view of the candidate.

Thirty-one per cent said the issue left them with a less favourable opinion of Mr Gingrich, who has criticized Freddie Mac sharply in the past.

Today it emerged that Republican Charlie Bass is also joining the Romney campaign.

Campaign aides said Mr Bass, who served six terms in Congress before losing his re-election bid in 2006 only to win back his seat in 2010, would join Mr Romney this morning on a tour of a Nashua defence contractor.

Mr Romney plans to announce Mr Bass as a co-chairman in New Hampshire and a member of his national advisers.

In a statement, Mr Bass said: 'Voters in New Hampshire and across our country are looking for a candidate that understands what our economy needs to recover and grow, that has the experience of creating jobs and has the leadership qualities needed to bring the citizens of our nation back together in these challenging times.

'I firmly believe that Mitt Romney is the candidate that will renew our country's faith in the American dream.'

Mrs Ayotte and Mr Bass are the latest high-profile additions to an organisation that already included Granite State Republican heavyweights like former Senator Judd Gregg and former Governor John H Sununu.

But even in a world where the impact of endorsements is often exaggerated, the latest public show of support is a significant step forward for Mr Romney in New Hampshire.

It has led prominent Republicans to suggest that Mr Romney - who already enjoys tremendous advantages in the nation's first primary state - has become so strong here that the real contest on January 10 will be for second place.

Mr Romney hasn't begun to run television advertising yet. Instead, he's been steadily raising money and adding campaign muscle as his Republican opponents struggle to overcome weaknesses. He is expected to join the television ad war soon, however.

Like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's endorsement in September, Mrs Ayotte's support offers a bridge to more conservative voters, who have been reluctant to endorse a candidate with a mixed history on some social issues.

Mr Romney has struggled to win over that voting bloc in New Hampshire and elsewhere, although some have begun to reluctantly embrace his candidacy in light of repeated stumbles by his rivals.

With Mr Romney looking on, Mrs Ayotte, along with her husband, promised to play an active role in the Romney campaign.

'Joe and I will be doing everything we can to make sure Mitt Romney is the next president of the United States,' she said. 'We cannot take four more years of this president.'

Man of the people: Mr Romney serves sandwiches to supporters outside Jackie's Diner in Nashua

Media circus: Mr Romney and Mrs Ayotte prepare to feed the party faithful



