Mitt Romney Warmly Received at Amherst School By Izzy Lyman June 4, 2002 Mitt Romney, the telegenic Republican gubernatorial candidate, who is widely credited with "saving the Olympics," doesn't always garner a hero's welcome in his home state of Massachusetts. At the Democratic state convention in Worcester, the venture capitalist was disparaged as a man who had "amassed a fortune on the backs of working people."

Mitt Romney visits James Traester's Amherst classroom

At the Republican state convention in Lowell, pro-life activists weren't pleased when Romney, a devout Mormon, promised that, "I respect and will fully protect a woman's right to choose."

Even Ron Unz, the California businessman who is funding the ballot initiative that could end bilingual education in Massachusetts, made a pointed criticism in a recent column: "Well, true to the form of someone representing a party teetering on the edge of extinction, this last week the Republican candidate for Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, declared his firm opposition to 'English for the Children.' "

But Larry Kelley, an unenrolled voter who lives in Amherst and writes for the Amherst Bulletin, thinks that come November, Bay Staters will be voting with their pocketbooks. "Romney looks like a million bucks and can - with his financial savvy - save the taxpayers of Massachusetts many more millions," says Kelley.

As Romney smilingly left the school building, he was abruptly reminded that he is still waging a campaign in a very liberal state.

Romney, in fact, stole the show when he paid a visit to the Fort River Elementary School, located in Kelley's hometown. He came at the invitation of James Traester, age 7, of Amherst, a second-grade student at the school, who sent Romney a letter asking him to participate in a Monday morning "share time." Wrote Traester: "I was hoping you could come visit my classroom, so I could share you." Romney accepted James' invitation. Yesterday, the candidate, trailed by several of his campaign aides, the media, curious onlookers and one Amherst Select Board member, tromped into the second grade classroom of Sandy Davis. He delivered the kind of feel-good performance that makes media handlers swoon.

While young James acted as the master of ceremonies, Romney acknowledged that the student had also written a letter to George W. Bush. "You wrote the President last year, right?" Romney acknowledged. "He wrote back. He's a pretty good president."

The other second graders, who sat in a circle before the candidate, attentively listened and peppered Romney with questions.

One child asked him why he wanted to be governor.

"I want to make our schools better," Romney quickly replied. "Some schools aren't as good as this one. I want to make sure that all our schools are at least as good as this school."

A little girl wanted to know how he acquired the name "Mitt." He explained that his parents named him after "Mitt Romney," a former Chicago Bears quarterback.

Romney shared highlights from his tenure as president of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee and brought out a symbol familiar to the students - the Olympic torch.

At the end of the presentation, Sandy Davis and the students presented Romney with an American flag they had crafted for him. The candidate, in turn, handed out commemorative Olympic pins.

With his proud parents - Jeanne and Don Traester - looking on, James Traester said he would like to be governor when he grows up.

As Romney smilingly left the school building, he was abruptly reminded that he is still waging a campaign in a very liberal state. Outside the Fort River Elementary School stood two supporters of Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Robert Reich. They held signs that simply read "Reich."