A relaxed and talkative Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican Presidential nominee, strolled Phillips Avenue in Sioux Falls just after noon, campaigning for U.S. Senate candidate and fellow former Gov. Mike Rounds.

Rounds is in a four-way race with Democrat Rick Weiland and independents Gordon Howie and Larry Pressler.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, meets Chelsea Tracy,
left, owner of Chelsea's Boutique on Phillips Ave. in Sioux Falls. Romney
spent about an hour Thursday campaigning for former South Dakota Gov.
Mike Rounds, center, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

Before hitting the stump and posing for selfies with surprised downtown shoppers, Romney gave a speech before 4-to-500 Rounds supporters at a GOP rally at the Ramkota.

For undecided voter Chelsea Tracy, owner of Chelsea’s Boutique where Romney’s tour began, it was all kind of a big deal.

“Yeah, it’s always good to have free press and wonderful people visit your store,” the former Chamberlain native said.

Before heading to the GOP Victory Center to talk to volunteers and staff, Romney said one of the big issues in the Senate race — Obamacare — needed lots of fixing.

“There are immediate things you can do even with President Obama in office,” Romney said in an impromptu interview. “Like take away the penalty from a 40-hour worker, that’s basically driving people into part-time jobs. At the same time, I think the tax on medical devices is a real problem.”

Romney said those problems could be dealt with immediately, but thinks the entire health care reform law should be replaced.

U.S. Senator John Thune also joined Romney and Rounds on the campaign stop.

 

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