GOP Bus Tour Rallies Voters in St. Clair Shores

The final day of the GOP "Believe in Michigan - Jobs First" statewide bus tour began Monday with a rally in St. Clair Shores that included local, state and federal candidates for offices along with a personal speech by Mitt Romney's nephew, George Romney.

The grandson of the former Michigan governor and nephew of the Republican candidate for president shared stories about how he would spend time with Mitt Romney and his family growing up and how he learned how to be a good, spouse, father and son.

What also struck him was how Mitt Romney would set aside one Saturday a month and volunteer with his sons.

"He understood what is important," said Romney, who currently lives in Northville. "It is family. It is charity. And wouldn't it be great to have a guy like that in the White House."

The four-day bus tour featuring Republican candidates and party officials has stopped at GOP headquarters and victory centers across the state to rally the base, encourage volunteers and support candidates before the election. Nearly 200 people filled the Eastside Republican Club's headquarters for the event.

"We are on the road to something special," said Bobby Schostak, Michigan Republican chair, who added volunteers will work until the polls close and then watch results. "We are going to sweep this election because it is a Republican year in Michigan."

U.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra also rallied those in attendance by comparing this election to 2010, when a Republican was elected governor in Michigan and brought change to the state.

"When we said goodbye to Jennifer Granholm we said hello to economic recovery," said Hoekstra of reform efforts and paying off long term debt. "We need those same principles in the team in Washington."

The top of the ticket, though, was a main rallying point in St. Clair Shores, and Romney also shared a story about how his uncle would work for the country.

He recalled attending a ski jumping event at the 2002 Winter Olympics and seeing his uncle, who was the CEO of the games, in a suit and tie as he helped direct traffic.

"That is typical for Mitt. He just has a knack in being at the right place at the right time to solve the biggest problems," Romney said about his uncle, who "rolls up his sleeves" and gets to work.

"That is the kind of guy Mitt will be when he is the next president of the United States," Romney said.