Romney campaigns for Porter, McCain in Boulder City

Mona Shield Payne

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney addresses a packed theater Thursday at Boulder City High School.

By Cassie Tomlin

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 | 3:52 p.m.

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Former Gov. Mitt Romney made a swing through Boulder City Oct. 2, saying he supported Rep. Jon Porter’s vote for the $700 billion bailout package for failed financial institutions.

He called the Nevada Republican’s decision a “very courageous vote,” and said, as Americans over time more deeply inspect the financial crisis, “they’ll recognize it was the right thing.”

Romney drew a crowd of about 130 people to the Boulder City High School theater, where he generated support for Porter and Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain.

Porter is facing a tough reelection challenge from Democratic state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Boulder City.

The former presidential candidate joined local elected officials in the high school theater to speak about Porter, who was in Washington, D.C., for another bailout vote. Romney’s next stop was Elko to stump for McCain.

Mayor Roger Tobler, state Sen. Warren Hardy, Assemblyman Joe Hardy and Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, all Republicans, praised Porter’s local, state and national accomplishments.

Porter fans Shirley and David Buck said they came to hear Romney.

“We love him,” Shirley Buck said. “He should have been the vice presidential nominee.”

The Bucks came to Boulder City in 1973 and said they’ve known Porter since he arrived in 1978. They have supported him since his first City Council term in 1983, they said.

Michael Traasdahl said his father worked with Porter in the electrical industry when Porter came to town and said he supported him as mayor for “keeping the city conservative.”

Traasdahl said he’s a registered Democrat, but this year would vote for McCain.

Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or cassie.tomlin@hbcpub.com.