New Canaan GOP Chairman: This is 'Romney Country'

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – New Canaan Republicans are ready to roll with Mitt Romney in the fight for the White House this fall, the town’s party chairman said the day before the state’s GOP presidential primary.

“I’m comfortable in stating that New Canaan is Mitt Romney country,” James O’Hora, chairman of the New Canaan Republican Town Committee, said of the presumptive GOP presidential candidate. The former Massachusetts governor is the clear favorite, although former Georgia Rep. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are still in the race.

Romney, who is expected to cruise to victory in Tuesday’s state primary, has a unique relationship with New Canaan, O’Hora said. Romney has personal friends in New Canaan and has done business with town firms.

Before Rick Santorum withdrew from the GOP race two weeks ago, O’Hora had anticipated that Connecticut might be up for grabs. “It was a very exciting primary process, which is good for party and eventual nominee,” O’Hora said. “It gets them ready for a tough battle in the fall against President [Barack] Obama.” And Romney, O’Hora said, is a candidate who can stand up against Obama when the debates begin in October.

Romney, Gingrich, Paul and Santorum are all on the ballot. Polls will be open from 6 am. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Given Romney's near certainty of gaining the nomination, O’Hora said he’s expecting 30 percent to 40 percent of registered Republicans in New Canaan to vote Tuesday, although the committee always encourages all voters to head to the polls.

“We hope people will take the primary seriously and get out and vote and make it a harbinger of things to come in the fall,” he said.

Click here to follow Daily Voice New Canaan and receive free news updates.