Top 10 Stories of 2012: Bedford Proves Vital for Romney Campaign

Top 10 Stories of 2012: Bedford Proves Vital for Romney Campaign

Bedford Patch launched in June of 2011, making 2012 the first complete year of full-time hyper-local online community coverage in Bedford.

In the last 12 months, readers have been treated with some uplifting and positive stories and accomplishments. At other times, Patch has been forced to cover local and national tragedies that make us all take pause and remember who and what is most important to us.

We thought it only fitting that, as we approach 2013, we look back at some of the most interesting and newsworthy local stories of the last year. After all, where else are you going to get a list that's entirely dedicated to Bedford?

#7: Mitt Romney Uses Bedford to Spring to Primary Victory

Mitt Romney spent nearly a year campaigning in New Hampshire as he cleared the path to his eventual GOP presidential nomination.

The first big hurdle, of course, was winning the Granite State's first-in-the-nation primary, and he and his staff chose Bedford as the epicenter for some of his biggest moments.

Before selecting Bedford as the location for his state campaign headquarters and GOP Victory Office, Romney held two major rallies in town to help secure his first major triumph of 2012.

First, in late 2011, Romney held a major rally at Bedford's Old Town Hall where he looked past his Republican rivals and took direct aim at Barack Obama. The moment marked a drastic shift in campaign strategy as he began separating himself from the pack and started playing the role of Obama's eventual challenger.

And then, on the eve of the Jan. 10 NH Primary, Romney held a grassroots rally at McKelvie Intermediate School where he pumped up supporters and even engaged an occupy protester. The next day he won the Bedford vote and triumphed statewide.

Of course, the rest is history. Romney battled through the Republican ranks, knocking off the likes of John Huntsman, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Granite State runner-up Ron Paul, before securing the GOP's support and eventually falling to Barack Obama on November 6.

The Top 10 Newsworthy Stories of 2012

#10: Bedford hires a new town manager

#9: Frank Szabo's abortion remarks spark outrage

#8: Bedford All-Stars fall one win short of Little League World Series

#7: Bedford plays large role in Romney's primary victory

#6: Sandy knocks out power to thousands in Bedford

#5: Plenty of Fireworks in District 9 Senate Race

#4: Sunday, Dec. 30 10 a.m.

#3: Sunday, Dec. 30 4 p.m.

#2: Monday, Dec. 31, 6 a.m.

#1: Monday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m.

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