Some in Crowd ‘Excited’ for Romney; Others Say ‘Abhorrent’

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Hundreds of people stood outside in line for over an hour to attend Mitt Romney’s speech at the University of Utah against Donald Trump — and not all of them were happy with Romney’s intervention in the presidential race.

“I find it abhorrent that Mitt Romney would pull this stunt,” said “Max,” a Trump supporter wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, who did not want to be named.

“After the support that Trump gave Romney in 2012, this is just absolutely hypocritical and below the Republican Party. It’s below the Democrats, for that matter.”

Others, however, were happy to hear Romney’s perspective.

“I wish Romney would run,” said Andrew Drechsel, 32, of Salt Lake City, saying he looked forward to hearing Romney’s rebuke to the “kids” in the GOP. He added, however, that he is supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for president: “I would never vote Republican.”

Paul Garder, 69, of Park City, is also a Sanders supporter — but he was unhappy with Romney’s appearance.

“It’s just another episode of the Republican clown show. I’m astonished that after his poor showing in 2012 that Romney would suggest Trump will do a worse job.”

University of Utah student Catherine Warner, 19, is a supporter of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and was excited to hear Romney speak.

“In my dream, he would endorse Ted Cruz,” she told Breitbart News. But since that was unlikely, she said, she hoped Romney would hint at joining the race, because it might slow Trump.

Navy veteran and history student Andrea Bryant, 30, who described her views as libertarian, said her expectations for Romney’s speech were low.

“I thought he might endorse Rubio. But if he does now, it is too little, too late.”

She noted that Romney’s new toughness against Trump had been lacking in his own campaign. “This is a departure from how I wish he would have been in 2012.”

“Max,” meanwhile, wanted to sent a message to the former Massachusetts governor.

“I want him to see this,” he said, pointing to his hat. “I want him to know that there are people here who disagree.”