ABC's The Note: It’s On! Newt, Mitt to Hold Dueling Ham House Events

[highplainsdem]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/primary-day-showdown-in-the-works-newt-mitt-double-booked/

At 7:45 p.m. on Friday night, a spokesman for the Gingrich campaign sent out the press advisory schedule for Saturday, noting a 10:45 a.m. event at the restaurant.

Then, approximately 10 minutes later, the Romney campaign sent out their own advisory, with the very same stop listed at the same time.

Nobody at the restaurant answered the phone Friday evening. A Romney campaign aide said the scheduling conflict is a “pure coincidence” and “We are not changing our schedule.”

But the regional director of the Gingrich campaign for Greenville, Caroline Vanvick, called her close friend Tommy Stevenson — the Tommy of Tommy’s Country Ham House — and woke him up. Stevenson told Vanvick he is the only person that bookings go through and that Romney has never contacted him. Newt Gingrich is confirmed, Romney is not.

One more bizarre story from a very bizarre campaign.

[pinboy3niner]

1. They never loin

[gateley]

2. ...

[highplainsdem]

3. LOL!

[malaise]

4. According to GEM$NBComcast, Willlard backed out

and arrived early - they just showed a clip

[highplainsdem]

5. MSNBC just reporting on this -- said Romney is arriving early, possibly to avoid a showdown.

[highplainsdem]

6. Romney campaign bused in young supporters. Restaurant staff now trying to clear them out

before Gingrich's people arrive, according to MSNBC.

[highplainsdem]

7. MSNBC just showed Newt speaking, Romney supporters holding up signs to block cameras.

Newt's supporters haven't been able to get the Romney signs out of there.

This does look more and more like a deliberate attempt to goad Newt and/or his supporters into some outburst that might hurt him later.