Mitt Romney had one more personal matter to address while home: license renewal
Mitt Romney returned to the campaign trail today, leaving Massachusetts for Mississippi to continue his quest for the Republican presidential nomination.
During a little less than two days at home, he famously dined on chicken marsala made by his eldest son, Tagg, delivered his Super Tuesday victory speech at the Westin Copley Place Hotel, and – he confessed to reporters – made a run to CVS to restock on medications.
But he also had one more undisclosed stop on Wednesday: the state Transportation Building.
It turns out that Romney, who turns 65 on Monday, had to renew his driver’s license.
Under Massachusetts law, licenses must be renewed every five years. The task can normally be handled online, but drivers have to appear in person once every 10 years to get their license photo updated.
Romney was due this year. The charge is $50.
A tipster reported that the former Massachusetts governor, accompanied by his Secret Service detail, arrived at the Transportation Building about 4:30 p.m. There is no formal Registry branch in the building; the closest is a couple blocks away in Chinatown.
But the building houses the RMV’s enforcement division, which is often populated by State Police investigators.
It turns out the office is also something of a private Registry branch for celebrities and other high-profile people.
A state official said the office is made available to drivers whose presence would cause a disruption at a public Registry branch (think: Tom Brady). A Romney spokeswoman confirmed the candidate’s stop at the office.
“Particularly because he has Secret Service protection, we thought it was a prudent request to let him do it in that fashion,’’ said MassDOT spokesman Cyndi Roy.
Not that Romney may have much need for a license going forward.
As a Secret Service protectee, he now no longer drives himself but is driven by agents in an armored SUV. It is one of President Barack Obama’s frequent laments, that he can no longer get in a car and take a drive to clear his head.
Former President George W. Bush used to get around the prohibition by heading off to his Texas ranch, where he was allowed to drive himself in his pickup truck, or to Camp David, where he could drive a golf cart.
As a protectee, Romney also doesn’t need his license to get past airport security. He is accompanied by armed federal agents, making passage through a metal detector pointless.
Given his current campaign activity, Romney is hoping he won’t need to use his license before 2021 – which would after a second presidential term.
It would also be just a year before he needs a new license photo.
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