Your most productive plans for the Fourth of July might involve a vodka-infused watermelon, but Mitt Romney probably won’t be doing much relaxing during his annual family vacation at his lakefront home near Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (which includes a terrifying-sounding activity called the “Romney Olympics,” Oh My God): Romney has invited New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte to march with him in the small town’s Fourth of July parade. That doesn’t just mean he wants her on his potato sack race team; Ayotte will be the first vice presidential short-lister to appear publicly with Romney during his vacation, and her stay will give the two some private time to discuss the future.
According to ABC, Ayotte will be accompanied by her kids and husband, Joe Daley, who is a small business owner (niice) and a war veteran (perfect). She’s used to hanging out with Romney; she met up with him multiple times on the primary campaign trail and endorsed his candidacy way back in November. Ayotte also recently passed a crucial VP test: mobilizing the anti-choice base without saying anything too batshit insane that could reflect poorly on Romney. “How we treat the weakest among us is truly a reflection on who we are as a nation and President Obama’s record shocks the conscious when it comes to protecting life and unfortunately on many other issues as well,” Ayotte told the crowd at last week’s National Right to Life conference. (ABC says Romney sent her there.) “He has a vision of America that is very different from what we want for our children and our grandchildren. I shudder to think what would happen in a second term.” A+!