On the campaign trail with Romney

The U.S. election is almost upon us and the pressure to win over the last undecided voters could not be higher, with the two presidential candidates virtually neck and neck in the polls.

During this final phase of campaigning, Reuters photographer Brian Snyder documented life behind the scenes with Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Romney arrives at the airport in North Canton, a city in the closely contested state of Ohio. — 27 Oct 2012. NORTH CANTON, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

He talks to a supporter on the tarmac of the airport in Des Moines, Iowa, another state that could still swing towards either candidate. — 26 Oct 2012. DES MOINES, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Aboard his plane, Romney chats with aide Garrett Jackson on the way to Des Moines, Iowa, for his first public campaign event of the day. — 26 Oct 2012. DES MOINES, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

The Republican nominee walks out of his hold room to speak at Kinzler Construction Services in Ames, Iowa. — 26 Oct 2012. AMES, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Romney takes a last-minute look over his speech before his address at Kinzler Construction Services. — 26 Oct 2012. AMES, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Romney prepares to throw a football as he is greeted by Republican vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan along with his family at the airport in Green, Ohio. — 26 Oct 2012. GREEN, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Romney offers Halloween candy to little Stella Kinzler during his campaign stop at Kinzler Construction Services. — 26 Oct 2012. AMES, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

As Romney talks to U.S. Senator Rob Portman, aide Garrett Jackson works in an adjacent room at the airport before a campaign rally in North Canton, Ohio. — 26 Oct 2012. NORTH CANTON, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Staff members are reflected in the window of a room where Romney sits before the rally in North Canton. — 26 Oct 2012. NORTH CANTON, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Back in his hold room after the North Canton rally, Romney plays with a souvenir golf putter. — 26 Oct 2012. NORTH CANTON, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Romney and Ryan listen to aide Garrett Jackson while on the campaign bus to North Canton. — 26 Oct 2012. NORTH CANTON, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Romney sings part of the song "Cool Clear Waters" with members of the Oak Ridge Boys before the rally in North Canton. — 26 Oct 2012. NORTH CANTON, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

A supporter wears a Romney badge as the Republican nominee delivers a speech about the U.S. economy while campaigning in Ames, Iowa. — 26 Oct 2012. AMES, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Romney and Ryan wave to the crowd at the end of the campaign rally in North Canton. — 26 Oct 2012. NORTH CANTON, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Romney arrives at his hotel after the North Canton event. — 26 Oct 2012. NORTH CANTON, United States. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

"Within his protective bubble of calm, Governor Romney neither hurries from place to place, nor has to wait impatiently for the next event to begin."
Brian Snyder, Reuters Photographer

Photographing Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney as he campaigns across the United States is often a question of trying to find him amidst the entourage and supporters that surround him.

We see him at rallies encircled by hundreds or thousands of enthusiastic fans, at off-the-record stops, dotting around a restaurant among unsuspecting diners, in a motorcade of a dozen vehicles, and on airport tarmacs while a parade of staff, security, and press load themselves onto the campaign plane.

We are always in a crowd, with more photographers, U.S. Secret Service agents, and campaign staff all working without much room.

But stepping one layer inside that to document a day in the life of the candidate and the campaign, revealed an unexpected calm. The day started with Governor Romney carrying his garment bag out of his hotel room in Toledo, Ohio and ended with him carrying the same bag into a different hotel in North Canton, Ohio.

Through the day and between campaign events in two states, Romney spent time planning strategy with advisors on his plane, joking in a room alone with his closest aide, and watched a video feed intently as he was introduced to take the stage at a rally. There was always space around him.

Ordinarily, the photographers travelling with the campaign hustle to keep up, run to get into position, hurry to the motorcade so as not to be left behind. As we photograph the events, we try to wring as much variety out of them as possible. Then we rush to edit, tone, caption and transmit the images while the motorcade is rolling and the plane is taking off – only to land in a new state and get in the motorcade to do it all over again.

But within his protective bubble of calm, Governor Romney neither hurries from place to place, nor has to wait impatiently for the next event to begin. The pace is measured, leaving him time to consider new lines for his speech, talk strategy with running mate Paul Ryan and U.S. Senator Rob Portman, offer candy from a Halloween pumpkin to a young girl backstage (after taking a chocolate bar for himself), or sing the refrain from the song “Cool Clear Waters” with the Oak Ridge Boys in a hold room.

Before a chilly, windy rally, Governor Romney worried about the audience members who had waited outside for hours. Later he and his running mate autographed souvenir footballs from the National Football Hall of Fame, including one with a Green Bay Packers logo (for Ryan who is from Wisconsin) and another with a New England Patriots logo (for Romney who was Governor of Massachusetts).

All in all, running for President shouldn’t be confused with Zen living, but it’s not as frenetic as it is appears to be from the point of view of photographers covering the campaign.