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Business Prepares for Romney

BETTENDORF – LeClaire Manufacturing is preparing for presidential candidate Mitt Romney Wednesday. Romney is scheduled to come to LeClaire Manufacturing a...

BETTENDORF - LeClaire Manufacturing is preparing for presidential candidate Mitt Romney Wednesday.

Romney is scheduled to come to LeClaire Manufacturing around noon Wednesday. The company's co-presidents Ralph and Rob Zimmerman didn't find out that Romney would be coming until Sunday.

"When I first got the call, I go, 'yeah right,'" Rob Zimmerman said. "I got this call from Boston saying, 'how would you like to hold an event for Mitt Romney? And I say, 'is this legitimate or not?'"

Rob called his brother Ralph as soon as the visit was confirmed. Tuesday, Ralph reflected on that call that he got from his brother.

"Sunday, I got a call again from Rob around 3:30 or 4:00 in the afternoon," Ralph said. "He said it was on."

LeClaire Manufacturing has two separate buildings in Bettendorf. Mitt Romney is coming to the site at 2727 62nd Street Court. The opportunity to host a presidential candidate is something both boys are excited about. However, they're also a bit nervous.

"We've got who knows how many people coming tomorrow," Rob said.

Numbers from earlier in the week estimate about 500 people will come to LeClaire's site Wednesday. The two brothers accepted the invitation from Romney because they like his stance on smaller government.

"We'll make this business happen with or without the government," Ralph said. "The key for government is to just stay out of our business."

LeClaire Manufacturing has about 160 employees. The Romney campaign said Tuesday night tickets are still available for Wednesday. The gates open to the public around 10 a.m. Wednesday. For more information on tickets, click here.

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