From swanky country clubs in New Castle and Bedford to snowmobile races in a cow pasture in Fremont, Mitt Romney took his message of lower taxes and smaller government across the state yesterday.

It was largely a family crowd at the 2007 New Hampshire Snowmobile Association's annual Grass Drags and Water Crossing, held at Peterson's Brookvale Farm in Fremont.

A blip of a police siren announces the former Massachusetts governor's arrival about 10 minutes before 2 p.m., as the drag racing and water cross events were well under way. There are a few national reporters in his wake, but nothing like the hordes that will be here by the time these snowmobilers are out enjoying the trails for real.

Wearing a crisp-looking navy blue shirt and khakis, Romney at once settles in to greeting the crowd passing through the entry gate. "That's our next President," a father says to his young son.

Gail Hanson, executive director of the NHSA, escorts Romney over to the association's tent, where Romney asks her how the trails here compare with those in other states. "Ours are the best," she says, and Romney doesn't disagree as folks laugh.

Kris Perkins has come all the way from Saxton's River, Vt., to meet the candidate. He's 18, this is his first vote and Romney's his man. "I think he's a strong candidate, and I really hope he has a fighting chance because I really think he's going to do some good for our country," he says.

His girlfriend, Melissa Marcinkewicz, goes to Plymouth State University; she's brought a camera and captures a photo of Perkins as he gets an autograph. They both leave thrilled.

Chris Reynolds, the treasurer of the NHSA, introduces his two boys and Romney makes a point of engaging them in conversation. It's something the candidate will do repeatedly in the hour he'll spend in Fremont, squatting or bending down to talk directly to children. Most have no idea who he is, but their parents eat it up.

"Want to see a man running for President?" one father asks his tow-headed son as Romney and company head to the grass drags. He boosts the boy up on his shoulders, and the little boy solemnly watches Romney as Romney watches the racers.

Scott Arnold of Wilmington, Mass., makes it a point to meet his former governor and introduce his boys, Joseph and Justin. Wearing a Sturgis t-shirt and a Budweiser bandana, Arnold was impressed with his first taste of New Hampshire's famous grassroots politicking.

"It gets them one-on-one," he said. "It was a pleasure just to shake his hand and meet him in person. And to have the boys meet someone of importance."

A youth shakes hands with Romney, then shows him the free advertising poster he's just picked up -- featuring a scantily clad woman. There's a moment when the cameras briefly jostle for what could be an unexpected photo opportunity, but Romney grins and deftly turns the poster around so only its blank back shows as he poses with the lad.

Two small brothers, Damon and Nicholas Lemay of Londonderry, catch Romney's eye and he squats down to talk with them as the photographers snap away. It was 5-year-old Damon who announced, "That's Mitt Romney!" as the governor passed by, according to his grandmother.

In an brief, exclusive interview with the New Hampshire Sunday News, Romney said what he's learned from the primary process here so far is how closely folks pay attention to the issues and candidates. "There are a lot of places in the country where a political race is something you think about in the last week," he said. "In New Hampshire, people focus on politics very early on, and in effect provide a service for the whole country.

"You get to know us, not just by our ads but by our character, our vision and our hearts."

One hour after they arrived in Fremont, the governor's troupe is on the road again, headed to an Oktoberfest-themed reception at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford, put on by the Hillsborough County Republican Committee.

It's a much smaller crowd here, if better dressed, and the governor offers them a 20-minute stump speech without notes. Romney is in his element as he hits such key Republican touchstones as lowering taxes and letting the private sector tackle problems instead of government.

Earlier, Romney told the Sunday News when Republicans had control of Congress, "We let America down."

"We overspent as a party, we over-earmarked, ethical standards in Washington fell and became a punchline for Jay Leno," he said. "When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses."

But he tells the Bedford crowd it's "Republican values" such as those espoused by Ronald Reagan that America needs now: "It needs a strong military, a strong economy and strong families, and I will fight for all of those."

Romney answers a few questions, then stays for a round of handshakes, autographs and photos before heading out on the trail once again.

There was one more "Ask Mitt Anything" event scheduled in Milford before Romney could escape for the night to his lakeside refuge in Wolfeboro -- which, incidentally, will remain the family's summer home in the event that he becomes President, "unless security or congestion problems prevent it," according to a campaign spokesman.