Minneapolis, MN—

It isn’t often that Mitt Romney comes to the back of the plane to hang out with reporters. It hasn’t happened since campaigning in Michigan. So what happens when the governor wants to have a relaxed chat? He gets swarmed.

He began by telling us about a pretty bad blister on his finger from his son Matt’s toaster. Matt told me he inherited his frugality from his father and that the toaster oven was pretty old, but that in his defense it was his dad’s fourth piece of toast.

It quickly moved from casual banter to talk about Super Tuesday. Romney was clear that he doesn’t believe the GOP nominee will be chosen on February 5th:

“Looking at the numbers of delegates and the numbers of states, I don’t think somebody’s gonna walk away with the, the needed numbers,” Romney told reporters. “So I think this thing goes on well beyond Tuesday.  And I don’t, I haven’t looked thoroughly at the calendar beyond Tuesday but I know there is one. And I intend to keep on battling. “

A reporter shouted out, “Regardless of what happens Tuesday?” and Romney replied, “That’s my plan.”

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The presidential hopeful said he’s not running, “because I need it or I want it desperately for myself,” but did note that there are people who think otherwise:

“Sometimes I read articles that say, ‘Oh, he’d do anything to be president.’ That’s the furthest thing from the truth. I believe the country can benefit form the experience I’ve had but that is not what motivates me.”

Matt Romney leaned over to me after his father said this and pressed that his dad was telling the truth. I asked Matt about it later and he said what people say about his father usually doesn’t bother his dad because he has developed some thick skin in this primary process.

The presidential hopeful noted that if Tuesday doesn’t work out for him he will decide to make his next life move only at that point and not before:

“In the miniscule chance I might not win, where I’d go and where we’d settle and what I’d do. I just haven’t given that a lot of thought,” Romney said. “There’ll be plenty of time for thinking. If I don’t win, I’ll have plenty of time that I can think.”

Salt Lake City, UT—

Mitt Romney stepped off the campaign trail this morning to attend the funeral of the president of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley. Sat next to his wife, Ann in the 2nd row of the VIP section he was right behind U.S. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid,–also a member of the LDS church.

Romney sons Matt and Josh also attended the funeral. Josh took a redeye flight to Salt Lake City from Alaska where he was campaigning for his father.

Thousands of mourners joined the Romney family at the Latter Day Saints Conference Center to mark the passing of the spiritual leader. The service began with the next presumptive head of the church, Thomas S. Monson. Various family members and church leaders read from Mormon scripture, secular poetry like Longfellow, and even a message of condolence from President Bush and the First Lady. They praised Hinckley known as the “great communicator” for explaining and publicizing the religion to the American people. Most notably, in a 1996 interview telling Mike Wallace, “We are not a weird people.” Almost all of the speakers also spoke of the leader’s great humor.

Yesterday while campaigning in Denver Romney reflected on his relationship with Hinckley:

“During the Olympics I had the chance to meet with him two or three times, and to discuss matters about the Olympics and he was gracious and generous in his support.  And prior to running for office I got the privilege of meeting with him one more time and with a twinkle in his eye, he made the comment,” Romney told reporters, ‘“if you decide to run and you win it will be a great experience, if you run and lose it’ll also be a great experience.’ And he’s a man I respect a great deal and I want to pay my respects to his family and acknowledge the importance of his life in my own life.”

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There was no mention of Romney during the ninety-minute service. But, when he entered the conference center mourners surrounded him and shook his hand.

With Super Tuesday just three days away, Romney did eight local satellite interviews this morning and gets back on the trail right after the funeral, traveling to Minnesota before heading to Chicago and St. Louis tomorrow.

Miami, FL–

After getting sent this for the millionth time this morning, I realized I probably should share it with everyone. Check out this very funny prank by Matt Romney on his father, Mitt: