Community Corner

Sarah Palin Has Breakfast at The Golden Egg

Palin, members of her family, and U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte came to Portsmouth restaurant early Friday morning before former Alaska governor headed home.

Sarah Palin made one more stop in Portsmouth before she left New Hampshire Friday at the The Golden Egg restaurant on Sagamore Avenue, which was a pleasant surprise for the waitstaff and the few customers.

At about 6:45 a.m., server June Ferland saw someone who she thought looked like Palin get out of a silver SUV and told her co-workers that woman looked just like the former Alaska governor, who had spent the night at the Residence Inn Marriott hotel downtown after attending a clambake in Seabrook Thursday evening.

Then Ferland realized the woman wearing a dungaree jacket and sporting those familiar spectacles really was Palin.

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"They just showed up," said Ferland, who has met and waited on presidential candidates during every New Hampshire Primary over the last 24 years, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who announced his candidacy for president in Stratham on Thursday, former President George W. Bush and former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani.

"It just happens a lot here," Ferland said.

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Ferland said Palin had her daughter, Piper, and her parents with her. U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, also accompanied the Palin family.

"I was very surprised," Ferland said. "She was very pleasant."

Just as she did yesterday afternoon, Palin managed to elude the press and  visit The Golden Egg without a huge group of media trailing her.

Golden Egg owner Tom Gosselin said he was also surprised when he saw Palin enter the front door and immediately greet waitstaff and customers. He said the former Republican vice presidential candidate's presence seemed to electrify the whole dining area and his customers, who are often quiet and reserved when presidential candidates show up. But Friday morning, he said they were all smiles and wanted to meet Palin.

Gosselin said he was impressed by Palin's down-to-earth demeanor and her ability to connect with real people.

"She's just a regular customer in for breakfast," Gosselin said. "She seemed to be very genuine and a real person."

Ferland said Palin just had some coffee as she and Ayotte chatted. Piper ordered a cinnamon bun and some orange juice.

In a brief statement issued Friday morning, Ayotte said only that she and Palin "talked about our families, our children and our respective states."


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