In New Jersey, Romney Is an Unexpected Guest at an Orthodox Wedding

By SARAH WHEATON

Mitt Romney's arrival at a New Jersey fund-raiser capped a breakneck drive along New Jersey's highways followed by a surreal pursuit by an Orthodox wedding party, according to a reporter on the trip.

After a campaign appearance in Des Moines and a flight to Newark Airport, Mr. Romney was whisked by motorcade along the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

“Hitting speeds of up to 90 miles per hour,” and escorted by unmarked police cards, the motorcade arrived in Lakewood, a city about 60 miles south of the airport, at 3:35 p.m., five minutes ahead of schedule and more than 80 minutes before the event was set to begin, according to a pool report distributed to other news organizations.

The pool reporter, Holly Bailey of Yahoo News, noted that a trip that was meant to take over an hour was completed in 45 minutes.

The campaign contended that while the press van might have hit 90 m.p.h. to catch up with Mr. Romney's car, the candidate was not traveling that fast, noting that speeds are dictated by the Secret Service and the local police. In 2007, Gov. Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey suffered multiple injuries in a crash on the Garden State Parkway. The sport utility vehicle carrying him was traveling 91 m.p.h., 26 miles an hour above the speed limit.

Members of Mr. Romney's party arrived safely at Lake Terrace, a hall that serves the area's large Jewish community, boasting “grand opulence” and the “renowned” Greenwald Caterers' kosher menus.

According to the pool report, the motorcade was greeted by a variety of festive figures, including a man wearing American flag shorts who ran toward the hall yelling “Whooooo!”

Mr. Romney then seemed to briefly commit the worst type of social sin: upstaging a bride at her wedding. An Orthodox wedding party was taking pictures outside Lake Terrace, according to the pool repor t, but as the candidate's car drove up, “the family abandoned the bride and groom and began chasing Romney's car in the parking lot, waving cameras.”

About 10 wedding guests followed Mr. Romney's car to a back entrance, but they were ultimately stopped by the Secret Service. “We just want to see Romney,” one woman protested, according to the report.

Mr. Romney ultimately fulfilled that wish. A campaign spokesman said the candidate posed with the bride and groom, who told him they were supporters.