'Crate-Gate' puts Mitt Romney in doghouse at Westminster show

In this rollercoaster campaign season, the story also seems to have resonated with those who accuse Mitt Romney of being out of touch.

“He doesn’t really seem to have any empathy, which I think is a crucial characteristic in somebody who is running for president of the United States,” protester – and dog owner – Batya Miller says outside the Westminster dog show. “I think that both the actual act of putting the dog on top of the car and then not understanding what is wrong with that indicates some lack of feeling.”

Shortly after the story ran in the Globe in 2007, Romney addressed the issue at a campaign stop in Pittsburgh.

“You know, PETA has not been my fan over the years,” Romney said at the time, referring to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “PETA has been after me for having a rodeo at the Olympics and were very, very upset about that. PETA was after me when I went quail hunting in Georgia. And PETA is not happy that my dog likes fresh air.”

For the crowd outside the dog show Tuesday, that explanation is evidence of Romney’s weakness as a candidate.

“I think this is an illustration of Mitt Romney’s odd judgment. It fits into the storyline of him being not all there and being not quite in tune with American values,” says Tate Hausman, his pug Sake sticking out of his backpack. Mr. Hausman says he learned about the protest from liberal advocacy group MoveOn.Org.

Although the Facebook group is not endorsing a candidate over Romney, most of the protesters say they support President Obama – some citing the way he treats first dog Bo.

The Obama campaign bought a banner ad that pops up when people Google the phrase Westminster Dog Show. The campaign’s new page on its website, Pet Lovers for Obama, which was created for the dog show, is an apparent allusion to Seamus.

The “Dogs against Romney” press release before the protest Tuesday promised dogs, but only a handful of protesters brought their pets, and members of the media outnumbered both dogs and the protesters.

The Democrats, meanwhile, are not the only ones pushing the issue. On Newt Gingrich’s website, he features a page called “Pets with Newt 2012,” and invites his supporters to send in pictures of their animals.

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