Romney Plane Breaks Down, Restless Press Turns To Twitter

“I’m running out of nicorette gum.”

RICHMOND, Va. — The Romney campaign plane broke down here Saturday night, stranding the candidate, his staff, and the restless press corps for several hours on a tarmac as aides tried to figure out another way back to Boston.

To cope with their indefinitely late night, reporters drank beer, played an increasingly ironic playlist on someone’s iPad (feat. “Leaving on a Jet Plane”) — and, of course, got on Twitter.

Bonney Kapp @bkappCBS Follow

Romney charter turned power off+on twice now. reax in press section: that's what I do with my computer when it isn't working

12:22 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Bonney Kapp @bkappCBS Follow

Romney charter shuts down power for 3rd time bf takeoff. "Control Alt Delete," someone in press cabin says. #stillinRichmond

12:52 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Sam Youngman @samyoungman Follow

Defense attorneys, doctors and chartered planes -- three things you don't wanna cheap out on

2:49 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Ginger Gibson @GingerGibson

Overheard on the broken Romney plane, "I'm running out of nicorette gum."

1:41 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Garrett Haake @GarrettNBCNews Follow

Romney plane still grounded in VA. If there were swing states between here in Boston I'd be afraid we could have a bus tour by morning.

3:10 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

McKay Coppins @mckaycoppins

I wonder if—at moments like this, when Romney's stranded on a tarmac & press is blasting Kanye on the plane—he questions his life choices.

3:14 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Andrew Kaczynski @BuzzFeedAndrew

@mckaycoppins Stay strong. Here's a GIF of cat giving a high five to cheer you up. twitpic.com/asmf87

3:12 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Sam Youngman @samyoungman

I don't wanna wade into the debate here, but when it comes to this plane, I wanna know: who built this?

3:08 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Ashley Parker @AshleyRParker

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" now playing -- tauntingly, mockingly, ironically -- in the press cabin of the (still grounded) Romney charter.

3:32 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Emily Friedman @EmilyABC

Good news: new plane expected in an hour and a half. Bad news: new plane expected in an hour and a half.

2:34 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Garrett Quinn @GarrettQuinn

To the emergency exit! Save yourself! RT @mckaycoppins Things quickly unraveling on the broken down Romney plane. Papa Roach #nowplaying. :(

3:10 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Trenton Sperry @trentonsperry Follow

I present to you the universe’s love of metaphor. MT @GingerGibson: And the Romney plane is having technical problems.

1:29 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Ben White @morningmoneyben

What's all this whining about some stuck plane? No one cares.

3:28 AM - 9 Sep 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

By midnight the campaign had secured a replacement plane, and all landed safely in Bedford, MA at around 2:00 a.m., at which point everyone began Tweeting at each other again.