ROMNEY HOUNDED BY MARIJUANA ADVOCATE

EXETER - Clayton Holdon said Mitt Romney's stance on medicinal
marijuana is unclear, and the wheelchair-bound Dover resident said he
will continue to bird dog the candidate across the state until he
receives a sufficient answer.

Holdon, 22, said he suffers from a rare form of muscular dystrophy
and has smoked marijuana since being hit by a car while crossing the
street in his wheelchair at the age of 16. Holdon said he has asked
John Edwards and Fred Thompson whether he should be arrested for
smoking marijuana and has found only Romney to be difficult.

On Oct. 6 at a campaign stop at Dover, CNN filmed Holdon as he asked
the question of the presidential candidate during a meet and greet,
only to have Romney say he doesn't support legalizing marijuana.
Romney then turned his back on Holdon, who was pleading with Romney
to answer the question. The clip, which has received over 100,000
views on YouTube, has turned Holdon into a small celebrity.

Yesterday, at Romney's campaign stop at Phillips Exeter Academy,
Holdon tried again.

Holding a "Governor, you haven't answered my question" homemade sign,
he told the crowd of the clip and the response from Romney.

"I don't do any arresting," said Romney, who appeared uncomfortable,
but reiterated his stance against legalizing marijuana.

"It's the opening gateway for drug use for many people in our
country," he said.

Holdon said the answer was not clear.

"In so many ways, he'd say yes, he'd have me arrested," he said. "He
has some very warped logic."

The clip made available on CNN.com was uploaded to YouTube by a
pro-marijuana group called The Granitestaters. According to its
website, the group is staffed and funded by the Marijuana Policy
Project. It raises awareness for marijuana legalization and
coordinates volunteers to push the issue at various campaign stops.