Romney Campaign Asked Wheaton Man to Host Primary Night Reception

So how do you get Mitt Romney to drop by your house on primary election night? In the case of a Wheaton family, it turns out Romney's people asked for the opportunity.

On Tuesday, Patch reported on Romney's .

His host was Wheaton resident Rich Berg, co-founder and CEO of Performance Trust Capital Partners, a securities firm in Chicago providing services to small- to middle-market institutional investors. Berg said he never contributed to a presidential campaign before this one by Romney, the leading contender for the GOP nomination.

When Patch asked how he was selected to host an event for Romney on an election night, Berg said Romney's Illinois strategists contacted him, asking whether he'd like to host an event Tuesday, March 20.

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Berg has frequently appeared as a guest expert or been quoted on CNBC, MSNBC, Bloomberg TV, Reuters, WTTW, WLS and Fox Business News, weighing in on the U.S. economy.

Berg hosted 150 to 225 guests in his home Tuesday, facilitating introductions and intimate conversations between the guests and Romney because Berg thinks this election is important.

The rookie campaign supporter said he feels the country needs less antagonism, and more optimism. He said he thinks Romney can help fill those needs.

Berg supports Romney because of his experience running an organization as a CEO—plus his ability to run the largely Democratic state of Massachusetts and his proven ability to “turn things around,” when he saved the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

“His track record of being able to lead through tough issues is good,” said Berg. “…He’s the right guy at this time.”

“It’s an important election, I believe …I think the rhetoric is adversarial (and it) doesn’t need to be as much,” he said.

Gov. Romney delivered a “really inspiring speech” at his house Tuesday, Berg said.

“There were a number of people (there) I believe are not normal Republicans… who have voted Democratic,” he said. “They really liked his message (and) were surprised by how much they liked it… and how personable he was, versus how he was portrayed in the media—and that’s why you do those things.

“He was very gracious,” he added.

Berg said Romney’s speech was similar to the one he gave in Schaumburg later that night, after he won the Illinois Republican primary.

“These types of things occur all over, for all of the candidates,” Berg said. "The spontaneous group that gathered outside the home before Romney arrived, though, said a lot... That was really touching to me.”