Charles Dharapak/AP Photo

WOLFEBORO, N.H. - Mitt Romney: He's just like us.

Shopping list in hand, the presumptive GOP candidate spent the morning - heading out just after 8:30 a.m. - running errands, stopping by a hardware store for insect repellent and popping into a grocery store to restock on soda and yogurt.

After spending about 10 minutes inside the local Bradley's Hardware Store, Romney emerged, bucket in hand, where reporters peppered him with questions about what he had purchased inside.

"Hardware stuff," Romney responded, laughing, before climbing into his SUV. A closer look at the bucket revealed that it was some sort of insect deterrent.

The next stop was the local grocery store, where Romney sifted through a large container of corn before choosing two (the deal, after all, was two for a dollar) and heading inside.

Directing a shopping cart to the back of his waiting SUV, Romney unloaded cases of Diet Coke and Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi, Poland Spring water bottles and two plastic bags filled with groceries.

Asked what he bought, Romney responded, "Groceries," and laughed.

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Romney said he planned to make his own dinner tonight, and said that he had some "folks coming over today." An aide later said that some of Romney's senior advisers would be meeting with the candidate at his home.

When asked if any of his house guests were Tim Pawlenty or Rob Portman - both rumored to be vice presidential short-listers - Romney demurred, chuckling.

Romney then took off on foot across the parking lot, darting into Rite Aid Pharmacy before re-emerging to apologize to a woman who had been blocked in by his motorcade.

"I'm sorry for blocking you in there," said Romney, who was balancing his iPhone to his ear and clutching a plastic bag in his other hand. "I don't know about these guys," he added, motioning to the Secret Service agents.

"It's because you're a very special person," the woman told Romney, giving him a thumbs up.