Mitt Romney Spotted in North St. Louis County

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney made a stop at Production Products in Hazelwood around lunchtime Thursday, his campaign reported, with fans lined up for hours to see and hear the former Massachusetts governor.

In his speech, Romney said the government has "an absolute moral commitment" to help every American help themselves, according to KMOV. Watch streaming video on the news site.

The north St. Louis County firm is a military contractor that specializes in many areas from chemical and biological protection to armor, according to its website. The company has received numerous awards, including the Department of Defense Minority Contractor of the Year back in 1992 and a couple of honors for producing fiber composite armor.

It also is Hispanic-owned—a group of voters Romney and the Republican Party actively seek support from.

Protesters were also present outside the event, including local labor activists, student and members of Occupy St. Louis in a group called One-Percent. The group handed out pink slips representing workers Romney allegedly laid off in his past business ventures.