A Mitt Romney supporter literally silenced a chanting protester during a rally in Ohio today for the Republican presidential candidate by shoving a handkerchief into the heckler’s mouth. 

Romney was at a strip mall in Parma, Ohio with Louisianna Governor Bobby Jindal (R) and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty for a normal stump event in the crucial swing state.  Yet the routine event was overshadowed when a small scuffle erupted as Pawlenty—who is often mentioned as a possible Romney running mate—took the stage to deliver his remarks.  A group of people drowned out the former governor with chants of, “Pawlenty go home,” prompting retaliatory shouting and shoving from the Romney supporters in attendance. 

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At one point, Romney supporter Richard Brysac tried to quiet protester Al Neal by pouring a bottle of water in his mouth.  When that didn’t work, he instead balled up a handkerchief and stuffed it in Neal’s mouth, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. 

From the paper:

“He seemed thirsty, so I tried to shove the bottle in his mouth,” Brysac said. “ I thought it was wrong to interfere with [Pawlenty’s] freedom of speech. 

“I acted out of character and I apologize if I offended anyone.” 

Watch footage of the altercation below: