Huffington Post: “There comes a time for every presidential candidate at which his or her freedom of movement is severely restricted, once what is known as a “protective press pool” becomes part of their campaign. For Mitt Romney, that day came Monday. From now on, through Election Day on Nov. 6, a small group of reporters will travel with Romney wherever he goes. When he is not going anywhere, the reporters will gather in the morning wherever he is, and wait.”

Can you imagine having the job of reporting each detail, 24/7, of Romney’s Awkwardly Beige Life? This is where Mitt’s acting skills (or, if you like, programming) and his campaign’s staging, props, and writing staffs will be put to the test. Can they pull this off — can they make him appear humanoid?

@CharlesDharapak: SUPERMARKET: Mitt Romney pushes shopping cart at Hunter’s Shop and Save in Wolfeboro, NH via @AP t.co/c4Fh6kAC

Cont: Romney left the hardware store — where he bought “hardware stuff” — and went to the grocery store and then a Rite Aid, according to a subsequent report from the Post’s Phil Rucker:

Gov. Romney left Bradley’s Hardware at 8:54 a.m. with a beige bucket of goods. Asked what he bought, Romney told your pooler, “Hardware stuff.” Then, he said, “Going to the grocery store now,” and climbed into his Suburban.

At 8:57 a.m., Romney arrived at Hunters Shop ‘n Save, a nearby grocery store. Before entering the store, he stopped to get two ears of “native sweet corn” from an outside display. They were on sale for two for $1.00.

When your pool asked if he was cooking tonight, Romney said, “Absolutely.” At that, Romney grabbed a shopping cart and went inside the store. Your pool remained outside in the parking lot.

At 9:09 a.m., Romney exited the store with a shopping cart full of groceries. He loaded up the trunk of the Suburban himself, without help of agents. He had 12-packs of Caffeine Free Diet Coke and Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi, as well as a 24-pack of Poland Spring bottled water. He also had two plastic bags of groceries. Your pooler spotted Greek yogurt.

When your pool asked whether he was cooking tonight, Romney said, “I’ll make my own dinner. That’s not exactly cooking.”

Romney said, “I’ve got some folks coming over today.” When one reporter asked if they were Rob Portman or Tim Pawlenty, Romney laughed, “Ha, ha, ha, ha,” but did not answer.

Why, he’s just like us: buyin’ “hardware stuff,” shoppin’ for all of 12 minutes in the grocery store, pushin’ that shopping cart, loadin’ that trunk, havin’ folks over…