Glitter Bomber: Romney Uses 'Hate' to Gain Support

It was all over in the span of 30 seconds.

Sam Richards, 20, was one of at least two protesters at Republican presidential candidate on Wednesday. He watched as fellow protester Nick Espinosa dumped glitter on Romney at the beginning of the speech and was hauled out by security.

And then it was his turn.

"My nerves went away, I did it, and then I was being dragged out," said Richards, who identified himself as an Occupy Minnesota protester. "It was all said and done in 30 seconds."

Richards was the second of two protesters to hit Romney with a "glitter bomb"—a symbolic gesture employed by LGBT activists, who throw a handful of glitter thrown at a politician or public figure. Similar tactics have been used against other notable conservative politicians including Newt Gingrich.

Romney took the glitter in stride, calling it celebratory confetti after he was hit by the first glitter bomb.

“I’ve got glitter in my hair, but that’s not all that’s in my hair, I glue it on every morning, whether it needs it or not," Romney joked, before continuing with his address.

Richards was escorted out of the building by security, but was not arrested. His actions, he said, were motivated by Romney's lack of regard for gay and minority rights.

"We feel this a fun way to draw attention to an issue that Mitt has been avoiding," Richards said. "They are using hate to gain political support."