After arriving at the parade at the last minute, Mr. Romney thanked his supporters and parade officials, then walked to Mr. Huntsman’s section.

“Welcome to New Hampshire,” Mr. Romney said, and Mr. Huntsman said the same.

Mr. Romney then gave Mr. Huntsman’s wife, Mary Kaye, a hug. He remarked to Mr. Huntsman, who resigned recently as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to China, that New Hampshire is nicer than Beijing, and then bolted back to be with his own supporters…

“Romney and Huntsman both seem like good guys,” said Donni Hodgkins, who led the Amherst Republican Committee float with her husband.