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Romney's staff plays April Fool's prank on the boss

AP Photo/Steven Senne

(CBS News) MILWAUKEE - Mitt Romney, who's known for his fondness for playing practical jokes, on Sunday found himself the victim of an April Fools' Day prank orchestrated by his staff - with help from Wisconsin lawmakers Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Paul Ryan.

Romney, who was scheduled to address a pancake brunch in Milwaukee, was warned by some of his advance staff that there had been a light turnout. The former Massachusetts governor waited behind a curtain - as he usually does - while Ryan began introducing him to a smattering of applause.

But when Ryan finally called out his name, Romney entered with Johnson to find the room completely vacant, save for a few staffers.

"There's nobody there!" Romney later recounted at the real pancake breakfast, where a crowd of several hundred gathered to hear him speak. He then quipped, "It's like, oh boy, this is going to look really bad on the evening news, let me tell you."

The staff said it would post the video online later Sunday.

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