Supporters of President Barack Obama reach to shake his hand after he spoke at a rally at Fifth Third Arena on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Photo by Enquirer Sunday Nov. 4, 2012.
Associated Press:
Update: The Associated Press has called the presidential election for Presidenti Barack Obama.
Story: President Barack Obama stepped to the brink of re-election Tuesday night, capturing battleground Ohio from Mitt Romney and edging ahead in other pivotal states despite a weak economy and high unemployment that crimped the middle class dreams of millions.
At home in Chicago, the president all but claimed victory. “This happened because of you. Thank you” he tweeted to supporters.
Romney was in Massachusetts after a long and grueling bid for the presidency. He led in the national popular vote with 41 million votes, or 50 percent. Obama had 40 million, or 49 percent, with 59 percent of the precincts tallied.
But Obama led in the competition for electoral votes, where it mattered most.
His triumph in Ohio as well as in Iowa and New Hampshire, two other battlegrounds, gave him 265 electoral votes of the 270 needed for victory, Romney had 200.
The election emerged as a choice between two very different visions of government — whether it occupies a major, front-row place in American lives or is in the background as a less-obtrusive facilitator for private enterprise and entrepreneurship.
The economy was rated the top issue by about 60 percent of voters surveyed as they left their polling places. But more said former President George W. Bush bore responsibility for current circumstances than Obama did after nearly four years in office.
About 4 in 10 said the economy is on the mend, but more than that said it was stagnant or getting worse more than four years after the near-collapse of 2008. The survey was conducted for The Associated Press and a group of television networks.
Democrats got off to a quick start in their bid to renew their Senate majority, capturing seats in Indiana and Massachusetts now in Republican hands.
In Maine, independent former Gov. Angus King was elected to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe. He has not yet said which party he will side with, but Republicans attacked him in television advertising during the race, and Democrats rushed to his cause. (more…)
8:04 a.m. - If you were still wondering, 9526 of 9550 precincts reporting (99 percent) in Ohio, Obama has 2,672,302 votes and Romney has 2,571,539 votes.
12:25 a.m. - 8405 of 9550 precincts reporting (88 percent) in Ohio, Obama has 2,389,891 votes and Romney has 2,377,364 votes.
11:59 p.m. - Despite it being called by many, 7854 of 9550 Precincts reporting in Ohio, President Barack Obama is behind with 2,275,618 (49 percent) to Republican candidate Mitt Romney 2,295,003 (49 percent).
11:35 p.m. - In Ohio, President Barack Obama (49 percent – 2,151,158 votes) is leading Republican candidate Mitt Romney (49 percent – 2,122,402) with 76 percent of the state’s precincts reporting.
FOX News just interviewed its staff, who makes the election calls, and they stand by their decision to call Ohio in favor of Obama.
In Butler County, 69 percent of the vote is in. 20 percent of that vote is from early voters. In this county, Romney (62 percent) leads Obama (36 percent). Mandel (59 percent) has the advantage over Brown (37 percent), Margaret Conditt (66 percent) leads Brenden Rudie (27 percent) and Robert Coogan (7 percent) for the State House Rep 52nd District, T.C. Rogers (61 percent) leads Jodi Billerman (32 percent) and Daryl Olthaus (7 percent) in the race for Butler County Commissioner.
In Hamilton County, just less than 59 percent of the vote is in, 19 percent of which are early voters. Obama maintains (50 percent) his lead against Romney (49 percent), Brown (51 percent) ahead of Mandel (45 percent).
11:19 p.m. - CBS News and NBC (according to Enquirer) just called the Election President Barack Obama will have four more years.
11:17 p.m. - Fox News just called the Election President Barack Obama will have four more years.
11:14 p.m. - Fox News just called Ohio with President Barack Obama taking Ohio against Republican candidate Mitt Romney. The results right now have Obama with 50 percent of the vote and Romney with 48 percent with 70 percent of the state’s precincts reporting.
10:53 p.m. - In Ohio, President Barack Obama (50 percent) is leading Republican candidate Mitt Romney (48 percent) with 65 percent of the state’s precincts reporting.
10:30 p.m. - In Ohio, President Barack Obama (51 percent) is leading Republican candidate Mitt Romney (48 percent) with 50 percent of the state’s precincts reporting.
In Butler County, 49 percent of the vote is in. 20 percent of that vote is from early voters. In this county, Romney (61 percent) leads Obama (37 percent). Mandel (58 percent) has the advantage over Brown (38 percent), Margaret Conditt (65 percent) leads Brenden Rudie (29 percent) and Robert Coogan (6 percent) for the State House Rep 52nd District, T.C. Rogers (60 percent) leads Jodi Billerman (33 percent) and Daryl Olthaus (7 percent) in the race for Butler County Commissioner.
In Hamilton County, almost 31 percent of the vote is in, 19 percent of which are early voters. Obama maintains (55 percent) his lead against Romney (44 percent), Brown (56 percent) ahead of Mandel (41 percent).
In Butler County, 35 percent of the vote is in. 20 percent of that vote is from early voters. In this county, Romney (60 percent) leads Obama (39 percent). Mandel (57 percent) has the advantage over Brown (39 percent), Margaret Conditt (64 percent) leads Brenden Rudie (30 percent) and Robert Coogan (6 percent) for the State House Rep 52nd District, T.C. Rogers (59 percent) leads Jodi Billerman (35 percent) and Daryl Olthaus (6 percent) in the race for Butler County Commissioner.
In Hamilton County, almost 29 percent of the vote is in, 19 percent of which are early voters. Obama maintains (56 percent) his lead against Romney (43 percent), Brown (56 percent) ahead of Mandel (40 percent).
8 p.m. - Results from Butler County’s absentee and early voters are in. That is almost 20 percent of the vote, which were cast by county residents before Election Day.
Of that vote, 47,585 of 239,993 registered voters, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (58 percent) is leading President Barack Obama (41 percent).
Furthermore, Josh Mandel (55 percent) leads Sherrod Brown (41 percent) for U.S. Senator, Margaret Conditt (62 percent) leads Benden Rudie (33 percent) and Robert Coogan (5 percent) for the State House Rep 52nd District, T.C. Rogers (57 percent) leads Jodi Billerman (38 percent) and Daryl Olthaus (5 percent) in the race for Butler County Commissioner.
In Ohio, so far, with 91 of 9,550 precincts reporting (1 percent) Obama has 59 percent of the vote and Romney has 40 percent, while Brown has 60 percent of the vote and Mandel has 36 percent.
With 19 percent of votes reported in Hamilton County – all early votes – Obama is up nearly 57 percent compared to Gov. Mitt Romney’s 42 percent. Third party candidates make up the remaining roughly 1 percent. That’s 60,774 votes for Obama and 45,327 for Romney.
EARLIER ON ELECTION DAY
Voter turnout has been strong in West Chester, according to Butler County Commission candidate T.C. Rogers and polling manager at Endeavor Elementary School Bob Tanis.
Despite the polls not opening for an hour, voters actually lined up at 5:30 a.m. at Endeavor Elementary in West Chester. Later that morning, the line grew and voters waited up to an hour to vote, according to Tanis. One voter said the wait was more than two hours, so she left and came back at 1 p.m. She then waited 30 minutes to cast her ballot.
West Chester resident Rick Human, who has lived in the same precinct for 20 years, said that this is the first time that he has ever had to wait in line to vote. Once he realized there was a line, Human exited the polling place to talk with Rogers, who has been visiting polling places throughout the county. Human did say that there is no line that would keep him from voting.
After turning in their ballots many West Chester residents were sensitive to participate in an exit poll. Of the 88 voters who voted at Endeavor and agreed to participate in the poll, 55 said they voted for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (63.2 percent), 32 voted for President Barack Obama (36.3 percent) and one voted for Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson.
West Chester resident John Gorman votes at Endeavor Elementary School in West Chester, Ohio. Photo taken Nov. 6, 2012 by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com. Lines at the school were up to an hour or two hours, depending on who you ask. In the afternoon, the wait was around 15-to-40 minutes.
One local resident, John Gorman, said he was voting for Obama despite calling himself a Republican. Gorman believes the Obama administration deserves a chance to finish what it has started.
In 2008, Gorman said he switched from voting for Republican candidate John McCain to Obama at the last minute. He admitted, at the time, he was “hoping” that it was going to be the right choice. This time, he said he is more certain then hopeful that he is voting for the right guy.
Mike Johnson of West Chester disagrees. He voted for Romney because he feels that there needs to be a change in leadership. He is concerned about the economy and thinks Obama is headed down the wrong path.
Johnson also said that Obamacare impacts what he does professionally, working in the medical device industry. He said Obama’s healthcare plan makes it more difficult to manufacture the medical devices due to high taxes and more regulations. Johnson refused to identify where he worked.
Johnson, although serious about voting for Romney, is not as passionate as some of the candidates’ (both Obama and Romney) supporters.
“I know if my candidate losses our country will survive,” Johnson said. “We are too strong to fail.”
Nearby in line, Joyce Koenig was passionately supporting Obama. She believes “Bush screwed it up” before Obama took office and that the current President deserves “a chance.”
Then there is West Chester’s Srinivas Rao, who went into vote today despite not knowing which presidential candidate to select. After leaving the polls, Rao said that he decided to vote for Romney because he thought it was time for a change. Like Gorman in 2008, Rao is hoping he made the right choice.
In all, a total of 4,208 voters share Endeavor Elementary has their polling location for the 2012 Election, making it the third most active polling place in Butler County.
Meanwhile, Garfield Middle School in Hamilton, potentially the second most active polling location in Butler County with six precincts and a total 4,723 registered voters, didn’t experience any lines in the morning or afternoon.
Garfield’s polling manager Wes Thirkield said voter turnout had been steady, but not one of the 937 voters who passed through by 3 p.m. had to wait more than a couple of minutes. Thirkield, who is an experienced Election Day volunteer in Hamilton, said he was worried about the crowd that may turn up after work.
Back in West Chester, House Speaker John Boehner told select media members after he voted that he was confident that voter turnout would propel Romney to victory in Ohio.
“I’ve never seen our team more energized from one end of the state to the other, and I’m feeling good about it,” said Boehner, who lives in the Wetherington Country Club community in West Chester. “I think Mitt Romney is going to win Ohio. Especially if all our team gets out and votes.”
The Cincinnati Enquirer has spread out its staff throughout Southwest Ohio to cover the 2012 Election. WestChesterBuzz.com will be sharing opinions of the voters and photos from West Chester and Liberty Township polls this afternoon. Then when the polls close at 7:30 p.m., the Buzz will post live election results from Butler County.
What we know right now, is that the Butler County Board of Elections had a little under 20 percent of its ballots returned before Election Day started. As of last evening, a total of 46,986 ballots had been returned via absentee or early voters. That is out of 239,878 registered voters in the county.
Obviously, this presidential election is much bigger than Butler County. To follow the extensive coverage of this Election Day by The Enquirer, visit Cincinnati.com and follow #ohel on Twitter.
Supporters of President Barack Obama reach to shake his hand after he spoke at a rally at Fifth Third Arena on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Photo by Enquirer Sunday Nov. 4, 2012.
For those who didn’t send in their absentee ballots or can’t vote by Monday’s 2 p.m. early voting deadline in Butler County (available only at the county board of elections office), below are some helpful online tools to find out what exactly is on your ballot when you go to vote on Election Day.
In West Chester and Liberty Township, some of the more significant races that will be on your ballot include the Presidential, U.S. Senate, Butler County Commission, 52nd House District and Ohio Supreme Court races.
On Election Day, polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Results from absentee and early voters is expected to be released by the Butler County Board of Elections shortly after 7:30 p.m.
Ohio poll: Tight race now even tighter - Jane Prendergast reports for The Cincinnati Enquirer that the race for the White House continues to be too close to call in Ohio, according to a new Enquirer/Ohio News Organization Poll that shows President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney each with 49 percent support from likely voters.
Mitt Romney talks at rally in West Chester in front of 30,000 supporters on Nov. 2, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com.
Enquirer presidential endorsement: Mitt Romney –The Cincinnati Enquirer recently endorsed Mitt Romney for president, calling President Barack Obama’s four years of recovery too slow and too weak. To read more, visit the Enquirer’s Election page.
Is that true? Get your fact-checks here – Gannett’s Jeffrey Bruner takes a closer look at what Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama are saying on the campaign trail – then explaining if what they are saying is fact or fiction.
Obama, Romney make last push in tight race - President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney attacked one another Sunday in frenzied campaigning two days before the presidential election, closing out what has been one of the most negative races for the White House in recent memory, Steven R. Hurst reported for the Associated Press. Polling showed the candidates in a virtual tie for the popular vote nationwide, with Obama holding a slight lead in the all-important battleground states that will decide the outcome.
Obama at UC: ‘Our fight goes on’ – Enquirer staff: With the finish line in sight, President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney raced back to Ohio on Sunday, delivering a combination of red-meat rhetoric and impassioned get-out-the-vote pleas as part of a final campaign blitz before Election Day.
30,000 jam West Chester to hear Romney – Enquirer staff: The presidential race returned to Ohio for the final push Friday as GOP challenger Mitt Romney held a massive rally in the Republican heartland north of Cincinnati and President Barack Obama cut a swath through central Ohio. Romney spoke to a crowd of 30,000, according to West Chester Fire chief Tony Goller – making it the largest rally of the campaign, said Romney spokesman Chris Maloney.
Senate numbers creep closer - Deirdre Shesgreen reports: Ohio’s hotly contested U.S. Senate race has tightened in recent weeks, with Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown snagging the support of 51 percent versus 47 percent for Republican state Treasurer Josh Mandel, according to a new Cincinnati Enquirer/Ohio News Organization poll.
Butler County race features fresh faces, strong ideas – Sheila McLaughlin of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last week on the Butler County commissioners race: Three political newbies are vying for a seat on the board of commissioners in Butler County, where spending is the resounding theme in a community that is steeped in debt and faces $900,000 in cuts to get through the end of the year.
PRIMER: 52nd House District - Patrick Wolande writes about the 52nd District State Representative candidates Branden Rudie (Democrat), Bob Coogan (Libertarian) and Margaret Conditt (Republican).
PRIMER: Ohio Supreme Court - Dan Horn of The Cincinnati Enquirer writes about the Ohio Supreme Court races between Mike Skindell (Democrat) and Terrence O’Donnell (Republican); Bill O’Neill (Democrat) and Robert Cupp (Republican); and Yvette McGree Brown (Democrat) and Sharon Kennedy (Republican).
The Butler County Board of Elections office is located at 1802 Princeton Road in Hamilton.
To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.
30,000 jam West Chester for Mitt Romney rally – Cindi Andrews and Paul Kostyu reported on last Friday’s Mitt Romney rally: The presidential race returned to Ohio for the final push Friday as GOP challenger Mitt Romney held a massive rally in the Republican heartland north of Cincinnati and President Barack Obama cut a swath through central Ohio. Romney spoke to a crowd of 30,000, according to West Chester Fire chief Tony Goller – making it the largest rally of the campaign, said Romney spokesman Chris Maloney.
Senior Chamada Palmore races 80 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter in a 45-38 win at Springboro. It was the first postseason game in Lakota East history. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com. For more photos from this game, visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/110312east_spring
Lakota East wins OT thriller 45-38 against Springboro -It took 16 years for Lakota East to earn its first trip to the postseason in school history, but it only took one try to win its first playoff game as the Thunderhawks defeated Springboro 45-38 in overtime at CareFlight Field in front of more than 5,000 cold fans on the campus of Springboro High School last Saturday. Lakota East will now play Moeller in the regional semifinal at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium at 2 p.m. this Saturday.
Fricker’s in West Chester scheduled to open mid-January - A Dayton-based wing joint is poised to open a new location in West Chester off Tylersville Road in mid-January, Fricker’s director of human resources and franchising Paul Curtis told WestChesterBuzz.com last week. The new Fricker’s will be located at 7844 Kingland Drive.
East vs. West food drive brings in roughly 74,000 cans - Lakota East may have won the football game, but the winner of the annual food drive was Lakota West High School. Principals of both high schools said last week that the entire Lakota school district donated roughly 74,000 cans to Reach Out Lakota in just one week.
Lakota West falls in penalty kicks to Mason in regional final -Lakota West lost its regional final matchup with Mason Saturday. The game was scoreless through regulation and through the 30-minute sudden victory overtime. The Comets then won in penalty kicks, 2-1.
Lakota East senior Anna Starr had 36 assists and 11 digs in 25-18, 25-8, 14-25, 25-14 loss to Ursuline Saturday in the regional final at Lebanon High School. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com.For more photos from this game, visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/110312east
Lakota East comes up short in volleyball regional final - The Ursuline Lions continued the tradition of Girls Greater Cincinnati League volleyball teams winning local regional titles with a 25-18, 25-8, 14-25, 25-14 win against Lakota East on Saturday at Lebanon High School. For the Thunderhawks, it was their first time in the school’s 16-year history that they advanced to the regional semifinal. The loss also marks the end of the high school career of one of the state’s top players in Purdue commit Ashley Evans, who finished the match with a game-high 19 kills and 8 digs.
Lawyer to fight West Chester’s Lady Liberty ruling - The fight to put Lady Liberty back out on a busy street corner in West Chester Township next tax season isn’t over, Sheila McLaughlin of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last week. The 12th District Court of Appeals has ruled against Liberty Tax Service’s “waver,” saying West Chester gave the company a fair shake in hearings to decide whether the mascot was allowed under the township’s sign code. Last Tuesday, the company’s lawyer asked the appeals court to take another look at the case before the constitutionality question is broached.
Reach Out Lakota seeks gifts and coats for holidays - Reach Out Lakota is seeking volunteers for its adopt-a-child program and donations for its winter coat drive to help families in need this holiday season. The adopt-a-child program will provide approximately 1,000 local children with gifts during the holidays. Reach Out Lakota officials hope to provide each registered child with two $25 gifts.
The presidential race returned to Ohio for the final push Friday as GOP challenger Mitt Romney held a massive rally in the Republican heartland north of Cincinnati and President Barack Obama cut a swath through central Ohio.
Romney spoke to a crowd of 30,000, according to West Chester Fire chief Tony Goller – making it the largest rally of the campaign, said Romney spokesman Chris Maloney.
“The question of the election comes down to this: Do you want more of the same or do you want real change?” Romney asked. “I promise change, and I actually have a record of achieving it.”
Both candidates are trying to make up for campaign time lost to super-storm Sandy and deliver their final arguments to voters before Tuesday’s election.
Obama, in his first Ohio trip since Sandy struck the East Coast, said in Lima on Friday afternoon that the policies of previous Republican administrations didn’t work.
“Ohio, we’ve tried our ideas and they work,” he said. “We’ve tried the other folks’ ideas. They don’t work. The eight years before I took office, we tried their ideas. What did we get? We got falling incomes, record deficits … and an economic crisis that we’ve been cleaning up after ever since.”
Ann and Mitt Romney share a moment at a rally in West Chester Nov. 2, 2012. During Romney’s speech he said that Obama asked voters to vote for revenge but “I ask the American people to vote for love of country.” Photo by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com.
With less than four days before Election Day the race is too close to predict in several key states, including Ohio. The latest poll out Friday afternoon, by CNN/ORC International, shows Obama leading 50 percent to 47 percent in Ohio, well within the 3.5 percentage point margin of error.
Obama will make what’s almost certainly his last Cincinnati stop of the campaign at the University of Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena on Sunday evening, while Romney will be in Cleveland. And the candidates will campaign right down to the wire in Ohio – both have announced events in Columbus on Monday.
Kid Rock opened the Romney event, which also included appearances by a lengthy list of top Republicans, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sens. John McCain and Marco Rubio, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
“This is like having the Republican National Convention come here,” said Ohio Rep. Margaret Conditt of nearby Liberty Township. “All of the speakers that we saw in Tampa are here, except for Clint Eastwood, of course.”
Romney noted that unemployment is higher than when Obama took office, although the final pre-election report, released Friday, showed 171,000 new jobs added in October. The Labor Department also revised August and September jobs numbers upward. The unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in October, from 7.8 percent in September, as more workers re-entered the labor force.
“Candidate Obama promised to do so very much, but he has fallen so very short,” Romney said. “He was going to focus on jobs, then he focused on Obamacare, which killed jobs.”
Romney said that Obama asked voters to vote for revenge but “I ask the American people to vote for love of country.”
Obama actually said, “Voting is the best revenge.”
Romney also promised to bring bipartisanship to Washington.
“If I’m elected – no, when I’m elected – president, I’m doing to work with … men and women on both sides of the aisle who care about our country,” he said.
Obama visited Hilliard, Springfield and, lastly, Lima, which hasn’t hosted a sitting Democratic president since Harry Truman in 1948. In his first trip to Ohio since super-storm Sandy devastated the East Coast and prompted both campaigns to cancel rallies, he said the nation mourns those killed in the storm.
“No matter how bad things are, we’re in this together,” Obama said. “We rise and fall as one nation. That has guided this country for 200 years and the last four years.”
He told the crowd in Hilliard that Americans need a champion in Washington. He said the middle class, the poor and small business owners need a seat at the table.
“The folks at the very top of this country don’t need another seat at the table,” the president said.
“The people who need a champion are those whose letters I read every night. Cooks, waiters and cleaning staff at a hotel, they need a champion. The auto worker … now back in the plant, he needs a champion. Those kids dreaming of becoming scientists … or even president, they need a champion in Washington. We’ve come back too far to become faint-hearted.”
Mitt Romney wraps up his speech during a rally in West Chester Nov. 2, 2012. The event drew 30,000 supporters. Photo by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com.
The Mitt Romney rally in West, which is being locally referred by some to be Ohio’s version of the Republican National Convention, has just begun.
“I think the excitement level is pretty high. This is like having the Republican National Convention come here,” Ohio State Representative Margaret Conditt said. “All of the speakers that we saw in Tampa are here, except for Clint Eastwood of course.”
This event does have Kid Rock, however, who is expected to perform musically and not show off his acting chops, which were depicted in movies like “Joe Dirt” and “Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector.”
While, Rock’s film career isn’t comparable to Eastwood’s, the overall guest list at West Chester’s rally is comparable with the party’s convention in August with the likes of 2008 Presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. John McCain, House Speaker John Boehner, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus, Olympian Scott Hamilton and legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.
Also in West Chester backing Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, are their families. Romneys – Josh, Tagg (and Jen), Matt (and Laurie), Ben and Craig (and Mary) will support their dad along with wife Ann Romney; and Janna Ryan will be on hand to support her husband.
“The enthusiasm is just tremendous,” Butler County Republican chairman David Kern said while waiting for the event to start. “This is going to be the biggest event for Governor Mitt Romney and certainly by far exceeding what the President is drawing in. We are going to outdo him here.”
The consensus among local Republicans, the event is expected to attract 25,000 people and, in their opinion, proves that Southwest Ohio backs Mitt Romney.
“With 25,000 or 30,000 of our closest friends, I think this sends a clear message that Southwest Ohio is strongly in favor of electing a new President,” Ohio Senator Bill Coley said.
To follow along, please follow @westchesterbuzz and @PaulEKostyu (Paul Kostyu of The Cincinnati Enquirer), @cindiincincy on Twitter and check this post for updates throughout.
Local Republicans talk about the rally
Ohio State Representative Margaret Conditt
“This is the most important election in my lifetime. We cannot truly afford another four more years of an economic decline, military decline, morale decline – we can’t afford spending more than we are bringing in. We are already at a $16 trillion deficit and Obama added $6 trillion during his four-year term. If he had four more years, you would just expect more of the same and that will literally bankrupt our country, put the debt on our children and grandchildren and that it is immoral. That is just immoral. We cannot afford four more years.
“And Mitt Romney is a businessman who has turned around failing businesses and he can turn around our country. It is not too late.”
Ohio Senator Bill Coley
“This election is hugely going to turn on the new vision for the country and it is going to require Southwest Ohio to turn out in mass to carry the state of Ohio for Governor Romney. I think the campaign wanted an event here to kind of set the tone for the final 96 hours of the campaign.
“In my days as Senator I have been campaigning all over the state of Ohio for Republicans and, it is funny, it is drastically different than it was four years ago. The optimism that people had in the election of President Obama has turned into pretty solid disappointment around the state. That is why people are giving a close look to Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan. You can kind of sense a genuine excitement and enthusiasm about this campaign; and I think we are going to be successful.
“The biggest thing Mitt Romney brings is the ability to work on both sides of the aisle. Any way you look at it, he is going to be dealing with a House and a Senate where there won’t be large majorities of any party and you need a leader who has demonstrated ability to work on both sides of the aisle. With Romney being a Republican Governor of Massachusetts, a state where 85 percent of legislature was Democrats, the guy has that ability. With what we have seen, the White House, does not have the ability to work on both sides of the aisle. That is one of the big things.
West Chester Township Trustee George Lang
“This is huge, there will be over 25,000 people in attendance, this is not the biggest event that has ever taken place in West Chester in terms of size, we had a George W. Bush rally eight years ago that had 50,000 people, however I do feel this is the biggest event we have ever had in terms of importance to our country. I believe if President Obama is reelected, the Republic as we know it will be over.
“This is Boehner Country, and the Heart and Soul of the conservative movement. I believe that the Romney campaign wanted to save the best for last, the reason they picked West Chester is because we are proof that a smaller more limited government is what is best for America. As a township, we have a lower tax base, and simpler zoning and regulation codes that allow businesses to flourish and prosper by experiencing higher profits. This is similar with Mitt Romney’s vision and message for America.
“I am amazed at how our township staff has responded to this event, the planning and coordination that has taken place has been Herculaneum. The efforts of our police and fire departments, along with our entire administration led by our Administrator Judi Boyko has been amazing. Our public service workers are the best in the state, and I appreciate their efforts.”
Butler County Republican chairman David Kern
“There are people here that I have never seen at political rally before – the Independent, the unaffiliated – the people we are trying to recruit. Those are people are on our side in this election. It is huge.”
“This country has to make a decision and will make that decision this Tuesday if we want to remain a free Republic or a socialist nation along the lines of Europe – a second class nation.”
Mitt Romney encourages people to vote early as he speaks at Jet Machine in Roselawn last Thursday, Oct. 25. Photo taken by Leigh Taylor. Romney will be in West Chester Friday, Nov. 2, just a few days prior to Election Day.
On Thursday afternoon, the Mitt Romney camp announced that Friday’s rally would open at 3:30 p.m. instead of the previously scheduled time of 4:30 p.m.
Another detail mentioned by Romney’s camp on Thursday was that there will be special musical performance by Kid Rock.
In addition to Mitt and Ann Romney and Paul and Janna Ryan, the event is expected to have the following Republicans as well: U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-West Chester; U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge; U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida; U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota; U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minnesota; Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus; former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona; U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.; U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah; U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, R-Alabama; Texas Gov. Rick Perry; and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.
Due to the size of the event, it will not exactly take place at The Square at Union Centre. The event will take place on the grass, which is now privately owned and is expected to be eventually developed into high-end apartments and a hotel, in front of The Square.
Parking will be available at Lakota West High School, West Chester Library (which will close at noon) and at the Union Centre Boulevard Pavilion (old Bigg’s shopping center) at the corner of Union Centre and 747 (this parking location will feature a shuttle service).
There will be other areas also designated for parking.
Businesses in the Union Centre area (around the Square) will remain open during tonight’s event. The Township is asking that those attending the rally be respectful of those businesses and their operations by using designated parking for the event.
Parking is not allowed in the lots of those businesses that are continuing to operate. Parking is also not allowed along roadways. The Township is also requesting that motorists don’t try to pull over and drop people off along the roadways near the event for safety reasons.
Furthermore, some road closures are already in place and will remain in place through the conclusion of the event.
At this time, Centre Pointe Drive has been closed from just west of the AK Steel/Duke/West Chester Towne Square entrance and just east of the Library entrance. West Chester Towne Centre Drive is closed south of Centre Loop, including the roundabout. The Square at Union Centre has also been closed.
It is possible that these announced road closures may be further impacted and other closures in the area may be required due to security.
Heavy traffic and potentially long delays are expected near the I-75 Interchange at Union Centre Boulevard and the Square at Union Centre.
The program is scheduled to begin sometime around 7 and 7:30 p.m. (media has been told 7:30, while public is being told 7).
Any Ohioan who turns on a TV knows that Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Josh Mandel are spending lots on ads to shape the outcome of their super-charged Senate race. Those millions account for just a fraction of their political spending, though, in one of the most expensive Senate contests in the nation.
Brown and Mandel are also blowing through millions of dollars on other campaign expenses – from high-priced pollsters to Cincinnati Reds tickets to a used Jeep Cherokee.
An analysis of 18 months of expenditures by the two candidates offers a glimpse at the eye-popping price tag of modern-day campaigning, the high-tech tools they each deploy, and how easy it is to burn through a fat war chest. Overall, the two candidates have spent nearly $30 million so far this election cycle, making it the fifth most expensive Senate race in terms of spending, according to a tally by the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign finance watchdog group.
“It’s completely out of the control,” said Larry Sabato, head of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. He said the spending in Ohio and other Senate races is overkill, with the campaigns so flush that their spending on ads and other items have reached the point of diminishing returns.
“They will overdo anything,” Sabato said.
From January 2011 through June 2012, the most recent detailed spending data available, Brown and Mandel spent a combined $12.8 million – nearly $25,000 a day. Their spending is in many ways typical – they’ve both spent gobs of money, for example, on campaign mailers and Washington consultants. Other items are unique, however, offering some insight into the candidates’ different styles and competing strategies. (more…)
In collaboration with West Chester Township, the MidPointe Library West Chester, located at 9363 Centre Pointe Drive, will be closing early at noon this Friday to ease traffic in the area resulting from the scheduled Mitt Romney political rally at the Square at Union Centre.
The announcement of the noon closing came at 3 p.m. Thursday. Earlier in the week, the library announced that it would close at 3 p.m. Friday.
“We will attempt to stay open as late as possible, but our closing time will be based upon the recommendations of the Secret Service,” said MidPointe Library System director Anita Carroll.
The Republican presidential candidate will be joined by his wife, Ann, and their five sons, running mate Paul Ryan and his wife, Janna, and an estimated 100 governors, senators and mayors.
It will take place at the Square Union Centre, which is located directly behind the library, at 7:30 p.m. Friday. People can start to file into the rally at 4:30 p.m. Tickets for the event list 7 p.m., but that is the “invite time” according to a release from Romney’s campaign office on Wednesday.
