Obama To Receive Mixed Reception In Kent
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Obama in Colombus, Ohio in 2010 (ProgressOhio, Creative Commons)
In the past four presidential elections, Ohio has voted as follows:
• 2008 - 52 percent for Democrat Obama, 47 percent for Republican John McCain
• 2004 - 51 percent for Republican George W. Bush, 49 percent for Democrat John Kerry
• 2000 - 50 percent for Republican George W. Bush, 47 percent for Democrat Al Gore
• 1996 - 47 percent for Democrat Bill Clinton, 41 percent for Republican Bob Dole, 12 percent for other
This week, both parties will be in town. Romney will speak at manufacturing plant American Spring Wire Corporation Wednesday as part of the "Romney Plan for a Stronger Middle Class" bus tour.
Given the uproar from the former governor's recent comment that 47 percent of the electorate depend on government and see themselves as victims, it's unclear what kind of reception he will receive. The political world and media have wasted no time in reacting to his comment.
"He was obviously inarticulate in making his point," Romney's running mate Paul Ryan conceded in an interview.
More dramatic were the predictions made by pundits.
"Today, Mitt Romney lost the election," Bloomberg's Josh Barro wrote.
The timing of Romney's bad publicity is fortunate for the president, who will speak at Kent State University Wednesday afternoon. However, Obama is set to a receive a less than welcoming reception of his own - members of the Portage County Tea Party will be waiting to voice their views outside the venue and have been urging people to place empty chairs on their lawns to represent the "empty promises this president has made to all of us," they said in a statement. The party also said that it has been building large chairs to place around the county in reference to Clint Eastwood's speech at the Republican National Convention.
Ohio, which has a high concentration of senior citizens and has been experiencing a high home foreclosure rate, has been pushing issues such as health care and the economy to the forefront. However, some residents have voiced other thoughts on Obama's reelection campaign, citing his relatability as a key reason for their support.
"Basically, he's pulling out the troops and he has this stance that he will listen to other people," Jeff Ingram said. "He isn't taking the only side of the issue. He listens. He seems like a human being. He brews beer. He has an organic garden."
Ingram, 47, has spent the last 14 years working as a produce and bulk manager at Kent Natural Food Co-op and places emphasis on protecting the environment. He pointed to hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, as an important issue in Ohio.
"His stance on the Keystone pipeline - he said no. That was great," he praised of Obama's controversial decision.
Obama's visit to Kent has left residents busy with preparations for weeks. Some businesses have paid special attention in showing their support, such as Kent Floral Company, which has posted a handmade sign in the window inviting the president to come in and buy a rose for first lady Michelle Obama.
"There's going to be signs going out all over town," Ingram said, adding that he was thinking of creating a sign of his own. "We hope that he stops by the co-op and gets some organic produce for the wife and kids."
Reach Staff Reporter Michelle Toh here.
