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Obama camp firming up Valley rally plans
The Democratic presidential candidate is to visit the Valley on Tuesday.
YOUNGSTOWN — If elected president, Barack Obama would invest $250 million a year to increase the number and size of business incubators in disadvantaged communities, a supporter of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said.
Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown highlighted that aspect of Obama’s economic plan during a Friday visit to the Youngstown Business Incubator.
“He understands that good work happens in places like the Youngstown Business Incubator,” Brown said. “While they’re doing good work, they need a partner in the White House.”
Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, is to hold a town hall meeting Tuesday in the Youngstown area.
The time and location of the event is expected to be announced today.
His advance staff on Friday visited Austintown Fitch High School as well as Youngstown State University and the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, among other locations.
The first two locations are popular spots in the Mahoning Valley for presidential candidates. A source told The Vindicator late Friday that Fitch is the likely site.
Obama’s lone public rally in the area was Feb. 18 at YSU. U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, held his only public event April 22 at the university.
Brown said the Obama campaign is excited to come to the Valley next week.
“Campaigns are about conversations,” Brown said. “Sen. Obama over the past 18 months has been in a robust conversation with Americans about health care, energy and the environment.”
This would be Obama’s first visit to the area since the March 4 Democratic primary.
U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York soundly defeated Obama in the primary. She did exceptionally well in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. The first two are considered among the most Democratic counties in Ohio.
McCain came to the Valley twice in the past few months: the April 22 town hall meeting at YSU, and a June 27 meeting with some General Motors workers at the company’s plant in Lordstown followed by a private fundraiser in Howland.
“During his two recent visits to the Mahoning Valley, John McCain spoke very clearly about his vision for a stronger America that will create jobs and provide relief at the pump,” said Paul Lindsay, a McCain spokesman. “These are the issues that matter to working families, and Barack Obama’s status as the world’s biggest celebrity will do little to convince voters that he has what it takes to solve the serious challenges facing our country.”
Brown said Obama understands the struggles facing Americans including escalating fuel costs, the loss of jobs and concerns about health care.
“Americans are looking for someone with solutions, and Sen. Obama has those solutions,” Brown said. “...We need change. In the past eight years this country has fallen into a state of neglect.”
Electing McCain would be a continuation of the failed policies of President Bush, Brown said.
Brown is a somewhat curious choice to campaign for Obama. He was a strong backer of Clinton until she dropped out of the Democratic presidential race in June.
Brown campaigned for Clinton in six states, including Pennsylvania, during the primary and served as national co-chairman of Veterans for Hillary.
Brown and Obama attended Harvard Law School together.
Brown bares a striking resemblance to a shorter Obama, and said he is often told he looks like the senator.
“When I’m mistaken for Sen. Obama, I take it as a compliment,” he said.
skolnick@vindy.com