Valley Republicans gain inspiration from speech

By ASHLEY LUTHERN

About 65 area residents watched the speech at the GOP headquarters.

BOARDMAN — U.S. Sen. John McCain’s acceptance speech as the GOP nominee for president resonated and inspired Valley Republicans on the last night of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

“He did what he needed to do. He pumped up his base and got the energy and momentum going for the election,” said Matt Ernst, 26, of Struthers. He added, though, that while he’s still undecided whom he’ll vote for in November, “change is coming either way.”

Ernst and about 65 other local residents gathered Thursday night at the Mahoning County Republican Party headquarters in Boardman to hear McCain’s acceptance speech.

The local party leaders attending were impressed by McCain’s message.

“We need to bring America back from bureaucrats and he reminded us that this is our country and no one else’s,” said Tracey Winbush, deputy treasurer for the Mahoning County Republican Party.

She said that many people tuned in to get a sense of McCain’s “sharpness.”

“People are concerned about his age, but he showed them that those fears are unfounded and that he’s as sharp as ever,” Winbush said.

“I was pretty impressed by his speech,” said Albert Gonzales, 26, of Canfield. “He went into his policies and said exactly how he differs from his opponent.”

John Blue, Mahoning County volunteer coordinator for the McCain campaign, concurred. “I think he did very well and his message will resonate in the Mahoning Valley,” Blue said.

The creation of jobs in new industry was a specific point that Blue thought would reach people in this region.

“Some people are hanging onto the idea that the old jobs will come back, but McCain’s right when he said that we have to move beyond that and create jobs in new sectors,” Blue said.