A CNN Politics online news team came to the Mahoning Valley to discuss politics

YOUNGSTOWN — A CNN Politics news team visited the Mahoning Valley to discuss Rust Belt Democratic politics, Youngstown’s downtown improvements and Gov. John Kasich’s impending presidential bid.

Reporter Alexandra Jaffe and Jeremy Moorhead, a CNN digital politics producer and Youngstown native, came Monday to the Valley speaking to local politicians, labor leaders and business owners. The reports will air on cnn.com/politics – the news station’s political website – likely next week.

On Jaffe’s Twitter feed, she wrote: “Mahoning County is key for Dems in this swing state.”

Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, said Jaffe asked about the Valley’s support of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the leading Democratic presidential candidate.

Clinton won the 2008 Democratic primary in Ohio doing very well in the Mahoning Valley.

Betras and Ryan already have announced their endorsement of Clinton for president in 2016.

Jaffe “asked pointed questions about Hillary’s policies on immigration, her support of gay marriage and trade issues,” Betras said. “She wanted to know about the area.”

Ryan added: “She was very interested in Hillary Clinton and what people in the Valley thought of [Clinton]. People in our area really like Clinton. [The interview] was very Hillary-centric.”

Jaffe spoke with people at various eateries in the area including V2 Wine Bar Trattoria in downtown Youngstown, the Golden Dawn Restaurant on the city’s North Side, Kravitz Delicatessen in Liberty, and the Yankee Kitchen in Boardman.

Jack Kravitz, Kravitz Deli owner, said Jaffe asked about Clinton.

“I think [Clinton] moved a little to the left of where I am,” he said. “I’m not a real fan of Obamacare as a small-business person. [Jaffe] asked about Kasich. I like him, but I don’t agree with his social conservative views.”

As for being interviewed, Kravitz said, “It’s always fun to talk to the media, and it’s great that we’re considered interesting by the national press.”

Jaffe also asked about the improvements made in downtown Youngstown, Ryan said.

Downtown received strong praise in a New York Times article last week.