Portman, Boehner bring added GOP presence


Staff photo/Anthony Weber
Troy resident Steve Simpson holds his 7-year-old son, Anakin, on his shoulders during a visit by Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, in Troy Sunday.

Ohio Senator on long list of possible VP running mates

6/18/2012 12:02:00 AM

By Melanie Yingst

If "Ohio Believes," then Troy Republican supporters have been converted to help put presidential candidate Mitt Romney in the Oval Office.
Accompanying Romney's Sunday stop on his "Every Town Counts" tour were U.S. Senator Rob Portman, a potential vice president candidate, and House Speaker John Boehner, Miami County's 8th district congressional representative.
"Thanks for coming here to wish the next president a 'Happy Father's Day,'" Portman said before a crowd of more than 1,500 supporters in front of the K's Hamburger Shop Sunday. "We're here today because we're concerned, and as Ohioans, we are in the 'heart of it all.'"
Portman, Ohio's U.S. Senator since 2010, is on the long list of potential vice-presidential running mates for Romney.
Portman said with Romney in Office, he would "get the private sector back" and will work "to help U.S. Congress lead an effort to repeal current President Barack Obama's legislation, especially his health-care program known as "ObamaCare."
"We are proud to have an Ohioan as Speaker of the House," said Portman before introducing Boehner. "Let's show Romney that help is on the way."
Portman introduced Boehner as "my friend and neighbor," a man who has served as Speaker of the House since 2010. Boehner is the 8th district representative - which includes all of Miami County, as well as Darke and Preble counties and most of Butler and Mercer counties, and the northeastern corner of Montgomery County.
Boehner said Miami County holds "a warm spot in my soul." He started his political career 22 years ago in 1990 when "people couldn't say my name."
"It's been my pleasure to represent you for 22 years," Boehner told the crowd. "It all started right here in Miami County and I'm here to say thank you and thank you for being here for Mitt Romney."
Boehner told the crowd how he has voted to repeal ObamaCare and supported more than 30 bills to "get our economy going."
Boehner said he could do more while in office but "we've got a big road block."
"We need to get rid of our road block," Boehner said. "We need to put the American people back together again."
Boehner criticized current President Barack Obama for "making the economy worse."
"Mitt Romney understand that we need to get the American people back together again," Boehner said before introducing Romney to the crowd.
In front of several hundred "Ohio Believes" posters, Miami County Republican chairman John "Bud" O'Brien rallied supporters before Portman, Boehner and Romney arrived.
O'Brien said in less than 16 hours, Miami County Republican members knocked on more than 500 doors of registered independent voters to invite them to Sunday's rally.
"Are you prepared to do the same thing?" O'Brien said to the anxious crowd. "We need Romney elected and Speaker Boehner needs his help. He can't get anything done with someone else occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. We need to create jobs and (former) Governor Romney knows how to do it."

 

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