Ohio, hope the vice-presidential debate will increase voter turnout

2024-10-03 16:20:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Both Democrats and Republicans in Ohio hope that Tuesday's vice presidential debate will motivate people to participate in the Nov. 5 presidential election. Democrats and Republicans of this state were satisfied with the performances of their candidates in the vice-presidential debate.

Midtown is the hometown of U.S. Senator and vice presidential candidate JD Vance, a town he describes in his book "Hillbilly Elegy" and where some of his supporters attended his debate with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

"We think JD is very honest because we know him. He is an ordinary person."

Joe Statzer is the executive director of the Republican Party in Ohio's Battle County, which includes the city of Middletown.

"In 2016 and 2020, Donald Trump took the largest share of the vote in Batllar than in any other county in Ohio. This is a conservative county."

Mr. Statzer was pleased when JD Vance spoke about the issues that concern him most.

"He talked about the border, the economy and the port workers' strike, which is happening now in the east of the country," he said.

"Of course people are concerned about the cost of living, that's always important as is their health care."

Kathy Wyenandt, chairwoman of the Batllar County Democratic Party, said reproductive rights and immigration concerns were also the main points of the debate rally, which she organized at a coffee shop in downtown Middletown.

"It was disappointing when JD Vance used dehumanizing language in discussing illegal immigrants," she said.

Jacob Payen, Haitian Community Alliance

"If JD Vance were to become vice president, I would be very concerned about how he would handle immigration."

Jacob Payen is a member of the large Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, about 60 kilometers from Middletown. Some members of his community have been targeted since the presidential debate last month, when Republican candidate Donald Trump falsely claimed they were eating people's pets.

Mr. Payen sought reassurance from Governor Walz.

"I have to have assurances that I will be safe while I'm here in America, because we came to America to seek safety, peace, love."

Mr. Payen believes he received assurances of safety.

"Tim Walz seemed to be very relaxed in the debate. "Mr. Vance was more on the defensive," he said.

"I've decided who he's going to vote for."

Isaac Adi came to the United States more than 20 years ago from Nigeria and is a voter in Batllar County. Despite the anti-Haitian rhetoric in Springfield, Mr. Adi supports Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance's stances on immigration.