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ELECTIONS
McCain visits the Tri-State
Senator John McCain speaks at a town meeting help at Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, Ohio on Wednesday afternoon. (April Greene)
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PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Acknowledging the importance of Southeastern Ohio to his bid to become the next American president, Republican John McCain brought his “Straight Talk Express” to Portsmouth Wednesday afternoon.
The presumptive GOP presidential nominee talked about issues such as the economy, nuclear power and opening the coastal waterways to oil and natural gas exploration.
“I have a plan to grow this economy and get America going again,” McCain said to the applause of hundreds of people at the Portsmouth High School gymnasium. He also promised to return to Ohio, which has supported every successful presidential candidate since 1960.
Earlier in the day, Gov. Ted Strickland held a political rally for Democratic nominee Barack Obama, a senator from Illinois, in a union hall across the street from the high school.
McCain spoke for about 20 minutes before opening the town hall session up for questions from the audience for about an hour. The first question was from a woman wearing a “No Nukes” button. She questioned the safety of nuclear plants, such as the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant, where her father worked and later died from cancer.
Calling nuclear energy the country’s most dependable energy source, McCain promised to build 45 new nuclear plants, support clean coal technology and open up the nation’s shores to oil and natural gas exploration.
“I support nuclear power,” McCain said. “I believe nuclear power is and can be safe. I’m a U.S. Navy veteran and the Navy has sailed nuclear ships around the world for 60 years. We need to accelerate clean coal technology research.”
If elected, he promised “to veto every wasteful spending bill that comes across my desk.” The Arizona senator said he never asked for earmarks for local projects in any legislation he sponsored. McCain also promised to work with Democrats.
“Americans are sick and tired of partisanship that has gripped our nation’s Capitol,” he said. “I’ll reach my hand across the aisle. It is time to put partisanship aside and put our country first.”
Noting that a recent poll showed the popularity of Congress members at 9 percent, McCain said Congress has let spending “get completely out of control. We forget that it’s your money not our money. Since when is several billion dollars not that much money.”
Asked by a teacher whether he supported No Child Left Behind, McCain said he believes the educational policy needs to be fixed, that goals and standards for teachers can be set and met. “I’m for choice and competition,” he said. His children went to Catholic schools. “Charter schools work.”
McCain’s comments went over well with many in the crowd, including Ellen Hall of Wheelersburg, Ohio.
“I was very favorably impressed,” Hall said. “I appreciate his service to his country. I think he’s a good guy and I’ll vote for him in the fall.
“He’s saying the things a good conservative would say,” said Gerald Jenkins of Portsmouth.
Not everyone was convinced though. Steve Bloir of Mansfield said while the town hall was very informative, he’s still undecided.
