Residents from Springfield, Miami Valley come to hear Kaine speech

Springfield Trump supporter says future of Supreme Court at stake.


Trump supporters say

Hundreds of Hillary Clinton supporters packed the parking lot at the Heritage Center of Clark County to watch Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine campaign for his running mate and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday

Several students attended the rally with their parents. Springfield resident Malinda Johnson brought her 13-year-old son Quentin Alston, a Schaefer Middle School student, to the rally. Johnson and her son have canvassed for President Barack Obama in the past, she said. Alston was wearing a shirt that read: “Bill Clinton First Lady ‘16.”

“You’ve got to start them young,” Johnson said.

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Springfield resident Chris Smith was the first person in line at 9:15 a.m. to get the best spot possible for the stump speech, he said. Smith was excited to hear Kaine talk about what he’s doing to help Clinton, he said.

“I’m glad I get to be right up front to see him,” Smith said. “Any candidate that comes here is good for the community.”

Donald Trump supporter Walter Myers stood on Fountain Avenue with a large sign that made references to both Islam, the 2nd Amendment and the importance of the Supreme Court.

“We don’t want any socialists, we want people who support the Constitution on the Supreme Court,” said Myers, a Springfield resident.

Myers has been standing with the sign on the street corners with heavy traffic in Springfield throughout this election season to show his support for Trump.

“I want to inform people every little bit I can,” Myers said. “I can do very little, but what I can do, I’m doing.”

Another Trump supporter wore a sign that read: “Death is Hillary’s America.”

The speech was positive and didn’t emphasize doom and gloom, Springfield resident Tim Roberts said. He was pleased Kaine spoke about their tax plan, he said.

“It’s best for the middle class, best for this community and our state,” Roberts said.

St. Paris resident Whitney Tyler, an 18-year-old high school senior at Fairlawn High School, drove to Springfield to see the speech. She plans to vote for Clinton.

“He really brought a lot of issues to the forefront,” Tyler said. “He definitely empowered the people listening today.”

She also appreciated Kaine’s view on equality, especially women’s rights, Tyler said.

“Right now, we’re not treated as equal,” Tyler said.

Kaine made it really clear how his running mate differs from her opponent, Springfield resident Jessica Brigham said, especially when it comes to inclusion and equal pay for women.

“She’s really for the little guy, the people who haven’t had the same chance as people with money,” said Brigham, who’s already early voted for Clinton.

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