More than a dozen supporters of Barack Obama came together Thursday afternoon at the Obama for America Tiffin office, 112 Washington St., for a stop of the Heartland Tour 2012.
Speaking at the event were Tanyce Addison, Democratic candidate for Ohio Senate District 26, and David Pepper, former Cincinnati City Council member and Hamilton County commissioner, who came to Tiffin after a stop at the Wyandot County Fair.
"President Obama knows that in America's heartland, more than anywhere else, we will succeed by restoring a strong middle class and returning to the belief that hard work should pay, and responsibility will be rewarded, and when everybody does their fair share, we're all better off," said Addison, who is running in the Nov. 6 general election against Sen. Dave Burke, R-Marysville. "But by choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate, (Republican candidate and former Massachusetts Gov.) Mitt Romney has cemented in his commitment to a plan that will devastate the middle class here in the heartland of Ohio."
Article Photos
PHOTOS BY NICK DUTRO
David Pepper (front left), former Cincinnati City Council member and Hamilton County commissioner, and Tanyce Addison (front right), Democratic candidate for Ohio Senate District 26, speak at the Obama for America office in Tiffin Thursday during a stop on the Heartland Tour 2012.
"There is a choice in November, and that choice will have a big impact on the heartland of Ohio. That choice will really make a difference in the lives of the people who live in Tiffin, who live in this county, who live in this region," Pepper said.
He said Obama has pushed for small business and middle class tax cuts, invested in infrastructure projects and increased the availability of crop insurance, health care and wind energy.
Their message also was critical of the Romney campaign's stance on cutting taxes for high income earners, vouchers for Medicare, reducing Social Security benefits and changes to grants and interest rates for college students.
Addison and Pepper also touched on Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who spoke at the Republican National Convention about state deficit cuts, which the pair said were based on cuts to local governments and school districts, resulting in service cuts and potential tax increases at the local level.
Pepper said the goal of the tour, which wraps up soon, was to bring the Obama campaign to small towns.
"President Obama and his campaign believe that every county of Ohio matters, every town matters, not just for the election, but actually make sure our state is strong, our country is strong," Pepper said.
