Ragnu Mahabalam

Age: Would not say

Occupation: Chemical engineer

Reason he’s there: “It all comes down to taxes right? I can’t afford to pay any more.” He has two sons going to school at the same time, and higher taxes would make life more difficult.

Bonita Scahel

Age: 73

Occupation: Retired real estate agent

Reason she’s there: She’s “very definitely” voting for Romney because “there’s no reason our economy should be the way it is.” She doesn’t feel we’re militarily safe under Obama, and thinks he’s ruined our economy.

Dylan Ehle

Age: 25

Occupation: Claims adjuster

Reason he’s there: He wasn’t the biggest Romney supporter at first, but he still planned to vote for him to spite Obama. After the first debate, however, he’s much more enthusiastic about voting for Romney.

Tim Simpson

Age: 23

Occupation: Student at the University of Akron

Reason he’s there: “I came to see my führer. I dragged my friends to this.” Last election he voted for Obama, but this year he’ll vote Romney because Romney’s “a little bit more religious.”

Jesse Kostich

Age: 15

Occupation: Cuyahoga Falls High School student

Reason he’s there: “I think it’s an awesome political opportunity to see a Republican speak. I rode my bike.” His mom is a Democrat and his dad is a Republican. His mom doesn’t talk about politics, but his dad does. Since he only knows about the Republican Party, that’s who he sides with.

Merrilee Luther

Age: 31

Occupation: Stay-at-home mom

Reason she’s here: “[Romney] shares my values for life, shares my values for business development, jobs, the economy.” With her baby on her hip, she said she brought the little ones along because “I want my kids to know that it matters. Freedom’s worth fighting for.”

Don McKenzie

Age: 41

Occupation: Owner of McKenzie Tree & Lawn

Reason he’s there: “There’s no other person to vote for.” He refuses to vote for Obama because “he’s a socialist.” And he says Obama was mentored by a socialist.

Edward Sturkey

Age: 57

Occupation: Retired

Reason he’s here: “It’s all about the issues for me.” A healthy economy and the right to life are some of the most important issues to Sturkey, and his conservative views align with Romney’s. Last election, he voted for McCain, but still had high hopes for Obama since Sturkey himself is an African-American. However, “16 trillion is 16 trillion no matter what side of the fence you’re on.”

Dan Taylor

Age: 31

Occupation: Project manager

Reason he’s here: He thinks Romney can move legislation through Congress more efficiently than Obama. He also wants America to “balance the dang budget. Nobody’s going to bail us out. We’re not Greece; we’re not Spain.”

Chris Muehleisen

Age: 59

Occupation: Media sales

Reason he’s here: “You can’t sustain the current level of spending for entitlements and giveaways.” He’s 100 percent in with Romney and Ryan and thinks they’ll “teach people to take a hand-up instead of a handout.” Plus, he thinks New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will pump up the crowd beforehand.

Bre Heldman

Age: 20

Occupation: Student at Brown Mackie College.

Reason she’s here: She thinks Obama “wasn’t able to keep his promises” and isn’t happy with the deficit. “Obama just wants to give, give, give.” She thinks people should help themselves.

Doug Dodridge

Age: 17 (turning 18 on Oct. 26 – just in time)

Occupation: Cuyahoga Falls High School student

Reason he’s here: He still doesn’t know who he’s voting for. “If he’s here in my hometown, I may as well be better informed. A lot of young people around me don’t make the effort.” He thinks that the next generations should care about what happens politically.

Contact Kelsey Misbrener at [email protected] and Brittany Hill at [email protected].