Republican Senate candidate Rob Portman addressed around 30 supporters from the Washington D.C. Young Republicans on Sunday at the Port of Cleveland parking lot, expressing his gratitude for the overwhelming support from the Republican youth movement.

NO , IT’S THE BROWNS GAME? NOT A PARKING LOT…IF IT IS JUST A PARKING LOT…IT SHOULD BE BURIED LOWER.

Set against the backdrop of Lake Erie and Cleveland’s struggling port economy, Portman spoke most about the youth of Ohio and related issues.

“Seventy percent of college kids who go to school in Ohio leave the state when they graduate,” Portman said. “This race isn’t about my generation. It’s about you guys.”

HOW DOES HE KNOW THAT – ASK QUESTIONS AFTER OF HIS STAFF.

After his five-minute speech, Portman took a group picture with the D.C. Young Republicans in the shadow of Cleveland Browns Stadium. He also stayed after to talk with the group.

THESE WERE ALL D.C. REPUBLICANS? NO OHIO?

Chairman for the young republicans, Rich Counts, explained why support from this generation is so important.

“People who say the youth isn’t involved in politics aren’t telling the truth,” Counts said. “Youth is still involved in politics and the Republican Party.”

Executive Vice Chair Brittny McKinney echoed Counts’ statements via e-mail.

“Young people are now realizing how the government’s policies affect us personally,” McKinney stated. “Many are not able to get a job after graduating from college, and we are ready to stand up for ourselves and elect candidates who will lower taxes and create jobs.”

AHEM, MR. COPY EDITOR KING…. REPUBLICAN WHEN USED AS A POLITICAL GROUP IS ALWAYS UPPER CASE.

Before congregating on the Port of Cleveland, the republican group canvassed on the Cleveland Mall by handing out stickers and literature to any passers-by. Sporting bright red “Fire Pelosi” signs, reactions TO THEM (NEED SOME SORT OF NOUN IN THERE) were mixed.

A child said that he wanted a Portman sticker to which his dad replied, “No you don’t.”

A Cleveland police officer vocally expressed his agreement with the “Fire Pelosi” signs, and another man put the stickers he received on the bottoms of his shoes.

But Lisa Stickan, chairperson of the Young Republican National Federation, said that support has been great and the people of Cleveland have been very receptive to their message.

The D.C. Young Republicans organized trips to Charlottesville, Va.; Salisbury, Md.; Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; and Cleveland to drum-up support for the different Republican candidates.

DRUM UP. THAT’S A VERB, NO HYPHYEN

Upcoming trips include Raleigh, N.C. and Virginia Beach, Va.

“These volunteers signed up weeks in advance,” Stickan said. “There’s a lot of support.”

At the end of his speech, Portman thanked the group and left them with one final message.

“I never said ‘I’m going to win,’” Portman said. “It’s not about me. It’s about the voters.”

Contact Kyle Nelson at [email protected].

SO I GUESS THIS IS JUST A GLIMPSE OF REGULAR REPUBLICANS DOING THEIR THING?

NOT SURE IT HAS ANY KSU CONNECTION EXCEPT YOU. AND POOR SPENSER.