WHSV - HomePage - Headlines

Valley Politicians Weigh In Romney's VP Pick

Print
Updated: Sun 7:45 AM, Aug 12, 2012

Mitt Romney's running mate's choice has some republicans in the Valley celebrating.

Chaz Evans -Haywood with the Harrisonburg Republican party said congressman Paul Ryan will bring the party together.

"We're really excited because what this is doing is putting a team in place so from this time forward we have a team to fight with and fight for," Evans-Haywood said.

For Evans-Haywood, Romney's choice will bring more voters.

"Paul has given us an opportunity to bring to unify the party, unify a lot of groups in the republican and conservative base," he said.

Augusta County Democratic Committee Chairman Riley Murray said this can end up hurting Romney.

"It solves something in terms of the republican party because they didn't feel that Romney was conservative enough. I think it doesn't help him with independents, Murray said.

James Madison University Political Science Professor said Bob Roberts said Romney's pick comes from the prediction of a low voter-turnout election.

"They're hoping that this campaign has become so nasty so early that large amounts of independents will be turned off," Roberts said.

He said if there is a low voter turnout Republicans believe Ryan will get Tea party voters out.

Roberts said this campaign is different because both parties are running to their base.

"Neither Obama or Romney are running to the center," he said.

Roberts said Ryan's stance on medicare may actually attract older voters.

His plan will limit medicare benefits for people under 55.

"The Ryan plan might help older voters vote for him because they're saying, there will be more money for me. In a sense it won't hurt him with older voters. But it clearly will hurt him with under 55 voters," he said.

But he said even though Ryan is from Wisconsin, he might not win this battleground state.

"This is very unusual, you don't put a vice presidential candidate who was not won a statewide race because they theoretically might not win the state for you," he said.


WHSV.com is happy to provide a forum for commenting and discussion. Please respect and abide by the house rules:

Keep it clean, keep it civil, keep it truthful, stay on topic, be responsible, no links, share your knowledge, and please suggest removal of comments that violate these standards.

powered by Disqus

National NDN Video

WHSV-TV3
50 North Main Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540-433-9191 - Switchboard 540-433- 4028 - Fax 540-433-2700 - News Fax
Gray Television, Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2013 - Designed by Gray Digital Media - Powered by Clickability
User Agent: CCBot/2.0 - 165882256