Local Republican ready for convention despite storm - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Local Republican ready for RNC despite storm

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TAMPA, Fla. -

The Republican National Convention kicks off in Tampa, Florida Monday, but official events have been wiped out by Hurricane Isaac.

Washington Bureau Chief Jacqueline Policastro is in Tampa with the Ohio delegation.

Ohio delegates are taking Tampa by storm as Isaac threatens the Republican National Convention.  They're still checking in, eating breakfast, and networking - but they're doing it all while chatting about Isaac.

Helen Wagoner from Lucas county says, "Hoping that Tropical Storm Isaac remains a tropical storm and let's us have a wonderful convention. We're looking forward to it."

The wind is picking up - bustling the palm trees and the sky looks ominous but
Ohio delegates say they won't be distracted from what they came here for - to get Mitt Romney nominated.

Helen Wagoner says, "Toledo has been hit hard; a lot of businesses.  And Mitt Romney is the one who is going to get the businesses going and financially straighten things up."

Republican Senate candidate State Treasurer Josh Mandel stopped in Tampa for just a few hours. Even he's talking about Isaac.

"I hope the storm goes away or moves somewhere else." But Mandel quick to get back to the reason he's here - your vote.  He wants Ohio Republicans to know that he represents change in Washington.  "Over many decades a lot of these politicians in Washington on both sides of the aisle have let us down."

Some of the delegates here in the new center of the political universe say Mandel is the type of change they're looking for.

Helen Wagoner agrees,  "Oh yes I think I am going to be voting for him. Absolutely.

Delegates say they feel confident voters in Ohio will elect Mitt Romney and Josh Mandel.
They also said they feel calm about the threat of Isaac - saying, "Everything is going to be okay."

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