Josh Romney stops at KCAC on bus tour

The son of presidential candidate Mitt Romney stopped at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex Thursday while on a bus tour campaigning for the Republican presidential candidate. 

 Josh Romney, who began his Western Pennsylvania tour Thursday morning in Beaver County, also stopped in Butler before his arrival at the KCAC. Romney said he had been in Mississippi that morning as well.

“Pennsylvania is an important state,” said Jesse Daniel, Indiana County Republican Committee chaiman. “So, naturally, Governor Romney and his surrogates are very excited and interested in coming here.

“Now, they have limited time, so we did have to do some jockeying, some requests for them to come here, and they were gracious enough to give us some of their time. 

“So it was a combination of the great grassroots efforts that we have here in Indiana County.”

Prior to the arrival of Romney and the official Romney campaign bus, a crowd consisting of both Romney and Barack Obama supporters joined in patriotic songs such as “God Bless America,” the National Anthem and “Proud to be an American / God Bless the USA.”

“This isn’t something I’ve ever done before and usually this makes me really nervous, but I have to stand up for what I believe in, and I don’t believe in the values that Romney is putting forth,” said Katie Stanko (psychology), an Obama supporter who attended the event.

Near the end of “God Bless the USA,” word was received that the Romney bus had arrived. The crowd erupted in cheers as the bus pulled in and Romney got off and walked to a podium in front of the KCAC. 

Romney later revealed that the inspiration behind the 2012 campaign run was his mother, Ann. 

She encouraged her husband to run and attempt to reduce the $12 trillion debt that the country faced in 2009, a debt that has since increased to $16 trillion.

“[My Dad said], ‘I think I can [reduce the debt], in fact, I think I’m the only one running for president who can,’” Romney said.

The son of the presidential candidate also criticized President Obama, saying that “he is not focused on the economy, he’s not focused on jobs, he’s focused on his social programs.”

“Can we afford four more years of President Obama?” Romney asked. “We absolutely need leadership like my Dad, someone who understands the economy.”

Romney also appealed to religious supporters, thanking them for their prayers.

“We need not just your prayers–which we need desperately but we need your votes, we need you to go out and make phone calls and work hard for us.”

Romney also talked about the importance of college involvement in politics after the speech, referencing a student’s entrance into the job market.

A Romney supporter, who shouted at an IUP student holding a pro-Obama sign after the speech, said to the students, “You should go home and study, ha!” 

The student replied, “I do study, I have straight As.”