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Republican VP candidate Mike Pence holds rally in Marietta

Gov. Mike Pence, of Indiana, points out to the crowd gathered in Marietta High School’s gymnasium Tuesday during a rally for the Trump-Pence presidential ticket. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)

MARIETTA — More than 1,200 residents filled Marietta High School’s gymnasium Tuesday brimming with excitement, hope and energy as they awaited the entrance of the Republican Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence.

“I volunteered to work this rally because I believe in the platform of the Republican Party,” said Tonya Booth, 57, of Marietta. “I’m hopeful that this election will turn the tide of the country and I think Mr. (Donald) Trump and Mr. Pence are doing well in Ohio and I hope to see them take North Carolina too before this election finishes.”

“This is terribly exciting for our community,” said Mark Kerenyi, 50, of Marietta. “Though judicial candidates can’t endorse any particular candidate I think the party is going to do really well and I think we’re all ready for Nov. 8.”

Before the candidate’s entrance, MHS’s dance team performed a routine across the floor beneath the podium.

“The campaign asked the school groups if we’d like to help and I thought it would be nice to show hospitality to him,” said the Marquettes’ coach Vickie Hall, 37, of Marietta. “We’re not embracing either candidate or making any student take a side, I just thought what a great opportunity it would be for them to perform on a national stage in their first year as a team.”

Gov. Mike Pence, left, of Indiana, stops to grab a selfie with Kyle Hockenberry, 25, center, of Newport, and his wife Ashley Hockenberry, 27, following the rally for the Trump-Pence presidential ticket Tuesday in Marietta. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)

Pence, current governor of Indiana, spoke for the Trump-Pence Republican presidential ticket following the dance performance and emphasized the need for party unity in Ohio just two weeks before votes are tallied across the nation for this year’s election on Nov. 8.

“The American people are sick and tired of pay-to-play politics and it’s exactly those kind of politics that are going to come crashing down when we elect Donald Trump as the President of the United States,” said Pence to those gathered. “Donald Trump has a plan to bring honesty and change to Washington, D.C. This election I truly do believe is about security, it’s about prosperity and it’s about the Supreme Court of the United States of America.”

The governor further focused on several national issues including security at home and abroad,  health care reform and the future economic prosperity of the American people.

“There’s no question that the world is a more dangerous place today than the day that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama took over foreign policy,” said Pence. “Our allies are less secure and our enemies are more emboldened and in seven and a half years their policies have weakened America and set entire areas of the Middle East virtually spinning apart.”

The Indiana governor further spoke of the need for presidential support behind veterans returned home from serving in the armed forces, a sentiment which struck a cord with several in the crowd.

Gov. Mike Pence, of Indiana, points out to the crowd gathered in Marietta High School’s gymnasium Tuesday during a rally for the Trump-Pence presidential ticket. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)

“Iraq was secure by the outset of this administration and you know before I take one step further I’ll bet there are men and women in the room who have served this nation in recent years and in the distant past. Would you mind sliding your hand in the air to let us show our appreciation one more time,” he said.

Cheers and applause filled the gym as Pence then stepped away from the podium, pointing to each veteran in the crowd and saying thank you.

“He’s a big supporter of veterans which really hits home with us,” said Ashley Hockenberry, 27, of Newport. “He even came down off the stage when he recognized all of the veterans in the crowd to shake my husband’s hand.”

“We came in supporting him and Donald Trump but this really affirmed that as we listened to him and what he had to say about where America needs to go,” said Kyle Hockenberry, 25, of Newport.

“We cannot have four more years of apologizing to our enemies, abandoning our friends and failing to invest in the arsenal of democracy,” said Pence. “America needs to be strong and Donald Trump will lead on the world stage.”

Gov. Mike Pence, of Indiana, speaks to the crowd gathered in Marietta High School’s gymnasium Tuesday during a rally for the Trump-Pence presidential ticket. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)

Pence also discussed Immigration at Tuesday’s rally.

“While Hillary Clinton advocates for open borders, Donald Trump will eliminate illegal immigration once and for all and remove dangerous criminal aliens from our country,” said Pence to roars of support from the crowd both in front of him and behind in the bleachers. “While Hillary Clinton wants to increase Syrian refugees to this country even though our security officials say we can’t know who they are for sure, Donald Trump and I will immediately suspend any immigration from countries that have been compromised by terrorism.”

Marilyn Moody, 80, of Marietta, was among those in the crowd rallying behind Pence’s words on immigration.

“At this point we can no longer allow just anybody to come in to our country,” she said. “For other countries it takes a while to get in and we need to do the same for our own safety. We need guards at the border and people need to be properly vetted.”

“But it’s not just about security abroad and safety at home,” said Pence. “It’s also about prosperity.”

The economy, trade and energy were also touched on by Pence.

“We’re in the weakest economic recovery since the great depression,” he said. “Millions more are below the poverty line than when President Obama took over, and Hillary Clinton’s plan is more of the same.”

Pence then outlined the Trump-Pence plan to work with re-elected Republican majorities in Congress to cut taxes for working families, small businesses and family farms, do away with death taxes and lower big business taxes for job creation at home instead of overseas.

“And when Donald Trump becomes negotiator-in-chief, trade is going to mean American jobs first,” he said. “We’re going to re-negotiate (the North American Free Trade Agreement), we’re going to get out of this trans-pacific deal and we’re going to negotiate trade agreements that work for the American worker first.”

One undecided voter drove for more than two hours to attend the rally and listen specifically for the ticket’s stance on trade and energy issues was Jasper Grubb, 20, of Pennsylvania.

“I came because Mike Pence is a conservative voice for the Midwest and as a teetering voter myself I really would like to see what he has to say about energy issues and union issues,” said Grubb. “Free trade and the energy is a big issue for us and the development of our natural resources should be expanded not stifled by over-regulation.”

But while many in the crowd cheered for Pence’s remarks concerning what he called the Democratic Party’s war on coal, Willa O’Neill, chair of the Democratic Party in Washington County shared a different view in a statement released Tuesday.

“Mike Pence visiting the Ohio Valley doesn’t change the fact that he’s an aggressive right-to-work advocate and that Donald Trump refuses to support legislation to extend vital health insurance coverage for nearly 13,000 retired coal workers,” she said. “Voters know that Trump says one thing, yet does another, such as buying steel from China instead of from Ohio. How could he possibly make American great again when he doesn’t even make things in America in the first place? We in the Valley deserve better, and Hillary Clinton, who will create jobs by making the biggest investment in infrastructure since World War II, is the clear choice in this election.”

Others who were present for the rally aligned with Republican Party stances against Obamacare and left the rally hopeful for the outlook of the coming election.

“Obamacare is a huge issue that needs to be removed and health care needs to be looked at from scratch again,” Cathy Grosel, of Marietta, said. “With the old system only those with pre-existing conditions were getting hurt and yes, that needed to change, but now this system is hurting everybody and making health care in no way affordable to anyone. People can’t afford to get sick anymore and the party is right, this system isn’t any better.”

“I don’t think this race is over until the final vote is counted on Nov. 8,” said Cassidi Shoad, 29, of Marietta. “I felt more hopeful after this and know that those who feel hope have more confidence to vote for their beliefs. I hope voters will allow Mr. Trump the chance to prove his ability to be a harbinger of peace and a leader of our nation.”

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