The Republican National Convention came to a close last night with President Bush accepting his party’s nomination for a second term as president.
Speakers over the past four days have included Republicans Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Laura Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Also, Zell Miller a Democratic Senator spoke on behalf of President Bush on Wednesday.
“I really liked Arnold Schwartzenegger,” said Julie Corvo, a University of Dayton junior. “I like that he talked about people having the opportunity to do whatever they want in America.”
Corvo is a second-generation immigrant to the United States and she felt as though she could relate to his speech as if he was talking directly to her.
Corvo is one of many Republicans who was at the convention representing Ohio. ninety-one delegates from Ohio attend the convention, the state’s largest ever delegation to a Republican National Convention. Delagates were selected through an application and review process conducted by the presidential campaign, the Ohio Republican Party and elected Republican officials.
Corvo had the opportunity to attend the convention because she is the Co-chair of the Ohio College Republican Federation. She said she was thrilled with her trip.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” said Corvo. “It has been very inspiring to me as a young person.”
Corvo attended all of the night sessions where keynote speakers addressed the convention. She also had breakfast with Vice President Cheney Thursday.
The Bowling Green College Republicans did not have a chance to send members to the convention. Instead Students for Bush held a party at the Black Swamp Pub last night to watch President Bush’s acceptance speech.
“I think one of the biggest reason we decided to do this is because it’s one of the best ways to motivate people to come out and get involved in College Republicans and volunteer for the president, is through watching one of these speeches,” said Students for Bush Chair, Jim Wasil. “This is the speech to watch because he is outlining his second term agenda; this is really the motivational speech.”
“I decided to come tonight because I am a hardcore Republican and I want to get involved with campus stuff; it’s my freshman year and this is one of the things that I believe in and support the most,” said freshman Andrew Schwisow.
Wasil said that there were thousands of similar parties being held around the country to watch the President’s speech.
Members of Students for Bush agree that the convention will be helpfull to the campaign, however Democrats disagree.
“I think it’s been really good I think the party has done a good job of catering to Republicans, Moderates, and Democrats with Zell Miller speaking,” said Wasil.
College Republican Chair, Monica Winkler, agreed that it has been a successful event.
“I’m pumped,” said Winkler. “Rudy Guiliani’s speech was just right. It helped me rekindle the importance of remembering Sept. 11 and why we should not falter. Why we should keep Bush in the Whitehouse.”
The only aspect that Winkler saw as a negative aspect was the protesters. There have been a number of protest related arrests. More than 1,700 protesters have been arrested.
“New York should act as a welcoming host and not ridicule the guest’s right to be there,” said Winkler. “I know one in five are democrats in New York, but let’s be respectable. There is a reason that the convention is held there. They should never forget that reason.”
