Ohio Volunteers: Republicans still optimistic

The Colerain Victory Center coordinator, Kevin Modlin, a WKU alum, goes over directions with Poorvie Patel, a Bowling Green senior, before they canvas the neighborhood on Friday to persuade Republican voters to make it to the polls who do not normally vote.

Ella Burnside

Following Tuesday’s election results, the Republican students who campaigned in Ohio last weekend were disappointed by the outcome of the election but were also optimistic about the future.

The students, who campaigned in Hamilton County, Ohio, spoke respectfully about the decision voters made and were excited by the county’s voter participation increase from the 2008 presidential election.

Bowling Green senior Jon Carter said he had high expectations as he campaigned for Romney but didn’t have any idea which way Ohio would swing this election.

Because it was close and unclear, Carter said he was not surprised when Obama snagged Ohio’s 18 electoral votes. He said the state’s incredible diversity made it difficult to know which way it would go in an election this close.

“We knew it wouldn’t be a landslide victory,” Carter said. “But I thought it would be closer.”

As for his work and the work of his team, Carter said he feels as though their efforts still had value.

Bowling Green senior Poorvie Patel, who also campaigned for Mitt Romney in Ohio, said despite the loss of Hamilton County and the election as a whole for her candidate, the volunteering experience was a good one.

“It wasn’t like it was time wasted,” Patel said. “It was definitely worth it.”

She said to work and campaign in a state of such vital importance was cool but also disappointing when Romney lost the state.

“I thought Mitt Romney could have done a better job, but you know, President Obama has been reelected, and I hope that’s for the betterment of all of us,” Patel said. “People just need to move on.”

Patel said her group did all they could to help make Ohio a win for Romney.

“We were students from Kentucky going to Ohio,” Patel said. “Many, many other Republican students throughout the U.S. could have done something too.”

Taylorsville sophomore Chase Thomas said he believes their work made an impact in one of the most divided counties in Ohio. He also said that though Romney lost, Republicans shouldn’t continue to try and campaign against Obama.

“I think we should do what we can with what we have been given and support the President even though we may not agree with some of his policies,” Thomas said. “Going forward, I would encourage people to really get involved in politics and in learning the issues.”

Carter said he and the other students who campaigned in Ohio can’t be sad with what they did.

“Though it kind of hurts to see the candidate you wanted lose, it’s like a basketball game,” he said. “You can practice all you want, but it still comes down to what you do in the final game. America has spoken.”