Local Audience Says Romney Gives Hope

The economy, jobs, military, foreign policy and education were just some of the issues concerning former Gov. Mitt Romney's supporters who came to hear the candidate speak Friday at Valley Forge Military Academy and College. 

Wendy Neininger of Willistown Township, a registered Democrat, is supporting Romney. In 2008, Neininger supported Hillary Clinton, but when Clinton lost the Democratic primary to President Barack Obama, Neininger changed her allegiance. Now, she volunteers at the Romney Victory Office in West Chester. 

Neininger is concerned about the job market and said college students are scared about the future.

“It’s not just the older workers who can’t find jobs; it’s the younger workers too,” she said.

Cabrini College students Jen Farina, of New Jersey, and Maria Monstra, of West Chester, expressed concern over the job market as well and were happy to hear Romney’s plan.

“I think what he had to say was great,” Farina said.

Monstra also agreed with Romney’s points about utilizing energy sources in the United States, about not raising taxes and in particular, about the military.  Monstra’s boyfriend is in the military, so she is concerned about the military spending cuts that Romney spoke in opposition to in his speech.

“It’s scary. They’re the ones who protect our lives,” she said.

Fred Floyd, of Havertown, is a veteran who served four years in the Navy and four years in the Army. 

“I’m glad he spoke out,” Floyd said of Romney’s points on military spending.

Floyd, a Republican Committee member, went on to say that he is also concerned about education. He is concerned about the cost of a college education and that many students are not prepared to do college level schoolwork. 

“I think he [Romney] covered the important points,” Floyd said.

Some of the points that Alan Brink, chair of the Radnor Republican Party, found most important included Romney’s thoughts on improving the economy and creating jobs. He thinks Romney can create the change he sees as necessary to help small businesses.

“Obama doesn’t understand entrepreneurship,” Brink said.

Echoing the concerns of other Romney supporters who were at the event, Brink also mentioned the concerns of college students. The students, he said, are worried about getting jobs when they graduate and also about the country’s debt.

“They [college students] might have to pay this debt back,” Brink said.

People are scared, Brink went on to say. Romney’s appearance and speech today addressed some of people’s fears.

“He gave us some hope.”