Romney, Ryan to appear in West Chester on Friday

Local GOP members are abuzz that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan are scheduled to appear in West Chester Twp. on Friday — only four days before the election.

Romney, his wife, Ann, and Paul Ryan will head to The Square at Union Centre at 9285 Centre Point Drive for the event, which will mark Romney’s first appearance in Butler County during the campaign. Doors are scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m. with the program starting at 7:30 p.m. Ryan has previously appeared in Oxford, where he was a student at Miami University.

“This is a big deal. It’s especially important since it’s four days before the election. We want everyone to turn out and be energized,” said Nancy Nix, the Butler County treasurer. Speaker of the House John Boehner and Sen. Rob Portman are also expected to appear, she said.

Butler County will be especially critical to the campaign because it represents a major voting bloc in southwest Ohio that could turn the election in Romney’s favor, she said.

“It’s critical that we overcome the large vote for the other team in Cuyahoga County,” Nix said, referring to the northeast Ohio area, which votes heavily Democratic.

“We’re part of the four-county area that put (George W.) Bush over the top in 2004,” Nix said. The other counties are Warren, Clermont and Hamilton.

Candidates for both parties have blanketed Ohio with appearances to win what is seen as a key swing state, which went to President Obama in 2008.

Obama is scheduled to appear in Cincinnati at 10:20 a.m. Wednesday at the Duke Energy Convention Center downtown. Romney is also scheduled to appear with Sen. John McCain at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Trent Arena in Kettering.

Tickets for the West Chester event are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations:

Liberty Township Victory Center

4879 Mercedes Drive

Liberty Township, OH 45011

Lebanon Victory Center

30 West Main Street

Lebanon, OH 45036

Kenwood Victory Center

8220 Northcreek Drive

Cincinnati, OH 45236

Colerain Victory Center

8240 Clara Ave.