CLEVELAND — The rally had been over for more than 10 minutes, and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney had already exited the building, but young Ohioans in attendance at Romney’s Cleveland rally Sunday afternoon weren’t leaving. They were waiting for Republican Senate candidate Josh Mandel.
“Josh Mandel — he relates to us,” said 18-year-old Carli Turrittin, who is excited to be voting for the first time this election. “He’s a very conservative guy. He has amazing values, amazing family values. And he truly wants what’s best for the American people.”
“He just really shows you what true leaders should be like,” added her sister Page, 16.
If elected, Mandel, 35, would be the youngest member of the U.S. Senate, stealing that title from Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both of whom are 41. (Rubio is seven days older than Lee.) Couple his age with his boyish face and it’s no wonder Mandel appeals to Ohio youth.
Carla Frank, 21, who voted early — “all Republican all the way” — likes the change Mandel could bring to Washington.
“Younger faces and some new people can bring some new change, new ideas,” she said. “Young Americans need more of a voice, I think.”
More young adults should get involved in the political scene, she added.
Mandel’s time in the Marine Corps also appeals to Ohio youth. Several young men at both the Cleveland rally and a Team Boehner rally later that day in Youngstown said they respected him for his military service. Two of the Cleveland youth said they also hoped to serve. One of the young men in Youngstown said he was currently serving. Frank’s siblings, Charlotte, 17, and Peter, 16, also said they liked that Mandel served in the Marine Corps because their brother is about to enter the Marine Corps.
Peter also said he admired Mandel’s involvement in politics at such a young age.
“A lot of these other people are a little bit older than he is, but it’s good to see that somebody just a little bit younger than all these other people is getting involved, making a difference in Washington,” he added.
Even though he had several TV interivews lined up and the Youngstown rally to attend immediately after the Cleveland event, Mandel stayed after the event for more than 30 minutes to take pictures with young people and autograph every Romney campaign sign put before him.
In all, Mandel met with about 40 young people after the event before leaving the Internationnal Exposition Center where the event was held.
