By Kevin Williams
For Election Day my job was to chronicle the happenings in Montgomery County, Ohio, home to the city of Dayton. But it also home to some more conservative rural communities too. This mix makes the county a bellwether county. So goes Montgomery County, so goes the nation. The past two cycles Montgomery County voted for Barack Obama by very slim margins. What would happen this time?
The line was some 37 deep at a precinct in Middletown, Ohio when polls opened at 6:30 a.m.
Kenneth Barker stands out in his yard the day after savoring the victory.
Barker represents the type of working class voter that Trump so carefully courted and ultimately won over in Ohio with its hollowed out working class cities like Middletown.
Barker spent 42 years working in a local steel mill.
“I started there when things were good, and left when it was bad,” Barker said, adding that the company ultimately couldn’t compete with imports and free trade.
“Donald Trump is the person to fix what is wrong in this country. I was touched that he was running to make America great again. He touched us all, the working people.” Barker said.
Ralph Keyes and his wife, Muriel, canvas for Hillary Clinton in east Dayton.
It was busy inside the voting booths at Holy Family Catholic Church in Dayton
Members of the Campus Democrats on the University of Dayton campus held sway until later in the day trying to persuade denizens to vote.
The Macedonia Missionary Church in Dayton’s largely Africa-American west side welcomed voters with a “hospitality” team to ensure no one was harrassed or intimidated.
Ultimately, Trump was able to flip Montgomery County into his column which he carried 48.4 to 47.1 percent. So the country will maintain its status as a razor-thin bellwether county.
4 Comments
Karen Onnen
Kevin – Enjoyed your writing assignment on the election. Also enjoy your updates on Aster and Bea. Hope Rosana returns soon.. Your Amish Cook does a nice jog with her column each week.
Kevin
Thank you, Karen!
Jill Fugate
In the several elections that I have had opportunity to observe and vote in, this one was by far and away the most exciting! It kept us up until around 3:40 A.M. Wed…
Yes, at times I was ready for it to end, but truthfully now, I miss it! I could not be happier
with the outcome. While some of the leftie voters wept their own brand of tears at the results- I cheered and rejoiced. I know others who shed happy tears, too.
I and millions of others were truly fearing that our nation was about to slide away. With
Trump’s victory I once again have hope. Eight long years of BHO was way, way too much for me to bear. To think of a 3rd year of basically the same was terrifying to me.
It was an historical election. It was unique. It was often compared to the Truman/Dewey race of 1948…… one we still hear about on a regular basis. How exciting this election was… sometimes just a bit tiring… but never boring…….never weary, in my opinion… but grandly exciting! I thank God for the results; and I pray that He, our heavenly Father, will
lead and direct our new president- and our greatest nation on this good earth, through the treacherous days ahead. Thank you.
Kevin
Jill, I will continue my policy of neutrality on the topic….but, yes, it was an exciting election…full of drama…let’s hope and pray for the best!