Obama expected to speak in Valley

By David Skolnick

The Democrat fared poorly in the primary in the area.

YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is expected to have a town hall meeting Tuesday in the Youngstown area.

Isaac Baker, an Obama spokesman, said he couldn’t confirm or deny the visit.

But those involved in organizing the event — speaking on condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized by the campaign to discuss the visit — say details are being finalized.

The campaign’s advance staff will be in the area today looking for a venue, sources say. An official announcement from the campaign can come as early as today.

Obama last visited the area Feb. 18, speaking at a rally at Youngstown State University.

U.S. Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, visited the Democratic-heavy Mahoning Valley twice since April.

Obama fared poorly in the area during the March 4 Democratic primary, losing to U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clinton won the Ohio primary, and Obama hasn’t returned to the Mahoning Valley since then.

Obama received 31 percent of the primary vote in Trumbull County, 35 percent in Mahoning County, and 27 percent in Columbiana County.

“He needs to come here,” said William Binning, YSU political science professor emeritus. “This is the mother lode of Democratic votes that didn’t embrace him [in the primary.] He wants to bring as many of those Hillary votes to his side.”

Lisa Antonini, Mahoning County Democratic Party chairwoman, said Obama needs to “win over the Hillary supporters, and there are a lot of them here.”

Obama needs to “spend a great deal of time or as much as feasible in the Mahoning, Trumbull area,” Antonini said. “Spending time here will help get him the Democratic vote.”

Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown was to visit the Youngstown Business Incubator on West Federal Street today to stump for Obama.

skolnick@vindy.com