By Salena Zito

Published: Sunday, May 20, 2012, 12:30 a.m.
Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Dave Betras is known in "The Valley" for his colorful language and his political antics and drama. Last Wednesday, however, when Vice President Joe Biden visited a local industrial park, Betras was all about numbers.

"Oh, 'The Valley' is going to turn out big for Barack Obama this year, big!" he said, spreading his arms wide for emphasis. The chairman of Mahoning County's Democrats pointed to local manufacturer M7 Technologies' shipping warehouse filled with people waiting to hear Biden speak. "Turnout like today, a full room," said Betras, 52.

If his job is to turn out Obama supporters on Election Day, he may want to check on their allegiances before he buses them to the polls. Many Youngstown attendees at Biden's event do not support him or the president.

Bob McClain and his wife, Myra, came to M7 Technologies to support their friends' family business. Neither supports the Obama-Biden ticket.

"We are friends of the owners -- that is why we came, to show support for the Garvey family," said Bob. At 71, he's retired but volunteers full-time as a counselor for Mahoning Valley small-business owners.

"Our vote is going for who is best to lead on the economy. That is Romney, for us," said Myra as her husband nodded.

Richard Furillo stood with his son Matthew at his son's workplace; a lifelong Democrat, he voted for Obama in 2008 but won't again. "I don't know why I did it but I cannot stand any more 'change,'" he said, referring to the president's old campaign slogan.

Father and son both said they attended the event to support the company.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a sitting vice president," added Matthew, also a Democrat. He, too, said he will vote for Romney.

Standing beside them, Jeff Cunningham echoed their sentiments: "The biggest challenge in this country is creating jobs that last, jobs that sustain families." The 36-year-old Mahoning Valley native said he will vote for Romney.

Montgomery "Monty" Deruyter sat several rows from where Biden stood to address the crowd. The 43-year-old father of two started working at M7 as a machinist two months ago; uncertainty drives him to favor Romney.

"I hold both parties at arm's length but trust Romney's business skills to lead on the economy," he said.

These were just six of more than a score of people interviewed who said they will not vote for Obama in November; they were the audience members not captured by TV cameras, who sat respectfully during Biden's 30-minute populist speech while the party faithful -- gathered up and bused in by Betras -- leaped up every time Biden's voice rose.

Even so, those faithful voiced discontent -- and worry that some in their community have no reason to vote for the president next fall.

Joe Louis Teague, 70, a black community icon who has run several unsuccessful campaigns for local office, is in charge of coordinating the Obama campaign's voter registration in the Mahoning Valley. He is worried about the black vote because "people are discouraged."

Black-on-black crime is out of control; drugs and poor parenting are at the heart of that problem, he said.

"I am going to be honest, I think he could have done more," he said of the first black president's attention to the black community. "I think he needs to do more."

As Biden switched between fiery class-warfare rhetoric and whispers about his upbringing in neighboring Pennsylvania, two things stood out: no mention of coal or Marcellus shale natural gas -- the resources bringing prosperity back to this region -- and his talk of middle-class resentment.

"They don't get it! They don't get who we are!" he shouted about how Republicans don't understand the little guy in places such as Ohio and Pennsylvania.

That's an interesting take from Biden, considering Obama's "understanding" of those same embittered, gun- and Bible-clinging voters that he famously described at a high-dollar San Francisco fundraiser in 2008.

It probably is why last week's Quinnipiac poll showed Obama's advantage over Romney in the Buckeye State at only 1 percentage point.

1. Pens’ Shero talks with Letang’s agent
2. NHL insider: Penguins’ Shero seems ready to move Letang
3. Bethel Park offensive lineman Grimm picks Pitt
4. Steelers rookie safety Thomas learning from Polamalu, Clark
5. Worker hurt on East Ohio Street bridge
6. Pitt adds defensive recruit from Philadelphia
7. Penguins notebook: Pens talking with Dupuis’ reps
8. Pittsburgh Council rejects expansion of Mexican War Streets historic district
9. Pirates notebook: Beanballs escalate tension against Reds
10. FedEx 4Q profit drops as economic growth is weak
11. Judge: Murrysville man deserves jail time for collecting child porn, threatening postal inspector

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.