ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Most local counties don't even have one Republican Party headquarters, but Belmont County now has two.
And both are being put to use as the county GOP prepares to welcome Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin Sunday at Brush Run park west of St. Clairsville.
Tickets for the event are available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Saturday at the main county headquarters, located at 408 S. Jefferson St. in Belmont, and at the new GOP satellite headquarters at 107 Plaza Drive, Suite A at Plaza West in St. Clairsville.
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Photo by Joselyn King
Belmont County Republican Party Chairman Kent Moore stands at the county GOP’s satellite office at Plaza West in St. Clairsville.
Despite the fact that Democrats continue to outnumber Republicans in Belmont County by a margin of 2-1, there has been a lot of excitement within the Republican Party this election year, according to county party Chairman Kent Moore.
If fact, he said, he has been taking a number of calls from Ohio County residents wanting candidate signs. There is no GOP headquarters in Ohio County this election year.
Moore attributes the increased interest in the Republican Party in recent weeks largely to one person - Palin, Alaska's governor and the running mate of presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
She even appears to be bringing some Democrats into the fold, he noted, many of whom had supported the unsuccessful presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.
"They tell me they really like Palin," Moore said. "Some feel the Democrats snubbed Hillary."
Among the most popular signs at the Belmont County GOP offices are those stating "Another Democrat for McCain," and Moore said the county party has had difficulty keeping up with demand.
Democrat Meek Duvall of Bellaire was among those picking up one of the signs last week in Belmont.
"I don't believe in the Democratic Party anymore," he said. "They don't go along with us anymore. For the working man they're not.
"It's a free country, and I can vote for whomever I want to," he added.
When the county ran out of the Democrat for McCain signs, Moore said he offered those seeking them a McCain-Palin sign instead - but they didn't want it.
"They said, 'Those are fine, but I want to make a statement,'" Moore said.
"Those signs really aren't staying up long in those communities along the river. People are taking them down, and it doesn't do any party any good.
He noted he doesn't believe you have to be a Democrat to get the most votes in Belmont County.
"If you're the right person - and you're willing to work really, really hard you have a shot," Moore said. "If you are outnumbered, it does make it harder. But you can do it.
"The average voter should want a strong Republican Party in Belmont County. This makes the other side produce their best and gives voters a choice."
Moore said he offered the McCain campaign a number of venues for the Palin visit before it ultimately picked the Brush Run Park site. He suspects that with excellent weather expected Sunday, the campaign wished to hold an outdoor event.