by Nick Castele
Updated 8/10/15
The Republican debate in Cleveland kicks off Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena. And there will also be plenty of activity outside the Q.
More than a dozen Republican presidential candidates descend upon Cleveland this week, and several are trying to get in a bit of old-fashioned campaigning while they’re here.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio held a rally in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. His host was Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, who broke from other major state Republicans this year in endorsing a rival to Gov. John Kasich’s presidential ambitions.
Another 2016 contender, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, scheduled a visit to a Cleveland landmark—Slyman’s Restaurant on St. Clair Avenue. In past years, this eatery famous for its corned-beef has opened its doors to Vice President Joe Biden and then-president George W. Bush.
And Northeast Ohio will play host to a bevy of debate watch parties. There’s one for supporters of immigration reform, for raising the minimum wage, and for the state Democratic and Republican Parties, just to name a few.
Michele Combs is the founder of Young Conservatives for Energy Reform, which advocates using more renewable energy.
She said she traveled to Ohio to host a watch party because of the state's political importance.
"We want to be part of the first debate, and we wanted to show the Republicans that are here in town what we care about."
Ned Ryun is with the political training institute American Majority. He’s running a session in Cleveland with the American Conservative Union training conservative activists to become more effective campaigners.
"Obviously, Ohio’s going to be a very key state in 2016," Ryun said. "And if we can equip the grassroots here in Ohio to do the right things, better our chances to win the state next year."
It’s just one of many times Ohio will be the center of political attention between now and November 2016.
