Displaying items by tag: RNC

The Republican National Convention is over, but the impact Northeast Ohio has had on at least one out-of-state delegate is enough to make him want to move here.

"I love it," said Efraim Manglona Atalig, mayor of Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands. "I was thinking, like, I wish I could move here."

Atalig's explanation is quite simple.

"I felt welcome and the people are friendly."

The delegates of the Northern Mariana Islands spent the week in the Akron-area. Atalig said he was able to explore the city and visit some of Northeast Ohio's most popular attractions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"It was awesome."

Atalig said that it was the friendly environment that surprised him and left him wanting more.

"The people, at least in the establishments that I visited, the cashiers and the waitresses, they're very very friendly, and that struck me."

With the Republican National Convention winding down, how does it stack up with past conventions?

Bob Schieffer would know. The veteran CBS newsman has been covering conventions since 1968. While he says he hasn't seen anything quite like the violence of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, he referred to this year's RNC as "the most unusual." He talked to Jasen Sokol Thursday afternoon about the RNC and next week's Democratic National Convention.

CBS Evening News anchorman Scott Pelley talks to WAKR's Jasen Sokol about the challenges of covering the Trump campaign, why he believes Ohio is critical in winning the presidential race, and how well he thinks Cleveland has done hosting the Republican National Convention.

John Dickerson, host of CBS News' Face The Nation, joined Jasen on Media Row at the Republican National Convention to talk about the importance of Ohio in the presidential race, how presumptive GOP candidate Donald Trump affects Senate candidate Rob Portman, and how political experts can better study Trump voters.

What happens inside of Tower City in Cleveland when the Republican National Convention comes into town? 

WAKR wanted to see if the pedestrian traffic increased/decreased inside of the building that neighbors Public Square in downtown Cleveland. Here's a pair of timelapse videos over a 10 minute period on the same day (around the same time) -- before and during the RNC: 

It was a busy day on The Jasen Sokol Show on Day 1 of The Republican National Convention. Here's the rundown of everyone who stopped by Media Row today:

Rep. Jim Renacci on whether Ohio Republicans are coalescing around Donald Trump

Tim Dimoff of SACS Consulting, Security, and Investigations on security measures around Cleveland

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan on the RNC's impact on Akron

Analysis from Tom Sutton of Baldwin Wallace University

Analysis from David Cohen of the Bliss Institute for Applied Politics at The University of Akron

Mark "Oz" Geist shares his stories of fighting in Benghazi

Former Akron City Council candidate Cynthia Blake on why she's a Republican

The Circle The City With Love rally and march to the Hope Memorial Bridge that heads into downtown Cleveland was a success, according to revelers and organizers alike. Roughly 3,000 attendees showed up to spread the message of love and peace during a time of well-documented tension across the nation. 

The large group organized near the corner of W. 30th St. and Lorain Rd. and began their trek up and over the Hope Memorial Bridge around 2:30 Sunday afternoon. Once on the bridge, two single-file lines were formed on either side of the bridge as the marchers held hands and took part in a 30-minute-long moment of silence; a moment to represent the peace all Northeast Ohio residents and visitors to the area would like to see maintained throughout the 4 days of the Republican National Convention. 

After the silence, the group cheered and clapped, celebrating a successful event. It was then that the most powerful moment of the event occurred. The people who showed up for the peaceful march lined up once again, this time to shake the hands of, thank, and even hug all of the bicycle police officers who came to the event to help maintain a safe environment. See the video below: 

The namesake of the University of Akron's Bliss Institute and past Republican National Conventions are getting some attention inside a new exhibit on display in downtown Akron.

Victor Fleischer, associate professor and head of the University of Akron Archival Services, said the exhibit will give visitors, (especially those here for the upcoming RNC), a look at the political legacy of University of Akron alumnus Ray C. Bliss.

"He was really known for reviving the Republican party after the failed Barry Goldwater campaign, helping (Richard) Nixon to be elected president in 1968 and helping to preserve the two-party system which is very important in American politics."

The exhibit will include historic photographs, documents, artifacts from UA's archival services, and period clothing from the Summit County Historical Society. It will also showcase memorabilia from past Republican National Conventions.

(Ray C. Bliss, photo courtesy of the University of Akron Archival Services)

The free exhibit titled "Mr. Chairman: Ray C. Bliss and the RNC" is currently on display inside the Ohio Building at 175 S. Main Street (King James Way). The exhibit will remain open through November 8th. It's located on the fourth floor of the Ohio Building during normal business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.