Audience members inspired

BY ROBYN SIDERSKY

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan told a crowd of about 2,800 people Tuesday that they have a unique opportunity and a serious responsibility with the election on Nov. 6.

Supporters of the Mitt Romney/Ryan ticket nearly filled the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center.

Jason Long of Washington said he thought Ryan was “awesome.” He said he thinks that the ticket will be good for the country and that Ryan and Romney will bring the country back to the direction we should be going.

“He’ll make jobs.” Long said.

Jim and Kelley Wallace came from Stafford County to hear the candidate speak.

“I think he is an amazing speaker. I think his message was spot-on,” said Jim Wallace.

Wallace said that Ryan and Romney have what it takes to get the country back on track.

His wife agreed with him.

“He’s taking the country back to the founding principles,” she said.

The crowd was full of supporters of all ages, including some who are too young to vote but came anyway.

Savannah Lacy, 17, of Fredericksburg said she and her friends have been watching the debates.

“We all wish we could vote, but we can’t,” she said.

She said she thinks the country is in a state of distress.

Her friend Bekka Mull, also 17, agreed.

“Obama has hurt our country so much,” she said. “I think Romney and Ryan can bring it back.”

Nick and Tina Freitas brought their three young children, Lilly, 9, Ally, 4, and Luke, 7, to the rally.

Nick Freitas said he is teaching his young ones about “the process and civics.”

He said his 9-year-old is learning about the U.S. Constitution.

He said he saw bringing them to the rally as educational and an opportunity for them to be involved.

Shannon Moses of Stafford said she believes in the same values as Romney and Ryan.

“I believe that they can restore the country,” she said.

Outside the rally, there was a small gathering of Obama supporters.

John Scibak, a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, came to challenge Romney and Ryan’s message.

He said he was in office when Romney was the governor of Massachusetts and that Romney was not accurately representing his time there.

He accused Romney of not always telling the truth and of having “selective amnesia.”

He said other legislators like him are doing the same thing at rallies in other battleground states.

Robyn Sidersky:  540/374-5413

rsidersky@freelancestar.com

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