Bucks County delegates at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland have positive things to say about the host city and the meeting that drew them there.
“It’s delightful. The town is amazing,” delegate Jim Worthington, who is a business person who owns the Newtown Athletic Club, said of Cleveland.
Delegate Robert Loughery, a Bedminster resident who works as the chairman of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners, also shared his praise for the host city. “Cleveland is treating us spectacularly, really top-notch.”
The two delegates said there has been tight security in the city and at the convention at the Quickens Loans Arena in downtown.
“This is really the safest place in the world. Roads are closed and shut down. It sort of looks like an apocalypse movie,” Worthington said with a chuckle.
The city that sits in the northern portion of Ohio on Lake Erie has been accommodating to the thousands of Republicans from across the nation who are visiting, the delegates said.
Loughery said the delegates from Bucks County have had a busy schedule during the convention and often get back to their hotel rooms between midnight and 1 a.m.
Credit: Republican National Convention Committee
Worthington, who had not been to any previous RNCs, said Pennsylvania delegates were seeing a host of powerful party members because the state is considered an important swing state in the presidential election. The businessman said he was impressed to see Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, Senator Jeff Sessions and others.
“It’s clear that Pennsylvania is a bellwether,” he said. “[The Pennsylvania delegation] had some good speakers.”
While cable news and online sites have been filled with coverage over lines from Melania Trump’s speech being nearly identical to Michelle Obama’s 2008 speech at the Democratic National Convention and other small commotions, Loughery said most delegates he has spoken to aren’t talking about those issues.
“There’s a been a lot of great energy on the floor,” he said, noting that he enjoyed the speeches by presidential candidate Donald Trump’s children.
.@PAGOP Chairman Gleason & PA delegation at #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/g9eYJJyIMB
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Worthington said while there have been some “interesting” moments on the floor, most delegates are there to support Trump and fellow Republicans. “There are far more pressing issues to discuss,” he said.
Worthington said he has made a point to walk around the convention floor and observe other delegations and speak to people from all over the country. He also said it has been interesting to meet various media personalities and people like Newt Gingrich.
Cleveland is Loughery’s second RNC and is meeting all his expectations. He said Wednesday evening that he was most looking forward to Gov. Mike Pence, Trump’s vice presidential pick, and Trump himself speaking before the crowd.
While Loughery supported Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the primary, he said he has thrown his support behind Trump at the convention because the majority of the Eighth Congressional District’s Republicans voted to back the outspoken businessman.
Worthington stated he supported Trump at the convention and has helped efforts to back the Republican nominee in Bucks County.
The local delegates say their packed days are filled with meetings and convention-related activities inside the city. Cleveland.com has reported that northeast Ohio tourism agencies are working to target RNC visitors who get a chance to slip out of the city. Between the convention and related tourism, RNC organizers expect their festivities to bring $200 million in direct economic impact to the region.
“These are long days and we’re constantly on the move,” Loughery said, adding that he was about to board a shuttle bus to the convention floor.
