Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney will appear today in Lorain today at the former National Gypsum Co. plant, the Lorain Morning Journal reports.

Romney, who is virtually assured of winning the GOP nomination, visits the county the day after President Barack Obama appeared Wednesday in Elyria at Lorain County Community College.

The Morning Journal reports that Romney will speak at 12:45 p.m., according to Helen Hurst, chair of the Lorain County Republican Party.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah

When President Barack Obama last visited Lorain County in 2010, his visit to Lorain County Community College was dubbed a “town hall” meeting, open to the public, the Lorain Morning Journal reports. When he returns today, it will be a different affair.

The newspaper reports the event is closed to the public, and about 275 people will be attending, invitation only, according to Steve Sefchik, spokesman for LCCC. A majority of the invitees appear to be local city officials and council members, but others have received invitations as well.

Lately, the president has also urged Congress to pass the Buffett Rule, which he says asks those who make more than $1 million a year to pay at least the same percentage of their income in taxes as middle class families — as a principle of fairness.

The public can view the president’s address live at www.whitehouse.gov. Obama is scheduled to speak about 2:30 p.m. at the College Center.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah

The staff of U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, will hold office hours on the fifth floor of the county administration building in Painesville from 11 a.m. to noon April 26.

During this time, constituents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns with a district representative who will provide their feedback to the senator. No appointments are needed.

“Keeping an open dialogue with constituents is a top priority for me and I encourage people to take advantage of the opportunity to talk to a member of my staff,” Portman said in a statement. “Over the past two years, I’ve traveled to every county in the state and have found it helpful to hear about the issues that are of concern to Ohioans. Listening to constituents enables me to better determine how I can fight for their interests in Washington.”

Portman staff will travel to each county in Ohio to meet with constituents during office hours, connect with local elected officials and attend community events.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah

President Barack Obama will visit Lorain Community College in Elyria on Wednesday and will deliver remarks on the economy at 2:30 p.m. at the College Center, the Lorain Morning Journal reports.

Obama also visited the college in 2010 as part of his White House to Main Street Tour.

It looks like the president again targets Ohio as a place to make news.

It’s probably not a coincidence that Lorain also is the home county for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who is up for re-election this year. Brown battles Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, who won the Republican Party primary last month.

Obama’s campaign also opened up a campaign office last week in Mentor, so the president’s re-election campaign is in full swing in Northeast Ohio.

Lately, the president has also urged Congress to pass the Buffett Rule, which he says asks those who make more than $1 million a year to pay at least the same percentage of their income in taxes as middle class families — as a principle of fairness.

In a statement, the Republican National Committee blasted the president’s proposal.

“After nearly a full term in office, Barack Obama’s only economic message seems to be the Buffett Tax Hike which is nothing more than a shiny object that would fail to raise enough money to even fund the government for a day,” the statement said. “Instead of pushing a purely political gimmick that does nothing to put people back to work, Barack Obama should get serious addressing unacceptably high unemployment, rising costs at the pump, and increasing health care premiums that continue to weigh on Ohio family budgets.”

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah

A classic childhood toy has made its way into the campaign for the Republican presidential candidate. Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney this week compared it to an Etch A Sketch: "You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again."

Other politicians jumped on this remark and interpreted it in their own way, while major stores reported a jump in sales and the stock's value nearly tripled today.

My favorite part about the incident was the company's marketing director's comment: "We have a left knob and a right knob, so we neutrally speak to both parties."

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum holds
an Etch A Sketch. (Associated Press photo)

Full story from John Seewer of The Associated Press:

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Pushed to the bottom of the toy box by video games and other high-tech gadgets, Etch A Sketch is suddenly drawing lots of attention, thanks to a gaffe that has shaken up the race for the White House.
Ohio Art Co., maker of the classic baby boomer toy, is sending a big box of Etch A Sketches to the presidential campaigns to say thanks for the publicity and a boost in sales.
It all started when Mitt Romney strategist Eric Fehrnstrom was asked Wednesday about the candidate’s politics now versus next fall, and he likened the campaign to an Etch A Sketch: “You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again.”
Democrats and Republicans alike seized on the remark as evidence that Romney is a flip-flopper willing to alter his positions for political gain.
GOP rival Newt Gingrich told voters in Louisiana that “having an Etch A Sketch as your campaign model raises every doubt about where we’re going.” Rick Santorum brandished an Etch A Sketch and told voters he is a candidate who stands “firmly on the rocks of freedom, not on the sands of an Etch A Sketch toy.” Santorum’s staff also handed out miniature Etch A Sketches to reporters.
While Romney’s opponents are hoping the remark will erase his momentum and reframe the debate, the biggest winner might be Ohio Art.
Its stock, which trades over the counter, nearly tripled on Thursday, closing at $9.65, and major stores reported a jump in sales, said chairman Bill Killgallon.
“We’re proud that one of our products is shaking up the debate,” he said.
Ohio Art has sold more than 100 million Etch A Sketches worldwide since its introduction in 1960. The toy, with its familiar gray screen and bright-red frame, allows youngsters to draw things by twisting two white knobs. A quick shake erases the image and lets you start over.
Etch A Sketches were made in Ohio until 2000, when the company moved production to China because of increasing costs.
Over the years, Ohio Art and Etch A Sketch have benefited from millions of dollars in free advertising from movies and television. The company saw a big jump in sales after Etch A Sketch landed a role in “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2.”
In fact, the toy gets so much free publicity that Ohio Art spends very little on advertising it.
The company, based in Bryan, doesn’t release annual sales figures but says Etch A Sketch has a steady market. It’s most popular with grandparents and mothers who are looking for a bit of nostalgia.
How long the latest bump will last is anybody’s guess.
“I’m not sure that just because the candidates are talking about Etch A Sketch that kids are going to tell their moms to go out and buy one,” said Martin Killgallon, the company’s marketing director.
One thing the Etch a Sketch won’t do is pick sides in the presidential campaign, he said.
“We have a left knob and a right knob,” he said, “so we neutrally speak to both parties.”
———
Associated Press writer Lisa Cornwell in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl