Below is the schedule of Ohio delegation events for August 28 at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

“We Build It”

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will feature Rick Santorum for Ohio Delegation Breakfast.



All Ohio delegation breakfasts are located at the Mainsail Conference Center. Breakfasts are open to delegates, alternates, honorary delegates, sponsors and members of the press.

* 9 a.m. - Doors Open
*9:30 a.m. - Event Begins
*Chairman Bob Bennett Ohio Republican Party
*State Sen. Jim Hughes
*Chairman Dale Fellows, Lake County Republican Party
*Mike DeWine, Ohio Attorney General
*Sen. Rick Santorum
The Tuesday Session Schedule at the Tampa Bay Times Forum will feature Republican governors
* 2 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. - Business Session at the Tampa Bay Times Forum
*6:40 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Recess
*7 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Convention Session at the Tampa Bay Times Forum
Ohio Key-note Session Speeches:
*Speaker John Boehner is scheduled to speak at approximately 7 p.m.
*Gov. John Kasich is scheduled to speak at approximately 8:10 p.m.
*Lisa Stickan of Ohio, chairwoman of the National Young Republicans, will speak during the business session (begins at 2 p.m.)
Afternoon Reception with Featured Speaker Sen. Rob Portman (closed press)
*4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
*Florida Aquarium - 701 Channelside Dr., Tampa

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

I'm a little surprised that Rick Santorum has bowed out of the GOP presidential race. But yet, not really.

The writing was on the wall that Mitt Romney will become the nominee, so Santorum's exit should help the Republican Party unify in its effort to defeat President Barack Obama.

I think the next question will be, who will Romney name as his vice presidential nominee? The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that it might be U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio.

Ohio will be critical for Romney, so perhaps he would benefit by his selection of Portman. We'll see what happens.

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

I came across this graphic on Visually about who would be leading the presidential race if it were based on social media and Web traffic. No stock should be put into this whatsoever, but I found it interesting how the number of followers/fans differs among the Republican candidates.

via

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