Obama Supporters Hope to Hear President Address Variety of Topics

The thousands of people who will hear President Barack Obama deliver a campaign speech at Kent State University Wednesday hope to hear him address almost as many issues.

Kent Patch interviewed people who lined up early Monday to get their ticket to see the president to hear what they want him to talk about.

Here's what some of them had to say:

• Carol Weigand, of Rootstown, OH: "I enjoy hearing him talk on every topic. I think he’s a wonderful speaker, and I do hope he will address the 47 percent of us who pay taxes and work hard. I want to hear his plans for the future. I think he’s going in the right direction and I hope he gets the support."
• Alison Murphy, of Hudson, OH: "I just want to hear from him how he's going to continue to help the middle class."
• Chris Woolverton, Kent State professor: "We want to hear some more about what he’s got planned for the next four years. A lot of speeches are made, but as it gets closer and closer to the election I think the specifics get laid out."
• Sandy Grow, of Ravenna: "Probably about jobs, since I’m unemployed right now. And health issues ... insurance issues, and womens issues in general."
• Brittany Smith, Kent State student: "I want to hear what he has to say as far as tuition and (student) aid because his opponent doesn’t really have anything to say about that besides 'Shop around and borrow from your parents.'"
• Evan Gildenblatt, Kent State student: "Building an economy that’s strong for students, so that when myself and my cohorts enter the work world we have strong and steady jobs waiting for us."

The president is expected to deliver a speech about the state of the economy when he takes the stage around 5:30 p.m. in the Kent State MACC Wednesday.

Doors for the event open at 3:30 p.m.

University officials issued notice earlier this week about the effect of the president's visit to on-campus programming. Read that notice here.