VP print pool report: Middletown trip, Part 4

The vice president’s motorcade arrived at Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works steel mill in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, at 12:15 PM local time, under sunny skies and temperatures creeping into the 80s. The plant was known as Armco Steel when Vance’s grandfather, James Vance, worked here for nearly 40 years.

His remarks were preceded by several Republicans seeking offices in Ohio: Eric Conroy, a candidate for Ohio’s 1^st Congressional District; Vivek Ramaswamy, the GOP nominee for governor – who was greeted with rousing applause; U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, of Ohio’s 8^th Congressional District; and U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed to Vance’s Senate seat when he ascended to the vice presidency. Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno also spoke.

During a lengthy break before Vance took the stage, Ohio officeholders and candidates mingled with the crowd and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Ohio Auditor Keith Faber, both candidates for other offices this fall, handed out water bottles to overheated audience members and reporters.

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright introduced Vance, calling Cleveland-Cliffs “a cathedral to American might.” He slammed “coastal, leftist, Democratic ideas” as fostering a “narrow and false vision of America.” He called the vice president “my partner, my friend.”

Vance took the stage at 1:05 p.m. in a dark blue suit, white shirt and red tie to chants of “USA, USA!”