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Portland bar patrons react to the debate
PORTLAND – Patrons at the EastBurn bar in Portland, Or. were more interested in how the presidential candidates came across during the town hall style debate Tuesday than the issues they addressed.
Brian Bartel, a veterinarian of West Hill Animal Clinic, said he was looking for a candidate he could trust. And he liked Republican Mitt Romney. Bartel was likely among the minority in the bar where most of President Barack Obama’s comments received applause and laughter at jabs toward Romney.
“I’m still in the middle but I would at least consider Romney now,” Bartel said.
Andrew Maxwell, on the other hand, was breathing a sigh of relief at Obama’s better performance than the last debate two weeks ago. He said he got excited during Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008 and was looking for that same enthusiasm.
“I was bummed about that last debate,” said Maxwell, who remodels houses in Portland, adding the president had the fire he was looking for this time.
Mysti LeFever of Portland said she has concerns about Romney’s insistence on increasing domestic oil production and what the environmental impacts of that might be. “All he cares about is lowering the price of a gallon of gas,” she said.
– Shelby Sebens
