Presidential Debate Watch Party Republicans, Others Weigh In at Brandon Pub

Inside the meeting room at O'Brien's Irish Pub and Restaurant in Brandon, the Alafia Republican Club and the Greater Brandon Republican Club, along with Tampa 912 members, held a watch party for the Oct. 3 Presidential Debate, their views clearly apparent.

But at the main bar, two young voters watching the debate between Mitt Romey and President Barack Obama said they have no party affiliation and are dismayed almost beyond caring for this year's election.

"I'm voting for the amendments, I'm not voting for president because they never live up to what they say they're going to do. In my opinion, they're all liars," said Shay Milligan, 22. "My grandmother even said she'd hate to grow up in my generation because the economy is terrible. As a 22-year-old, it's impossible to find a job, even with the experience I have."

Sitting next to her was Joey Moreno, 30, who also said he has no party affiliation.

"It doesn't help that both parties are enemies, at least that's how I feel," he said. "They'll do whatever they can to stop the other person from accomplishing what they said they were going to do."

Now working in the hospitality business, Moreno said for five years he ran his own carpentry business.

"It was pretty good for the first three years but for the last two it just really died," he said. "People weren't spending money and the jobs were not as consistent as they were before. We closed this year."

As a voter with no party affiliation, Moreno said he nevertheless has leanings toward Obama.

"I actually do want Obama to have the chance to continue, if he could live up to his expectations for this country and to what some of us have expected from him," Moreno said. "The four years he already had is not long enough for him to put into effect what he wants to accomplish. Eight years is a chance to do that."

But eight years is not warranted, for the Republicans watching the debate beyond the doors to the right of Milligan and Moreno.

There, Jeff Lukens, with the Alafia Republican Club, said it was clear that Romney held the upper hand in the first presidential debate and that his election is crucial to uphold the values of a Conservative electorate.

"We're all of like mind in here and we feed off each other's energy," he said. "We've got two competing views of America, there's a very stark difference. We've got to win this election, we can't afford another four years. Romney is our man and we back him."

In the crowd was retired U.S. Air Force colonel and state Rep. Rich Glorioso, who is running as a Republican for Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. He said he believed Romeny won the debate, that he was well-prepared for it, and that President Obama was caught "flat-footed."

"There is a clear choice of who to elect tonight, either big government telling you what to do or small government letting [states] implement what needs to be done."

Emma Runion, head of the Greater Brandon Republican Club and a member of With Women We Win, said the debate was "phenomenal" and that "from our side, it was clear what he [Romney] would bring to America."

With Luken and Runion was Deborah Cox-Roush, former chair of the Hillsborough County Republican Party, former vice-chair of the Republican Party of Florida and chair of With Women We Win.

"We all know it's about the economy. People need jobs, people are hurting," she said. "Governor Romney shared a clear path to brining our economy back."

As for convening with like-minded people at a watch party, Cox-Roush said she was more than happy to do so. "It energizes our base, as the debate did," she added. "It's a great opportunity to bring like-minded folks together."