Alaskans React to GOP Convention

Movie star almost outshines presidential candidate

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By Kate McPherson
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ANCHORAGE - Movie star and filmmaker Clint Eastwood almost stole the show from presidential nominee Mitt Romney at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

One Young Republican in Anchorage, Cameron Barrows, said Eastwood’s appearance made his day.

But he also thought Romney’s speech was right on target.

“He struggles to show himself as someone that can be like everyone else, but when he spoke about how he loves his family it really did connect with me; I'm starting my own family right now,” said Barrows, vice president of the Anchorage Young Republicans.

When thinking about Obama’s term, Barrows said he is disappointed.

“We haven’t had that opportunity that we thought we were all going to get – we thought everything was going to finally start working for everyone and it just didn't,” he said.

The president of the Anchorage Young Republicans said he was happy to hear Romney talk about starting his own business, and believes Alaska is better off in Romney’s hands.

“Bottom line, he's very pro-development, pro-resource development,” said Ryan McKee.

McKee says he’s not convinced about Obama’s policies on resource development, even with the administration's go-ahead for Shell to begin exploratory drilling in the Chukchi Sea.

"He's created a lot more red tape to permits… if we can't get to the oil and we can't improve our oil throughput, we're going to see a real drastic decline in our revenue,” said McKee.

A former Anchorage mayor says the recent move to allow Shell to drill bodes well for Obama.

"On the Alaskan delegation, I think most Alaskans are very pleased that he has taken steps to be more willing to let oil development go forward,” said Matt Claman, who is heading to the Democratic National Convention as a delegate next week.

Claman wasn’t convinced after Romney’s speech.

“In terms of proposals, when he talks about how he's going to make tax cuts, he's going to increase the size of the military, he's got a plan for economic growth, that I think was very short on specifics, and frankly it wasn't believable,” he said.

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Amazed said on Sunday, Sep 2 at 8:22 AM

To be dissapointed in the current situation is one thing. But to think for one second that because you some how connected with a man because of the similarity of starting a family of your own? Really? Thats all it takes for this man to prove himself worthy of your vote? Pretty much sums it up I guess.

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