Local democrats respond to Mitt Romney's Union Terminal speech on Saturday

CINCINNATI - It didn't take Tri-State democrats very long to respond to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's Union Terminal speech on Saturday.

Just a few hours later, several local party leaders and volunteers were gathered in the West End to denounce Romney and his economic plans. As several city council members and organizers spoke, volunteers held signs saying "Romney Economics: The Middle Class Under the Bus."

Cincinnati City Council member Yvette Simpson said, "It includes $5 trillion in budget busting tax cuts for the wealthy paid for the middle class. He talked today about cutting the deficit and balancing the budget, but what he didn't tell you was he plans to do that on the backs of the middle class. That's not right." The crowd of supporters around her answered, "NO!" Simpson added, That's just not right."

Fellow democratic city council member Cecil Thomas criticized Romney as he also applauded President Barack Obama. Speaking of Obama Thomas said, "And he knows that our seniors, who have worked hard all their lives deserve to have a safe and secure retirement." The crowd around him answered back,  "That's right."

Council members also say that over 310,000 Hamilton County families who earn under $250,000 a year would see their taxes increased up to $2,000 a family under some of, what they call, the Romney-Ryan budget plan.

Speaking of GOP Vice Presidential nominee Congressman Paul Ryan, Democratic Party organizer Bobby Hilton said, "But in naming Paul Ryan as his running mate, Mitt Romney has cemented his commitment to a theory that says you can give the wealthy budget-busting tax cuts, and place greater burdens on the middle class and students. And somehow deliver a stronger economy as a result, this will not work."

Council members Simpson and Thomas also said they welcomed a federal judge ordering polls to be open to voters the weekend before Election Day in November. Some analysts have said those days, especially the Sunday before elections, is a popular time to vote for African-Americans. However, they say regardless of what the courts say, their 'get-out-the-vote' efforts are going into high gear in the next few weeks.

They predicted President Obama would be re-elected by Ohio voters no matter how long or short early voting would be in the state.

Republican political leaders have said they are appealing the federal order in hopes of canceling early voting the weekend before Election Day.