By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
MILWAUKEE — Cattaraugus County Republican Party Chairman Mark Heberling on Tuesday praised the selection by former President Donald Trump of JD Vance as the vice presidential nominee.
Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, announced Vance as his choice for VP via Truth Social, his social media platform as delegates milled around the Milwaukee Convention Center.
Later, Trump, who wore a white bandage over his right ear that a would-be assassin’s bullet grazed Saturday while he was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pa., appeared inside the convention center with Vance.
Heberling admitted that news of the assassination attempt on the former president tugged at his heart string “and I started tearing up. I was in shock. This is a threat to American values. It’s scary when people get to the point where they feel it is OK to kill people over their political values.”
Heberling said he liked it when Trump said he wanted to “pull back on the rhetoric and help bring people together.”
Heberling, who is attending the GOP Presidential Convention as a state delegate for Trump, said “Vance was a great choice. He brings a lot to the slate. He’s a former Marine. His life is like the American dream. He had a poor childhood. He went to Yale. He is well-spoken and eloquent. He will be able to show what Trump’s vision of the future looks like.”
But doesn’t Vance, a first-year U.S. senator from Ohio seem to solidify Trumps MAGA base instead of reaching out to moderate Republicans and independents the former president will need to win a second term?
“Don’t look at me to second guess Trump,” Heberling replied. Vance “shores up the working families vote. It’s a struggle to go to the grocery store. Much of the American public gets by paycheck to paycheck and owning a home seems like a distant fantasy dream to many.”
Heberling added: “I’m excited. I’ve heard this guy (Vance) speak. I think he will help shore up the Rust Belt.”
Heberling said the crowd inside the convention hall “went wild” when Trump walked across the stage.”The fortitude the former president has to go through that speaks volumes about his character and leadership.”
Heberling said he’s “looking forward to the excitement. I can’t express how energizing it is.”
If Trump is elected, Heberling said to look for a wealthier, more affordable America. The future looks bright.”
Heberling found his flight to Milwaukee from Buffalo on Sunday was canceled and the next flight would bring him in on Tuesday.
He scrambled to find someone he could catch a ride with and met up with a ride in Pennsylvania, arriving Sunday night.
