McKinley event to draw hundreds
PARKERSBURG – Several hundred supporters of David McKinley, the Republican candidate for Congress in West Virginia’s First Congressional District, are expected to attend a fundraiser with a Fox News commentator today in downtown Parkersburg, a campaign official said.
“There really is no way to tell exactly how many people will attend because we are allowing supporters to show up at the event and pay at the door,” said McKinley campaign spokesman Steve Cohen. “We have received a large, enthusiastic response from people in the Parkersburg area to Dick Morris being there.”
Morris, a syndicated columnist, author and former senior presidential adviser to Bill Clinton, will be part of a fundraiser reception at 5:30 p.m. today at the Parkersburg Art Center. This will follow a free rally at Bicentennial Park, on the grounds of the Parkersburg Municipal Building.
“We have no way of knowing how many people will attend the rally, either,” Cohen said.
Cohen did say they had “several hundred” people preregister and pay $250 to be part of the main floor event while “several dozen” people have paid $1,000 to attend the fundraiser in the upper floors of the art center.
“Because we are receiving reservations and payments constantly, I can’t give an accurate figure as to how many people have chosen each distinction,” Cohen said.
Abby Hayhurst, director of the art center, said the possibility of having more than 500 people in the art center for the event will not be a problem for the facility.
“The art center can comfortably hold around 1,000 people spread out on all of the floors, so I don’t think this McKinley fundraiser will be an issue,” Hayhurst said.
Hayhurst said the center’s employees are not planning on doing anything different for this event than they do other events.
“We have the food ordered and will clean – it’s like any other event,” she said.
Hayhurst said she was pleased the McKinley campaign chose the art center for the event because those in attendance will be able to enjoy the two new exhibits by Belpre photographer Robert Klovis and paintings and sculptures by Andrew Langoussis of Rockville, Ill.
“Hopefully this event will allow people to see some of the wonderful things this area has to offer,” Hayhurst said.
While there is a cost to attend the art center function, Cohen said there is no dress code involved.
“Since most people will likely be going to the art center directly after the rally, which will be outside and is expected to be hot, we expect people to be wearing casual clothes,” he said.
McKinley is running against Democrat Mike Oliverio in the November General Election.
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