Pennsylvania is next up in the Republican Presidential Primary, and the keystone state is shaping up to be a key battleground for Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.
On Thursday Mitt Romney is holding a campaign event in Wyoming County.
He will be talking energy at a business connected to the rapidly growing natural gas industry in the Tunkhannock area.
Mitt Romney's first campaign stop in this part of Pennsylvania will be at Mountain Energy Services near Tunkhannock, just one of the many businesses in our area connected to the natural gas industry.
Romney is trying to beat Rick Santorum in the former Pennsylvania senator's home state. Santorum admits he must win Pennsylvania. That is bringing the campaigning here.
“Nobody comes to Tunkhannock. Well a little bit, the smaller ones do sometimes. I think it's exciting,” said Catherine Crawford of Tunkhannock. She was enjoying the nice day at Lazy Brook Park, just across Route 6 from where Romney will visit. “I think he's going to win it. I think he's going to be the one who's nominated.”
Tunkhannock Township worker Kenny Young was at the park too. He is also surprised this rural spot is going to be in the national spotlight.
“I was just thinking about it two days ago, driving in the car and thinking it's great seeing all this on television but they won't be coming here and then two days later, here he is Tunkhannock," said Kenny Young of Tunkhannock Township.
People said they're glad the first presidential campaign visit to our area is dealing with the natural gas industry. They said it certainly is a hot issue around here and they're glad the presidential candidates are paying attention to it.
“I think it's important. I work clearing the lines, cutting the trees for them. I think it's really important. It's good for the area, good for everyone around, I think," said Bob Murray of Tunkhannock Township.
Murray was pushing his daughter in a swing just as a Mountain Energy truck hauling water pulled into the lot next to him.
Mountain Energy has grown rapidly in the past few years. It supplies water to the gas industry.
Now the presidential race will get a glimpse at what natural gas is doing in this part of Pennsylvania.
“It's good for the county, it's good for the area. At least they think about us, we're not as small as we think we are,” said Tunkhannock Township Supervisor Glen Shupp.
Romney's event Thursday at 2:15 p.m. is open to the public. Mountain Energy services is located along Route 92, right off Route 6 East of Tunkhannock.
Rick Santorum's campaign said we'll be seeing him soon. He plans "multiple visits" to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area.