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By Johnette Jernigan and Kathy Wray Coleman, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog

CLEVELAND,Ohio-In Cleveland, Oh., where Ohio is a pivotal state that will likely decide the upcoming election, presidential debate watchers that gathered Wednesday night to capacity at the Ward 8 community office of Cleveland Councilman Jeff Johnson in the predominantly Black city's Glenville neighborhood said President Barack Obama was a winner over Mitt Romney.

That posture, no doubt, is contrary to mainstream America and a CNN poll that found that Romney beat Obama 67 percent to 35 percent,  a poll that  political pundits said was admittedly skewed with Republicans.

Held in Denver, Colo at the University of Denver, the first presidential debate of the 2012 election was moderated by Jim Lehrer, 78, a prominent journalist and frequent debate moderator who  is accused of letting it go off course with Obama and Romney making long speeches rather than timed responses in a continual fashion.

It covered domestic policy issues such as tax platforms, green energy, and education, and the federal budget and deficit.

"The president was the winner," said Councilman Johnson, a Clevelander and one of 13 all Black Obama delegates from Ohio's majority Black 11th congressional district to the since done Democratic National Convention held last month in Charlotte, NC.

Johnson did not give Obama a slam dunk but he said that his incumbency in a close debate took him over the edge to win it.

State Rep. Bill Patmon (D-10), a Cleveland Democrat, agrees.

"If we base the debate on facts, truths, and informative data," the president won," said Patmon.

Those at Johnson's debate watch party ate fried chicken, potato salad, and collard greens, compliments of the councilman and his ward club.

At times you could hear a pin drop in the room.

By Kathy Wray Coleman, Executive Publisher, Editor, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog(www.clevelandurbannews.com)

CLEVELAND,Ohio-President Barack Obama will visit Cleveland, Oh. on Friday, Oct. 5 at Krenzler Soccer Field, Cleveland State University at E. 18th St and Chester Ave. to speak. The gates open at 11:00 am, said Nick Martin, executive director of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. (Editor's note: Reach the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party at 216-621-9750)

The event  is free and open to the public but tickets are required.

Tickets are available on a first-come first-serve basis at the following locations:

13100 Shaker Square, Cleveland (Phone number 216-416-2017)

5734 Ridge Road, Parma

11822 Detroit Ave., Lakewood

4071 Lee Road, Cleveland

3740 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

468 Richmond Road, Richmond Heights

21760 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights

12414 Euclid Ave., East Cleveland

22800 Lakeshore Blvd., Euclid

Also, a watch party for the first presidential debate, which is tonight, Oct 3, at 9 pm in Denver, Colo at the University of Denver,  will be held by the Obama for America Campaign, state Sen. Nina Turner (D-25) and state Rep. Mike Foley (D-14) at 8 pm on  the west side of Cleveland at The Market Garden Brewery and Distillery, The Ohio City Room, 1947 West 25th St.

Cleveland Ward 8 Councilman Jeff Johnson will host a watch party at 8 pm at his ward office on the predominantly Black east side of Cleveland, 10553 Saint Clair Ave. in the Glenville Towne Plaza.

By Kathy Wray Coleman, Executive Publisher, Editor, Cleveland Urban News. Com

CLEVELAND,Ohio- Craig Robinson (pictured), the older and only brother of First Lady Michelle Obama, and also President Barack Obama's brother-in-law, will speak at 7 pm tonight, Oct 2, at Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland, 1161 E. 105th St,. for a get out the vote rally.

Today marked early voting in Ohio, a pivotal state that determines presidential elections.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Greater Abyssinia at 216-795-1842.

Robinson, 50, is the head men's basketball coach at Oregon State University.

Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by telephone at 216-659-0473 and by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com.

CLEVELAND, Ohio–Ohio State Sen. Shirley Smith (D-22) (pictured) will lead a host of elected officials, community activists and registered- and non-registered voters in Cuyahoga County in a march beginning at 1 pm on Tuesday, Oct 2, at the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, 2930 Prospect Ave in Cleveland, to a block away  to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, 2925 Euclid Ave., to vote.  (Editor's Note: For more information contact Smith's Senate office at 614-466-4857)

Oct. 2 is the first day of voting in Ohio and a number  of events are underway throughout the state.

“There is nothing more important in our democracy than our right to vote,” said Smith, a Cleveland Democrat. “Starting Oct. 2, registered voters in Ohio will have the opportunity to choose candidates and decide on local and state issues.”

2012 GET OUT THE VOTE SLEEP OVER RALLY

Start: 10/01/2012 7:00 pm

End: 10/02/2012 8:00 am

Make your vote Ohio's first!