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Pence sends clear message: Keep Congress Republican

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Police: Person shot in foot at apartment complex in Hanover Twp.

<p>FORTY FORT &#8212; A Korean War veteran and lifelong Irish Democrat came out Wednesday to show their support for Vice President Mike Pence and the entire Republican ticket.</p><p>George Stone, 84, of Newfoundland, Wayne County, served in the Army Reserves and saw active duty during the Korean War. Stone traveled more than an hour to hear Pence speak and to show his support for all Republican candidates.</p><p>Stone&#8217;s daughter, Lucy, said her father loves President Donald Trump and Pence.</p><p>&#8220;They&#8217;re doing a good job,&#8221; George Stone said.</p><p>Lucy said her father really wanted to attend Wednesday&#8217;s rally at the Wyoming Valley Airport in Forty Fort. She said she brought her father to a Trump rally at the Mohegan Sun Arena in 2016.</p><p>&#8220;Lower taxes and the wall,&#8221; Mr. Stone said when asked what he likes about the Trump-Pence administration.</p><p>Lucy said her father also wanted to see John Chrin and what he had to say. She said he is supporting Chrin in the race against Democratic incumbent Matt Cartwright to represent the 8th Congressional District.</p><p>When the rally was over, Mr. Stone got to meet Pence and shook his hand. The vice president thanked Stone for his service, and Stone told Pence to keep up the good work.</p><p><strong>&#8216;This is our country&#8217;</strong></p><p>Standing in the middle of the crowd was William &#8220;Clarker&#8221; Clarke, 72, of Dupont. Clarker was wearing a &#8220;Make America Safe Again&#8221; shirt, then changed it to a &#8220;Voting for Lou&#8221; shirt before the event began.</p><p>When asked why he supports Trump and Pence, Clarke responded, &#8220;USA, USA, USA.&#8221;</p><p>Clarke called the president &#8220;Triumphant Trump&#8221; and said he and Pence have kept their promise to make America great again.</p><p>&#8220;This is our country,&#8221; Clarke said. &#8220;I&#8217;m an Irish Democrat and I am supporting all Republicans just to (anger) (U.S. Sen. Bob) Casey.&#8221;</p><p>Clarke said he will vote for Barletta over Casey.</p><p>&#8220;Republican values are what Americans believe in and support,&#8221; Clarke told a reporter. &#8220;Democrats don&#8217;t do anything for us. I&#8217;m pumped for Trump. Trump never backs down.&#8221;</p><p>Clarke was an avid supporter of Trump-Pence in 2016. In October 2016, Clarke dressed in a Chewbacca costume and stood along Route 315 in Pittston Township holding a &#8220;Make America Great Again&#8221; sign. Clarke said he dresses as the &#8220;Star Wars&#8221; character to get noticed. He had the costume in his car Wednesday at the Pence rally in Forty Fort.</p><p>Clarke is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and a retired master electrician.</p><p>&#8220;If I was just dressed normal, nobody would even notice me,&#8221; Clarke said in 2016. &#8220;Like Donald Trump, I want to make America great again.&#8221;</p><p>Clarke served as an officer with the Pittston American Legion. Every year, he dresses as Santa Claus for children in the town. </p><p>Clarke said Trump and Pence have lowered taxes, addressed illegal immigration and provided affordable health care. He said the values of middle America are best reflected by Republican candidates.</p><p>&#8221;That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m here,&#8221; he said.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL102518Pence15-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Bill &#8216;Clarker&#8217; Clarke holds up a Border Patrol T-shirt after Vice President Mike Pence spoke about building a border wall during a Wednesday GOP rally in Forty Fort. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL102518Pence15-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bill &#8216;Clarker&#8217; Clarke holds up a Border Patrol T-shirt after Vice President Mike Pence spoke about building a border wall during a Wednesday GOP rally in Forty Fort. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL102518Pence12-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Bill &#8216;Clarker&#8217; Clarke, in the cowboy hat, listens as congressional candidate Dan Meuser speaks at a GOP rally Wednesday in Forty Fort. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL102518Pence12-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Bill &#8216;Clarker&#8217; Clarke, in the cowboy hat, listens as congressional candidate Dan Meuser speaks at a GOP rally Wednesday in Forty Fort. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>GOP backers cheer candidates, policies</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

‘This is our country’: GOP backers cheer candidates, policies