PARMA, Ohio — Ohio U.S. Senate candidates Tim Ryan and JD Vance were both on the campaign trail Thursday evening. As Tuesday's election approaches, the war in Ukraine has become one of the key issues in the race.
Under the gleaming spires of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Cathedral, hearts are with loved ones thousands of miles away as the war between Russia and Ukraine enters its ninth month.
Mike Dobronos, a second-generation Ukrainian American, calls himself a "die-hard" Republican.
"I've consistently voted Republican ever since I saw Ronald Reagan at Ohio State University when I was attending law school," he said.
However, for the first time, Dobronos is voting for a Democratic candidate for office.
He understands the cost of sending billions in aid to Ukraine at a time when the U.S. is fighting high inflation, but he calls it, "a pay-now-or-pay-later situation."
"You'd better believe that if (Russian President Vladimir) Putin runs over Ukraine, he's going to attack NATO countries. There's no doubt about it," Dobronos said. "And that is why the battle is better off being fought with U.S. and Western aid in Ukraine, versus NATO countries, when then boots on the ground from the United States will have to come in.
There are an estimated 45,000 Ohioans who claim Ukrainian ancestry, a third of them live in Parma. Many there believe the Ukrainian American vote has the potential to impact the Senate race in Ohio, now in a virtual tie.
The Ohio GOP "Get out the Bus" tour pulled into the Brecksville Community Center on Thursday evening with Republican statewide candidates aboard.
There was much talk about inflation and crime, but no mention of U.S. aid in Ukraine.
It's an issue that has even divided the Republican party, as seen last August in Parma at the Ukrainian Independence Festival, where Senator Rob Portman, was the Grand Marshal.
Portman, who heads of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, was joined by Republican Governor Mike DeWine, to show their support for Ukraine.
Ryan, who supports continued U.S. aid to Ukraine, was also in attendance.
Outside the Brecksville rally, 3News asked Vance whether he was would support cutting, or reducing U.S. aid to Ukraine.
"Yeah, at this point I would, absolutely," said Vance. "We've gotten to the point where, we've been effectively floating the cost of the war almost entirely by ourselves. The big thing that I worry about is the Europeans, who have done effectively nothing, and it's a war in their backyard," he said.
Meanwhile Ryan believe that position will cost Vance votes.
"It's not just Ukraine, or Ukrainians. It's the Polish community, it's the Lithuanian community," said Ryan. "Because if we didn't stop Putin, and help Ukrainians stop Putin, he'd be in Poland right now."
More coverage of Ryan v. Vance:
- Ohio's US Senate battle: What you need to know about candidates Tim Ryan and JD Vance
- Ohio U.S. Senate candidates Tim Ryan, JD Vance take part in Fox News town hall one week before election
- NEW POLL: Tim Ryan holds slight lead over JD Vance in Ohio's US Senate race; Mike DeWine well ahead of Nan Whaley in battle for governor
- VOTER GUIDE | November 8 general election in Ohio: See what's on the ballot and how to find your polling place