A RED State Rollover - Ohio goes HRC ?

[SantaCBear]

Ohio governor endorses Clinton

By Jim Tankersley

Hillary Clinton has scored the most coveted Democratic endorsement from arguably the most important swing state in the nation: Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio.

As the Tribune first reported this morning, Strickland, the first-year governor with sky-high approval ratings, endorsed Clinton on a noon conference call. He praised the New York senator's experience - "These are very serious times for our nation and the world, and I believe we need a serious leader who is able to bring about the change we desperately need" - and perhaps most importantly, called her the Democrat best-positioned to win his critical state next fall.

In Ohio, Strickland said, "She is the strongest candidate that our party can put forth, and she is the candidate who can win the presidency."

Strickland is a pro-gun former Methodist minister who broke a 16-year Republican hold on the governorship last year. He won huge swaths of normally red rural Ohio, which analysts call key for a Democrat seeking the state's 20 crucial electoral votes.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/11/ohio_governor_endorses_clinton.html

 

[ComNavFdgPk]

Strickland is a pro-gun former Methodist minister who broke a 16-year Republican hold on the governorship last year. He won huge swaths of normally red rural Ohio, which analysts call key for a Democrat seeking the state's 20 crucial electoral votes.

Too bad he wasn't around three years ago. We all could have avoided that debacle that was the 2004 Bush "win!"

 

[SantaCBear]

IMHO and I've said it several times before...

HRC will hold all the 'blue' states and win Ohio. She will be the next Prez!

 

[SantaCBear]

Just received an IM from a buddy back 'east' - He said Gov. Ted Strickland is on HRC's short list for VP.

New news for me and explains his coveted endorsement but sounds good either way!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Strickland

 

[jsd62]

I, still, wouldn't count Ohio as a win for the Dems. There is a very powerful conservative base, especially in the southwest corner. Not to take anything away from Gov. Strickland, a large factor in his victory was the scandal that Taft and his cronies got into. And, while no one will admit it, I think race was another factor. A lot of the hicks in southern Ohio and rednecks in rural Ohio, couldn't bring them selves to vote for a black candidate.

 

[SantaCBear]

^ heard anything in Ohio about Strickland being a VP possibility ?

 

[star-warrior]

If that's true, sod Obama and Edwards, lol.

 

[lancelva]

IMHO and I've said it several times before...

HRC will hold all the 'blue' states and win Ohio. She will be the next Prez!

She'll win more than that . Don't forget about the Midwest. And I'm still holding out for my home state of Virginia too .

 

[doctorsun]

While I think the political tide has turned somewhat in Ohio, Strickland's win in 2006 wasn't necessarily a sign that the state has gone blue. Governor Taft seriously fucked us up and was involved in multiple scandals. The two candidates to replace him were Strickland and Ken Blackwell. Blackwell was an uber-conservative gay basher who carried a Bible with him at all times. He scared the crap out of a lot of people. Strickland was really the only choice last year.

But, his endorsement of Clinton is good news and I do think that Ohio can be turned.

As for Strickland being Clinton's running mate, I haven't heard anything about that. We just elected him to help fix Ohio...I don't think he would leave for Washington after only two years in office.

 

[lancelva]

While I think the political tide has turned somewhat in Ohio, Strickland's win in 2006 wasn't necessarily a sign that the state has gone blue. Governor Taft seriously fucked us up and was involved in multiple scandals. The two candidates to replace him were Strickland and Ken Blackwell. Blackwell was an uber-conservative gay basher who carried a Bible with him at all times. He scared the crap out of a lot of people. Strickland was really the only choice last year.

While Taft was a drag on Blackwell and while Blackwell himself was a drag, some of the key findings in the exit polls suggest a positive environment for Democrats.

Do you approve or disapprove of Bush's job performance?
Strongly Approve (17%)
Blackwell 82%
Strickland 17%

Somewhat Approve (23%)
Blackwell 65%
Strickland 32%

Somewhat Disapprove (16%)
Blackwell 23%
Strickland 74%

Strongly Disapprove (42%)
Blackwell 8%
Strickland 91%

This is pretty much a given--those who didn't like Bush voted overwhemingly for Strickland. The number of anti-Bush voters will be greater in 2008.

War in Iraq
Strongly Approve (18%)
Blackwell 81%
Strickland 17%

Somewhat Approve (25%)
Blackwell 54%
Strickland 42%

Somewhat Disapprove (19%)
Blackwell 26%
Strickland 70%

Strongly Disapprove (37%)
Blackwell 9%
Strickland 89%

Again, those who opposed the Iraq war voted for Strickland. That number has only gone up.

Vote for President in 2004
Kerry (46%)
Blackwell 6%
Strickland 93%

Bush (49%)
Blackwell 66%
Strickland 30%

Did Not Vote (3%)
Blackwell 23%
Strickland 75%

Far more Bush voters moved over to the other side in 2006 (30%) than did Kerry voters (6%). Also, a vast majority of new voters went with the Democrat.

And Strickland's vote distribution is also stunning. He didn't do so well, of course, in southwestern Ohio, but he is extremely popular in eastern and southeastern Ohio--which he represented in the House. That portion of the state alone would have put Kerry over the top. Compare Kerry's vote distribution to Strickland's:

Kerry:

Strickland:

 

[SantaCBear]

While I think the political tide has turned somewhat in Ohio, Strickland's win in 2006 wasn't necessarily a sign that the state has gone blue. Governor Taft seriously fucked us up and was involved in multiple scandals. The two candidates to replace him were Strickland and Ken Blackwell. Blackwell was an uber-conservative gay basher who carried a Bible with him at all times. He scared the crap out of a lot of people. Strickland was really the only choice last year.

But, his endorsement of Clinton is good news and I do think that Ohio can be turned.

As for Strickland being Clinton's running mate, I haven't heard anything about that. We just elected him to help fix Ohio...I don't think he would leave for Washington after only two years in office.

Thanks!

 

[jsd62]

^ heard anything in Ohio about Strickland being a VP possibility ?

The only place that I heard it mentioned, a few weeks ago, was on Talk of the Nation, during the political junkie segment, with Ken Rudin.

 

[Jannus]

Ohio is blue to the core (except for Dayton and Cleveland - Democratic strongholds).

Strickland's endorsement means nothing. He is an interim governor, chosen by the voters as a reaction to the disliked Robert Taft, who at one point enjoyed only a 5% approval rating. That's not a mistype. He had a five per cent approval rating toward the end.

The Ohio House and Senate remain firmly in Republican hands. Bills may not be introduced into the Ohio legislature except by the GOP. The next governor will be a Republican. Ohio has several counties in which there is not a single elected Democrat or independent. Not one. All elected officials are Republicans.

Strickland has earned respect as governor, but make no illusion that he is a leader in Ohio politics. Ohio is blue. Strickland's endorsement will not propel HRC's candidacy in Ohio.

I do suspect that Ohio will go Democratic in the next presidential election, however, regardless of whom the Democratic candidate is. This will be a reaction to dissatisfaction with Bush and his policies, however, not a sign of Ohio enlightenment or an effect of gubernatorial support.

Ohio will then return to staunch conservatism and anti-gay rhetoric. (Strickland's opponent in the last gubernatorial election, Republican Ken Blackwell, famously compared gays unfavorably to farm animals and sued state universities to stop them from offering same sex partner benefits to employees. Blackwell may well be the next governor).

Strickland would be a fine choice as VP, but everyone knows that position belongs to Obama.

 

[lancelva]

^I wouldn't say that Ohio is as Republican as you claim. For one, Ted Strickland wasn't the only Democratic win in 2006. The Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Treasurer offices were all won by Democrats. Which means all but one of the state's constitutional offices went Democratic: State Auditor. And the margin in that race was very tight.

And, lest we forget, Sherrod Brown easily defeated Mike DeWine for the state's U.S. Senate seat in 2006. And Brown is a very progressive Democrat.

Just this week, a Democrat was elected mayor of Canton. To anyone who knows anything about Ohio politics (even someone with my limited knowledge of the state's internal politics), that's a huge deal: Canton is one of the strongest Republican towns in the state. And let's also not forget the special election to replace Gilmore in OH-5, which could very possibly go to Weirauch. That would mean another Democratic gain in the House.

 

[doctorsun]

Let me say that I am NOT looking forward to watching TV next year. We were only one of the many "swing states" in 2004 and the political ads were unbearable then. This time, it seems like ALL eyes will be on us...it's only a matter of time before the onslaught begins. I think a lot of people will vote based on who annoyed them the least.

The only time anyone pays attention to Ohio is when they want our electoral votes. The people in Wyoming don't have to put up with this crap.

 

[Kulindahr]

Strickland is a pro-gun former Methodist minister who broke a 16-year Republican hold on the governorship last year. He won huge swaths of normally red rural Ohio, which analysts call key for a Democrat seeking the state's 20 crucial electoral votes.

If Hillary matched that reason that he won Ohio, she'd take the election in a landslide. It's too bad the Democrats offering themselves for election don't affirm all our civil rights; if they did, they wouldn't have any worries about actually gaining control of the Senate and House both.

Of course it would help Hillary if she'd come out against the "USA PATRIOT" Act, too. As it is, she looks like one more proponent of a police state.

 

[iman]

Governors control state political apparatus and state jobs, they are a major asset in an election. Probably every Governor that endorses will get his name "floated" for VP, it's the least they could expect.

 

[Kulindahr]

This is pretty much a given--those who didn't like Bush voted overwhelmingly for Strickland. The number of anti-Bush voters will be greater in 2008.


Again, those who opposed the Iraq war voted for Strickland. That number has only gone up.

I don't know that anti-Bush voters will increase; the man is leaving, after all (there's going to be a party in Portland; I need to remember to go).

But Iraq will certainly still be an issue.
And the way things are going, Pakistan might be one by then -- I think Bush might be insane enough to send a few thousand "advisors"....

 

[Jannus]

Let me say that I am NOT looking forward to watching TV next year. We were only one of the many "swing states" in 2004 and the political ads were unbearable then. This time, it seems like ALL eyes will be on us...it's only a matter of time before the onslaught begins. I think a lot of people will vote based on who annoyed them the least.

The only time anyone pays attention to Ohio is when they want our electoral votes. The people in Wyoming don't have to put up with this crap.

Yes, but then again, they only have four TV stations in all of Wyoming!

http://www.mondotimes.com/world/usa/tv.html?state=50

 

[Jannus]

Ohio is blue to the core (except for Dayton and Cleveland - Democratic strongholds).

Ooops! I guess I guess I'm a little color blind! I meant, of course, "Ohio is RED to the core."



(I'm always getting those Red/Blue things backwards!! )