How can we convince the Democratic candidates of the Importance of Ohio?

[coloradodem2005]

Everybody talks about how it was a huge mistake for Gore to pull out of Ohio. Since nobody but Kucinich is ever in Ohio, can we impress upon them the importance of Ohio? We should at least have an opportunity with Bush repealing the Steel tarriffs.

[Kolesar]

1. The candidates are concentrating on Iowa and NH

..and SC to some degree. It would be nice if some of them showed up to speak to answer when Bush or Cheney show their evil faces in town.

The VP debate will be in Cleveland

[KG]

2. easy - run and elect Jerry Springer for senate

and the dem. candidate will ride on his coat tails.

trust me on this one. :)

[CMT]

3. I think they do know the importance of Ohio

Dean has said on several occassions that Ohio will be an important state in both his primary and general election strategy.

[BenZodiac]

4. history

No Republican has ever won the Presidency without Ohio.

But, on the other hand:
No Democrat has ever won the Presidency without capturing AT LEAST 5 Southern States. :(

[no name no slogan]

9. If we win all Gore's 2000 states (excl Florida)

...AND Ohio, we won't NEED to win any southern states!

In fact, we'll have a big enough electoral vote margin that no matter WHAT Bushco tries to do in FL, we'll still have them spanked.

We do not need the south as badly as most Democrats seem to think. We can still appeal to the "Reagan Democrats" in the rustbelt (especially the ones who've been "NAFTA'd") and win this thing in a HUGE way.

Let's concentrate on getting our REAL Democratic supporters out to the polls, rather than worrying about conservative Zell Miller-types who may end up voting for Bush anyway.

[NWHarkness]

5. Work from the bottom up

Whether you support Howard dean or not, all Democrats should be learning the key lesson of his campaign: that letting the grassroots supporters take the lead can be highly successful.

Why wait for the candidates to step up. Why don't Ohio Dems beat them too it? Start organizing, running voter registration drives. Flood the local papers with letters and the TV and radio stations with calls. Make up a few signs and hit the freeway overpasses like people were doing in Seattle.

I'm in Michigan, but I'd be willing to come down and help out. Let's take the fight to Bush right now, in every state!

[willie13705]

6. General Clark....

will be visiting us here in Cleveland this Sunday, December7, 2003.

[MercutioATC]

7. Well, MoveOn does. Supposedl, they're running the "Misleader" ads here.

I haven't seen one yet, but I don't watch much network TV.

[Padraig18]

8. Take a chill pill!

No one underestimates the importance of Ohio. It's 11 months until the election, and we have some primaries to deal with before then, but trust me---- none of our candidates is going to ignore Ohio, come November.