Ohio Decisive State for Democratic Race

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=5&u=/ap/20040226/ap_on_el_pr/battleground_ohio

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Florida is so passe. This year's must-have state is Ohio.



"If it was all about Florida in 2000, it's Ohio, Ohio, Ohio in 2004," said state Rep. Sylvester Patton, looking out the window of his downtown office building at Youngstown's Historical Center of Industry and Labor, a two-story brick reminder of the epidemic of joblessness in Mahoning Valley.


Standing guard outside what is commonly known as the steel museum are statues of workmen, carved from steel and thus untouched by an economy so weak that the local newspaper on Patton's desk carried an inch-high front-page headline: "Staggering job loss."


Joblessness — and free trade agreements many here blame for the phenomena — are top issues in a state that may determine whether John Kerry (news - web sites) wraps up the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, when Ohio and nine other states hold elections.

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[BeatleBoot]

1. As I predicted...

I wonder what Bush's poll numbers are in the state?

[murielm99]

2. I find this worrisome.

Ohio is Diebold country.

[Gildor Inglorion]

3. Also the General Election

All the Democratic candidate has to do is keep the states Al Gore carried in 2000 and add either Ohio, West Virginia, or Arizona and the election is won. Even New Hampshire could do it. We should forget the south for now and concentrate on the achievable (assuming Diebold will allow it).

[saltpoint]

4. I agree that the Democrats will win Ohio this time --

-- if Bush/Cheney are both on the GOP ticket.

It could get hairy if Cheney is bumped for Congressman Portman, though.

Bush/Portman might be a steeper hill in Ohio.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

5. I live in Ohio

..in the southwest corner of the state...the Dayton-Cincinatti area.

This is actually a very conservative part of the USA compared to other places I've lived.

Im not that close to local politics, but it seems here the Republicans have things pretty well sowed up when in comes to suburban and rural areas. the GOP also control the Congressional delegation from this part of the state.

The city of Dayton is Democratic, and the city of Cincinnatti does have a Democrat as mayor, so there is some Democratic support. There are some smaller "rust belt" citys of around 70,000,,, Hamilton, Middletown, & Springfield,,,where there might be some Democratic support, too. I know Springfield (Clark County) has went Democratic in the past.

I'm thinking that the Democrats probably won't be carrying much around here, but if they come close and win in other parts of the state (like the Cleveland area) they could win Ohio.

[newyawker99]

6. Hi Waverley_Hills_Hiker!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

7. Thanks

..that was nice! :-)

[BR_Parkway]

8. Ohio just passed some very restrictive anit gay legislation

I HOPE the jobs issue comes to the front where it needs to.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

10. thats a good example of GOP control.

The GOP does have a big play in the statehouse. So the antigay legilsation was no suprise.

Oddly enough this very state sent Howard Metzenbaum to the Senate.

[Deaner1971]

15. Don't forget the first American to orbit the earth!

John Glenn was a long-time election given in Ohio.

[spooky3]

12. Cleveland is Dem. and the steel mill towns near there

will probably respond well to Dems now. Columbus is conservative but more of a swing region than where you live. They have a Dem. mayor now too, as I understand.

[Deaner1971]

14. Columbus WAS conservative

I think Columbus needs to be a huge focus for Dem candidates. Kerry was very well received here and Mayor Coleman (D) is very popular. Columbus also has a very high (proportionally) gay and lesbian population who should be very involved in this year's election given Bushy's pro-amendment stance. The Columbus Disptach is rumoured to be planning on supporting the Democratic candidate this year. To give you perspective, this would be the first Democratic endorsement for the Dispatch in 80 years. If that doesn't give one hope, what will!

[rucky]

13. Miami Valley - even the evangelicals don't like Bush

jobsjobsjobs. Evangilicals I talked to say Bush is making politics out of religion & he's insincere. Ok, hardly scientific, but I'm pretty sure it's those small rust belt cities Sidney Anna Piqua Troy Lima that will even it up in that area. :)

[PROGRESSIVE1]

9. One thing I like about Ohio is that they would Never...

vote for DAS Gropenator.

[doc03]

11. No Republican was ever elected without carring Ohio

I think only 2 Democrats were elected without Ohio.