By David S. Broder
Friday, February 27, 2004; Page A01
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 26 -- Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary in Ohio, a major and perhaps decisive test of John Edwards's ability to block John F. Kerry's path to nomination, is taking place against a background of unmatched political futility -- and remarkably high hopes that the party's long losing streak may end in November.
With the single exception of President Bill Clinton's reelection win in 1996, Ohio Democrats have gone zero-for-everything over the past 12 years. Republicans control the governorship and every other elected office in the executive branch, both U.S. Senate seats, 12 of 18 U.S. House seats, and both chambers of the legislature.
But with Republicans and President Bush getting the blame for a recession that stubbornly lingers and for the loss of more than a quarter-million jobs in the past three years, Democrats say they have a better-than-even chance to switch Ohio's 20 electoral votes in November and deal a major blow to Bush's reelection chances.
Democratic front-runner Kerry and his main rival, Edwards, have been pounding on economic issues as they have campaigned in union halls, black churches and college auditoriums and posed in front of long-abandoned factories during the week. The latest public poll gives Kerry a lead of 47 percent to 26 percent, but few think the senator from Massachusetts will win by that much, and some see a possibility of an upset. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich is trailing badly even in his Cleveland home base, and Al Sharpton is not on the ballot.
State Democratic Chairman Dennis L. White said Thursday: "The primary is wide open. Kerry's lead could disappear real fast."
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10504-2004Feb26.html