August 2, 2nd District Ohio Congressional election

[existentialist]

Is every body aware that there is an election for a Congressional seat on October 2, and that we have a chance to take away a seat that has been Republican for decades?

This from Salon.com today:

Dogfight in Ohio
A Marine who fought in Fallujah is trying to become the first Iraq war vet to serve in Congress -- and give Democrats hope that Ohio is not permanently lost.

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Bill Frogameni



July 26, 2005 | Paul Hackett remembers being in Kuwait, waiting to be shipped home after a seven-month tour of duty in Ramadi and Fallujah, watching CNN America with his fellow Marines. What he saw enraged him. "All I saw on TV was Terri Schiavo," he says. "The federal government and the Florida state government came screeching to a halt to intervene into the private lives of this family during this tragic time ... Like that scene out of 'Network,' I felt like the guy who stood in the spotlight and said, 'I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.'" Not long after he returned to Ohio, he decided to run for Congress.

Hackett, a 43-year-old personal injury lawyer and Marine Reserve major who volunteered for service in the Iraq war, has little prior political experience, only having served as a city councilman in a small town. But he's a contender in a special congressional election taking place in Ohio on Aug. 2 to fill the 2nd District seat vacated by Republican Rob Portman, who's now serving as the U.S. trade representative.

Hackett, a Democrat, is surely the underdog. The 2nd District, which includes Cincinnati, has been solidly conservative in a state that's thoroughly dominated by the GOP and that decided the 2004 election for President Bush. His better-funded opponent, Jean Schmidt, is well-connected and, as a former state representative, has a more extensive political résumé. But Hackett hopes his credentials -- Iraq war vet and plain-spoken self-described moderate -- will give him a much-needed edge.

[sasquatch]

1. He isn't in my district but I'm really hoping that he wins

In fact I think he can.

[Deep13]

2. I sent some $$$.

[existentialist]

5. contributions to U.S. Congress Ohio 2n District race.

I just sent a contribution to Hackett too.

There is a fair amount of discussion of this race in the Ohio forum, including links to at least two sites where you can make donations.

[napi21]

3. Do you think he has a chance?

I don't live in Ohio, and I don't know anyone who lives in that District, bit I would think, because this is an addball election (at an odd time and year) the Dems might be able to pull off getting a lot of Dem voters to the polls and ournumber the Pubs.

I know, ehrn these weird elections occur in other states, very, very few residents even know there is an election, let alone go out the damn door to vote!

This needs to also be posted in the Ohio Forum. Feet on the ground and words on the phones might make this happen!

[Hobo]

4. And Schmidt's Campaign advisor tries to Swift Boat

Hackett.

See Link

<http://blog.oh02.com/2005/07/25/a-slap-in-the-face-schmidt-advisor-questions-hacketts-service/>

I sent $$$$$ to his compaign this morning.


Hobo

[Sapphire Blue]

6. Paul Hackett for Congress - website

http://www.hackettforcongress.com/

[hopein08]

7. I wish him the best of luck...

if I had money to donate, it would be to him.

But I hate to sound DLCish but I'm not sure that the best way to pick up votes in a generally red area is to complain about CNN's coverage of Terri Schiavo. It just doesn't seem like it would play well.

But maybe it's just me.