and yapping away in their snarky columns. Joe Hallett and his wife Mary Ann Sharkey are two of the biggest GOP media ho's in recent history. Mary Ann claimed to be a Dem, then deserted the party to play Mary Matalin for Bob Taft. Hubby Joe is now venting his spleen in his column, complaining that Democrats are disobeying the rules and actually winning again. I guess its time for them to return to snark mode and spend the next 8 yrs. complaining about Dems doing a good job. The GOP media apologists have a limited repertoire - cover up for the GOP or blame Dems for everything.
http://www.dispatch.com/features-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/23/20060723-B5-02.htmlOhio’s long-bumbling Democrats might find success in November
Twelve years later, a pulse has been detected.
The Ohio Democratic Party, a cadaver since it lost everything in the statewide election of 1994, miraculously is drawing short and labored breaths. It is far too early to render a prognosis, but at least the defibrillator can be momentarily stored.
Evidence of the state Democratic Party’s renewed life was on display over the last two weeks in Ohio’s two signature races, governor and U.S. senator, which also are top priorities for both national parties.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, an ordained Methodist minister, pre-emptively struck at the heart of opponent J. Kenneth Blackwell’s GOP base by airing a 60-second commercial on more than 20 Christian radio stations. The ad touted Strickland’s religious credentials and assured listeners that he would be guided by "biblical principles" as governor.
...
The second sign that Democrats are moving beyond the realm of road-kill came in the Senate race pitting incumbent Republican Mike DeWine against Democratic U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown of Avon.
From the day Brown entered the race, the DeWine campaign’s strategy has been to define Brown as an out-oftouch liberal, especially on issues of national security. So before Brown could posit his record and platform to Ohioans, DeWine launched a TV commercial with images of the burning World Trade Center and portrayed Brown as soft on international terrorism and national security.
...
In past years, that would have been that. The Democrats would have lacked the resources to respond beyond weak protestations in press releases. De-Wine’s early gambit to define Brown as an unacceptable alternative would have been unimpeded.
But four days after the airing of De-Wine’s ad, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had funneled enough money to the state party to buy equal TV time for an effective Brown counterattack.
...
With more than three months remaining before the Nov. 7 election, the Ohio Democratic Party still has plenty of time to revert to its decade-long bumbling and reassert its ineptness. If there is one thing DeWine, Blackwell and the Ohio Republican Party do well, it is win elections.