Democrats Need Ohio to Win

[redqueen]

"Ohio is the mother of presidents and the state which chooses presidents. The last member of the United States House of Representatives elected to the White House, James Garfield, also came from Cuyahoga County and won an upset victory at his party's convention, just as I intend to do in this nominating process. Ohio is bound to play a critical role at the Democratic Convention.

"Ohio has felt the brunt of the Bush Administration's economic policies. More than 369,500 Ohioans are out of work, and our nation is averaging a loss of 68,000 jobs a month. The nation has lost nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs since this President took office. Many of the lost manufacturing jobs have been due directly to trade agreements which have been unfair to American workers. I intend to cancel NAFTA and the WTO.

"I will cancel the tax cuts to those in the top brackets. Under the latest tax cuts, the first 60 percent of Ohio taxpayers will only see a cut of $380 in total over the next four years. But the richest 1 percent of Ohioans will be rewarded with tax cuts worth $52,240 on average over the next four years.

"I intend to make the health of Ohioans and Americans my number one domestic concern, and that is why I'm co-sponsoring legislation to create universal health coverage.

"Finally, my candidacy will give Ohioans an opportunity to vote to end the war in Iraq, to bring in UN peacekeepers, and to bring home our troops. I have had a plan on my website for nearly three months at www.kucinich.us which describes how this can be accomplished. The Democrats cannot win the election unless the nominee of the party is clearly committed to an immediate withdrawal from Iraq with the help of UN peacekeepers.

"The Democrats will not win the White House without Ohio's 20 electoral votes. I'm in the best position to win those votes based on the fact that I defeated Republican incumbents in races for Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio State Senator, and Member of the United States Congress. I've shown a strong vote-getting ability in Republican areas where other Democrats have been soundly defeated. I can win Ohio for the Democrats, and because I can win Ohio for the Democrats, I can win the White House."

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. and how does Dennis stack up against Bush in Ohio polls?

not too well I understand.

[HFishbine]

4. A very old poll

9/19/03:

B: 55
L: 40

B: 57
D: 38

B: 57
JK: 38

B: 55
G: 41

B: 61
DK: 32

http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/2004/OHPoll.htm

[eileen from OH]

5. well, judging from my area

Akron/Kent area (south of Cleve, but just as liberal) and admittedly anecdotal info (i.e., Dems I know - which is quite a few) DK isn't generating much excitement. Can't speak so much for Cleveland or his district but from my own limited viewpoint, I actually think he's more popular OUTSIDE of Ohio. It may be because a lot of Ohio Dems still remember Cleveland-being-the-first-major-city-to-go-into-default, and forget his brave fight to say Muny Light which led to that default. He was a one-term mayor, you'll recall. Voinivich who came after was very popular (and a lot more moderate as a mayor than a Senator) and HE was credited with restoring Cleveland's reputation. Cleveland was the butt of a lot of jokes for a long time and it really stung and, fairly or unfairly, a lot of people connect that to DK.

eileen from OH

[WI_DEM]

2. I agree

whoever the nominee is should immediately target Ohio. Visit often. Get a strong grass roots organization in place that will work with the unions and regular democratic organization. Start early having volunteers go door to door. Dean has an advantage that if he is nominated he will be able to raise and spend money prior to the conventions. I think Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia should get top attention from the Dean campaign (or whoever is nominated) during this period.

[eileen from OH]

3. OH already has a pretty darn good

Dean organization up and running.

eileen from OH (part of it)

[MercutioATC]

6. West 'burbs of Cleveland...

DK isn't generating much excitement here, either. He's seen as too liberal to be able to get things done and his positions are not those of many center-Dems (like me). Want a liberal candidate? Dennis is your man. Most of us are slightly more centrist here, though.

[AnAmerican]

7. Interesting take on DK's popularity

Given that his congressional district encompasses quite a few of the western burbs. The district in which he won by a 75% margin last time.

[jsw_81]

8. Yes, we need Ohio, but Kucinich will never win its electoral votes

There is no doubt in my mind that Bush would trounce Kucinich by at least fifteen or twenty points in Ohio. The only place Kucinich would prevail would be in Cleveland. Dean, however, might stand a chance of actually taking the state. But we don't have to have Ohio; we can still win the election if we hold the Gore states and add AZ and NV (or just FL, which Gore won, but you know).

[AnAmerican]

9. Thanks for your opinion

It has been given the attention it deserves. :eyes:

[jsw_81]

10. Do you seriously think that Kucinich would be elected president?

If so, I don't know whether to laugh at you or pity you.

[AnAmerican]

11. I seriously think.

Which is more than I can say for some of the folk around here.

[Desertrose]

12. Thanks for that AA, I needed a good laugh...

what a GREAT line...

"I seriously think....
which is more than I can say for some of the folk around here."

I love it...and so true!!

:evilgrin:

DR

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

13. I think focusing on Midwest states

like Ohio is going to be crucial. I'm not saying we shouldn't bother with the south, but I think carrying midwestern states we didn't carry last time out is an endeavor with a higher level of probability than trying to carry Texas.

This has been a completely worthless and self-evident post from me, LittleDannySlowhorse.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

14. Not only do we need OH, we need a contrast to corporate dems

Another reason for Kucinich!

KICK