Beacon Journal endorses Strickland

[POAS]

After their "unfortunate" endorsement of Mike DeWine last week it is good to see the ABJ changing gears and backing Strickland over Blackwell. Read the endorsement HERE

Excerpts:

Strickland for governor
The Democrat understands the direction Ohio must take. Does he have the leadership skills to deliver?

Practically every Ohioan can recite the catalog of bleak rankings, the sorry rate of job creation, the young people going elsewhere, the dearth of college graduates, the declining household income in relation to the national average. Once an industrial powerhouse, the state has struggled (to put it nicely) in making the transition to a new economy, one spanning the globe, the premium on knowledge.

(snip)

For 16 years, Republicans have occupied the governor's mansion, the returns for Ohioans diminishing more sharply of late. In this election year, Democrats offer the far stronger candidate. Ted Strickland may lack dynamism. Most important, he understands what the state must do to move forward. Ohioans should hope he has been underestimated again.

(snip)

Tax cuts aren't enough. Blackwell wants a flat tax. He wants to lease (or privatize) the Ohio Turnpike. He advocates outlawing nearly all abortions -- with no exceptions for rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. Most revealing was his plan to limit severely state and local spending by constitutional amendment, eventually hijacked by his own party as too sloppy and dangerous.