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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2008 > September > 04 > Entry
We’re in for hand-to-hand combat
ST. PAUL — In 24 hours, John McCain will deliver his acceptance speech and then hit the campaign trail anew in his quest to become the 44th president of the United States.
So, how does he win? The road to victory winds through Ohio.
No Republican since Abraham Lincoln has captured the presidency without winning the Buckeye State. For that matter, no Democrat since Kennedy has landed in the White House without Ohio, either.
In the last two elections, George W. Bush won narrowly in Ohio, but in 2006, Democrats swept Republicans from statewide offices, won the governor’s seat and toppled an incumbent Republican, Mike DeWine, for the U.S. Senate.
The latest CNN/Time magazine poll shows McCain and Barack Obama in a dead heat in Ohio (Obama 47 percent; McCain 45 percent - within the margin of error).
Clearly, the state is in play.
I spoke to several Republican officeholders this week at the Republican National Convention asking their views on the strategy McCain should employ to win. (I asked similar questions of Democrats on behalf of Obama last week in Denver at the Democratic National Convention.)
They all agree that it will be a close race. “It’s going to be hand-to-hand combat,” said Sen. George Voinovich.
Everyone with whom I spoke also concurred that the key issues are energy and the economy. In the past seven years, Ohio has lost more than 200,000 non-farm jobs, according to Labor Department reports, and the state ranks among the highest in home foreclosures.
“Ohio wants somebody who is going to come in and fight for us,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Turner.
“One of the benefits that John McCain has is that people know him, they have a relationship with him. So it’s not an introduction that he’s making when he comes and talks about who he is. We know him and we already like him. But this isn’t a referendum on John McCain. It’s a job interview. And he has to come in and tell us what he’s going to do for the future.”
Noting that McCain already has an “acknowledged strength” in the area of national security, Turner said, “the area where he has to come in and tell us his story is on economic security.”
DeWine, while acknowledging that “it will be close” believes that McCain is “going to do well in southeast Ohio. He’s going to do well in socially conservative areas.”
Geographically, DeWine said, “McCain’s got to win small counties by big margins and he’s got to win the suburbs.”
That was the Bush campaign strategy in 2004, where he narrowly defeated Sen. John Kerry, whose campaign efforts were concentrated in the cities.
“Ohio will be another battleground state,” said Ohio Rep. Steve Austria, who is running to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson. “The ground war will be key.”
That is understood by the Democrats, too. Every one of Ohio’s 88 counties will be fought for, members of both parties said. Republicans will try to duplicate their successes in 2000 and 2004 with strong grassroots efforts. Democrats will go to school on the Republican successes taking no part of the state for granted.
So, gird your loins. The politicians are coming and they want your vote. Come November, you’ll have to have been living in a corn silo not to be caught up in the political storm that’s heading our way.
Jeff Bruce is journalist in residence at Wright State University. He can be reached at jeff@jeffbruce.net.
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Comments
By Alice
September 4, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
I agree with Mary about the lack of info out there on any election. I have always said that the media are in a unique place to be voters’ advocates and to worry more about informing the public than influencing them. They argue they have a right to endorse candidates as a way to inform, but do nothing to actually inform, except maybe print a questionaire from the candidate. How about printing voting records and details about plans for different issues? How about printing an analysis by an non-partisan tax center explaining the differences in tax policy? This is where the media fails, not in picking on poor Palin. Palin gives a good speech written by a Bush speechwriter but she won’t always have the protection of a convention around her and eventually she’ll have to back up her lies with non-existent facts. McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time, and that isn’t something they can accuse the left or the media of. It’s a fact that can’t be cloaked in catchy one-liners. I was impressed with her ferocity, but also bothered by how the lines dividing our politics seemed to be drawn deeper last night and this country is going to be more divided than ever.By Philman
September 4, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
OK let’s look at the video of Sarah at her Church, and then compare it with all the one’s on utube with Obama’s Pastor Rev. Wright and see which one is scarier.I have been waiting for this battle..By dansedmonson
September 4, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
There is a video on The Huffington Post showing Palin on stage with a pastor foreshadowing Armageddon/The Apocalypse. This is scary. People are passionately endorsing a woman they have never heard of for second in command of the strongest military in the world. We can’t possibly let her take control.By Mary
September 4, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this
Another great orator, but why do I - an independent who might actually end up voting independent - feel so let down? Both parties seem to be good talkers and do not really provide specifics and substance about change or reform. Why hasn’t the news media reported more about Palin’s role in the eminent domain case and sports complex in Wassila, Alaska? If Palin is trying to bill herself and her record as limited government and good trustee of tax dollars and priorities, why did she push for a government role in a sports complex which is supposedly now costing her community many millions of dollars? Was being a hockey mom her main focus and contribution in life? Pardon me for expecting more than that for our vice president. What did she do for the school district PTA - get more funds for the hockey team?By Jim
September 4, 2008 1:46 AM | Link to this
Palin tried to censor a public library, she accepted the “bridge” money and used it for other projects. Said the state pipeline project was,”God’s will”, and she’s being investigated for ethics violations. She’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The voters of Ohio are smarter than to be fooled by the republican party line.By JIM
September 4, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this
Great speach .On to the White House for McCain and Palin.