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Thursday, November 6, 2008
Who should Ohio GOP run for governor
Kevin DeWine, the deputy chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, isn’t wasting any time.
The presidential campaign is just over - the Republican lost, in case you missed it - and DeWine already is talking things up for 2010, which he hopes will be a better year for the GOP.
Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland is expected to run for re-election but the Republican field of potential candidates still is gathering.
DeWine made clear today, Nov. 6, that Strickland, after next January, won’t have President George Bush around to blame for all of Ohio’s problems.
DeWine and his allies want to start grooming potential candidates for guv who can blast Strickland for the same woes that Strickland has been blaming on Bush - job losses, health care problems and energy troubles.
Here’s a chance to let DeWine know who you’d like to see in the governor’s spot on GOP ticket in 2010.
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Ohio GOP’s Kevin DeWine: “We’ll be back”
Kevin DeWine, deputy chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, already is looking ahead to the 2010 elections, despite big GOP losses on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
“We’re not throwing in the towel. We’ll be back in 2010,” DeWine told reporters today, Nov. 6.
Tuesday was a bad day for Ohio Republicans. Democrat Barack Obama carried the state and was elected president, the Democrats took over the Ohio House for the first time in 14 years and Democrats also picked up at least two U.S. House seats in Ohio.
DeWine is expected to take over as Ohio Republican Chairman in January when Bob Bennett steps down. DeWine already is talking about statewide candidates for 2010, starting with U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, who’s expected to seek re-election to a third term.
In addition to Voinovich, DeWine mentioned former U.S. Reps. Rob Portman and John Kasich, Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted, current state Auditor Mary Taylor, state Rep. Shannon Jones of Springboro and state Sen. Mark Wagoner of suburban Toledo.
DeWine did not mention his cousin, former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, who is said to be interested in running for governor.
Kasich already has started planning for a possible governor’s race and Portman, also a former U.S. budget director, is said to be considering one. Husted, just elected to the state Senate, has been projected as an opponent against incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in 2010.
The secretary of state’s race could be key to controlling the Apportionment Board which will draw new state legislative districts after the 2010 census. The governor, auditor and secretary of state sit on the board and the party that controls at least two of those three offices has the upper hand in drawing new districts.
“Our candidates need to stand for something,” said Kevin DeWine. It no longer is enough just to be against an opponent, he said.
Republicans need to develop an economic message that appeals to middle class voters and focus less on social issues, said DeWine. He said the party needs a “new set of faces” and a “new set of ideas.”
DeWine said Republicans also must do better with the young voters, 18-29, who helped Obama win.
“We have lost a generation of young voters,” he said.
