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McCain, Ohio Dems launch presidential race
Republican senator to visit Youngstown in effort to gain 'Reagan Democrats,' while attack ad premieres.
> Do you think John McCain will win Ohio in November?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
COLUMBUS — With a trip to Youngstown by Republican John McCain and an anti-McCain radio attack ad from Ohio Democrats, the general campaign for president in Ohio unofficially blasts off today, April 22.
McCain, the all-but-certain Republican nominee, visits heavily Democratic Youngstown in an effort to drum up support from the so-called "Reagan Democrats" who have helped carry Ohio for Republicans in the past.
Extras
McCain put up a TV ad in the Youngstown area last week.
The battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination still rages with today's primary in neighboring Pennsylvania.
That leaves it to the Ohio Democratic Party to "welcome" McCain with an ad to be broadcast through Friday in Youngstown and across southeast Ohio on a variety of radio stations, including those with country and Christian formats.
It's the first such ad by a state party since McCain clinched the nomination, said Doug Kelly, executive director of the Ohio Democratic Party.
In addition, Progressive Media USA and Progress Ohio, independent liberal advocacy groups, today plan to air a TV ad in the Youngstown area focusing on McCain, Bush and the economy, said Brian Rothenberg, Progress Ohio executive director.
Kevin DeWine, deputy chairman of the Ohio Republican Party and a state representative from Fairborn, said that while Democrats continue to fight it out, McCain will come to one of their strongholds with a "message of solutions" that will attract independents and "Reagan Democrats."
The Arizona senator is to appear at a town hall meeting at Youngstown State University at noon and later at a fundraiser in Toledo.
It doesn't matter who wins the Democratic nomination, said Jo Ann Davidson, co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee and former Ohio House Speaker.
"Basically they believe in the same things. They believe in raising taxes. They believe in more government. They believe in more spending," Davidson said.
The Democratic ad counters that McCain believes in "more of the same" policies that have left the Youngstown area in economic distress.
The ad does not specifically name President Bush, but it's meant to link McCain to the president's economic policies.
"I just want to reiterate. ...it'll be the third term of George W. McCain in the United States of American," U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, who represents the Youngstown area, said in a call previewing the ad.
To hear the ad, go to:
www.ohiodems.org/site/c.mhLRKZPCLmF/b.4047555/
Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By Pat S
April 22, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
I think we should all pray that a Democrat wins Ohio. It doesn’t take a “Brain Surgeon” to see what a Mess this country is in. I think the Intellegent people of Ohio will NOT vote ffor McCain.
By Jack
April 22, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
Hopefully the Independents have seen what blindly putting Democrats into office has done for our state. Strickland, Brunner, and Dann were only elected due (with good reason) to the anti-republican sentiment of the past few years.
Ohioans have elected an Attorney General who is far more corrupt then Taft ever could imagine, a Secretary of State who is borderline incompetent, and a Governor who is as equally inept.
I just hope that come November, voters actually vote who they believe should lead our country, be it a Republican or Democrat, and not what the sentiment is out there.
By Jim
April 22, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Look for McCain to play the “fear card” throughout this election.
By Clint
April 22, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
TRS- That is an idiotic statement. Generalizations about political parties do not hardly ever work. Do you realize that government spending is at an all time high under the current administration? Where do you think that money came from… the lottery? One of the biggest reasons the economy is in the tank is due to this administrations redirecting of our tax monies toward the war effort. As president a person needs the ability to ‘right the ship’, not keep it on course.
By Jim
April 22, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
One would think that the people of Ohio would see through McCain and his support of this bogus war. MaCain has been in Washington too long to not know what’s up with the Neocons in the White House. Let’s hope he loses and proves that Ohio is not an intellectual wasteland.
By hickohio
April 22, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
Those taxes were raised by lets see…..oh yea TAFT sorry to inform you of that and the last five REPUBLICAN GOVERNERS that Ohio has had. Like I said UNINFORMED. TAFT lied and said he would not raise taxes yet…he did. I am ready for a fresh start away from scare tactics and RECORD deficts but of course the radical right will try and make you think that if you do not ban gay marriage and aborition rights (there only two platforms they seem to harp on) you are not only wrong you are going tohell
By hickohio
April 22, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
Those taxes were raised by lets see…..oh yea TAFT sorry to inform you of that and the last five REPUBLICAN GOVERNERS that Ohio has had. Like I said UNINFORMED. TAFT lied and said he would not raise taxes yet…he did. I am ready for a fresh start away from scare tactics and RECORD deficts but of course the radical right will try and make you think that if you do not ban gay marriage and aborition rights (there only two platforms they seem to harp on) you are not only wrong you are going tohell
By hickohio
April 22, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
Those taxes were raised by lets see…..oh yea TAFT sorry to inform you of that and the last five REPUBLICAN GOVERNERS that Ohio has had. Like I said UNINFORMED. TAFT lied and said he would not raise taxes yet…he did. I am ready for a fresh start away from scare tactics and RECORD deficts but of course the radical right will try and make you think that if you do not ban gay marriage and aborition rights (there only two platforms they seem to harp on) you are not only wrong you are going tohell
By hickohio
April 22, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
Those taxes were raised by lets see…..oh yea TAFT sorry to inform you of that and the last five REPUBLICAN GOVERNERS that Ohio has had. Like I said UNINFORMED. TAFT lied and said he would not raise taxes yet…he did. I am ready for a fresh start away from scare tactics and RECORD deficts
By TRS
April 22, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
The last two posts reflect the elitism that is being discussed in the media. According to them we Buckeyes are just a bunch of uninformed redneck hicks refusing to be saved by the liberal elitists! The reality is better expressed by Pat. When Ohioans understand that both Democratic candidates intend to raise taxes (we already rank 5th in the nation for highest taxes) they may be smart enough to realize that is not a good thing
By hickohio
April 22, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
Of course he will win, most people in Ohio are uninformed and uneducated about REAL issues, therefore all you have to do as a Repbulican is say how much you hate them there gays and baby killers and yyeeeeee haaawwwwww, the people of Ohio will vote for you……rednecks.
By Jim 5
April 22, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
Yes, I think that McCain will win Ohio. Governor Strickland’s shameless advocacy for Hillary Clinton has left the governor no room to re-position himself as an Obama supporter — at this point nobody would believe him. Obama has also shown an elitist side akin to John Kerry that could drag on him in blue collar country. McCain is no George W. Bush, either. He has shown a willingness to cut spending and reform entitlements. These are things that a popular president could accomplish.
By Chad
April 22, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
It will not surprise me at all if McCain wins Ohio. The majority of Ohioans (and the US for that matter) are so clueless to what is truly going on in the world that they have no idea what the difference is between Al-Qaeda and Aljazeera. Therefore, the Republicans can continue to use scare tactics and beat the war drums to misinformed and misguided Ohioans.
By Dayton Dude
April 22, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Pat, I think you are on to something.
Is it surprising that the Democrats are the first to come out with attack ads!? They always claim the Republicans are king of “dirty tricks”, but if you watch this race closely as it progresses over the next few months you will find the Democrats are always the ones to fire the first shot.
By Frederick
April 22, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
I sure hope not.
By Frederick
April 22, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
I sure hope not.
By Pat
April 22, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
In the political spectrum McCain is actually in that gray area between Republicans and Democrats. Both Obama and Clinton are liberals to the left of most Democrats. Conservatives will not vote for either Democrat. Only the liberals will vote for the Democrat. Based on those facts - McCain will indeed win Ohio because he is compatable with more Ohioans than either Democrat.