election 2010

New year brings several state-wide political races

Governor faces challenge; primary battles loom in senate contest.

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By William Hershey, Staff Writer Updated 9:59 AM Monday, January 4, 2010

COLUMBUS — Against the backdrop of a sour economy that has seen unemployment at a 26-year high, Ohio voters in 2010 will elect a governor, a new U.S. senator, all other statewide non-judicial officeholders and legislators.

November unemployment stood at 10.6 percent, the highest since a 10.7 percent rate in November 1983.

Republicans are counting on voter discontent, fueled by the bad economy, to help them rebound after defeats in 2006 and 2008 statewide elections. Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine already is making Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, who’s seeking re-election, the issue.

“We’ve lost 330,000 jobs since he became governor ... People are going to say failed leadership, broken promises and incompetent management,” said DeWine.

State Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern blamed former President George W. Bush for the economy.

“The economy is slowly rebounding from the Bush recession,” said Redfern. “We all recognize that if you’re governor of a Midwestern state, you tend to get the blame even if the economy is not of your own making.”

The spotlight will be on the governor’s race between Strickland and Republican John Kasich, a former U.S. House member from suburban Columbus who later was a Fox News commentator and Lehman Brothers managing director.

However, the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. George Voinovich is drawing national attention. Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner want the Democratic nomination. Former U.S. House member Rob Portman of suburban Cincinnati, budget director and U.S. trade representative under Bush, and Cleveland-area car dealer Tom Ganley, want the GOP nomination.

All the candidates are likely to be overshadowed by a single issue.

“The 2010 campaign is likely to be dominated by the economy and, if so, it will hold both parties captive,” said John Green, University of Akron political scientist.

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