How The Ohio Democratic Party Blew Their Opportunity To Lead Ohio and The Nation Forward, Destroying Obama Presidency

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 10/04/2010 - 14:39.

Jennifer Brunner's Courage Express

2010 is a definitive year for the Ohio Democratic Party, as all the Democratic leaders of Northeast Ohio are entangled in webs of corruption, tarnishing the Party state- and nation-wide, to the White House, as all Democratic leaders of Ohio must explain poorer economic performance statewide than is the national average, which has been poor under Obama.... with no good vision for the state and nation for the future... with important elections upon us in November.

To keep the purple state of Ohio blue in 2010 and for 2012, where Democrats have largely been in-charge in the past, the Democratic machine needs to show it is serious about changing how it does business here in the future, while going the distance with Obama, and getting the job done in Ohio... no matter how long that takes. 

Instead, generally well-liked but unimpressive Democratic Governor Ted Strickland is running for re-election without a compass, crew or rudder, in rough seas. He and his Democratic cohorts have sold-out to enough powerful industrialists - are generally well-enough liked by the Republican power-brokers - to keep their offices, if they have the support of "their people". But "their people" ... the real Democrats... have lost faith in Democratic leadership in Ohio, at the elected official and party levels.

Most telling, second-in-command of the state - Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher... our "Economic Development Czar"... lifetime politico of the Fisher/Zone family of Northeast Ohio - decided he would like the glitz and pension of lifetime Washington entitlement, rather than complete his work as czar and supporting his Democratic Governor Ted Strickland, who is running for his life. Fisher is running for even higher office - the U.S. Senate. This decision shall give the Senate seat and Ohio Governor's mansion to Republicans.

As a citizen of Ohio, one senses no Democratic politicos have been to their real offices or at work for the past year, as all our lack-luster Democratic leaders who lucked-into office under the Bush-hate-out Obama-love-in transition through 2008 are now scrambling to jump burning platforms and better their political lots-in-life, rather than better the lives of Ohioans.

Strickland's team should have gone the distance with him, rather than rearranging deck-chairs as they prepared to jump-ship in mid-voyage, seeking faster passage to anywhere but here. Where the Democratic party promoted politico insiders to leave offices and run for new positions, the party should have promoted leaders with strong track-records, under these trying conditions... leaders who represent integrity and change.

With his statewide team tapdancing (and getting lapdanced) away from reality and responsibility, Strickland lost the semblance of a foundation of leaders fighting in Columbus for citizens, and Ohio lost respect and credibility in Washington - citizens and industry have realized the offices of government in Columbus are closed for business and the Governor's office is empty and aimless.

How the public perceives Democratic party intent is determined by party endorsements and funding of candidates, and the decisive race that showed the Democratic Party is not serious about reform and change in Ohio was the 2010 Democratic primary for Republican George Voinovich's seat in Senate.

Taking aimlessness to new heights, the Ohio Democratic Party leadership has shown it is playing the same-old political games as always as it endorsed the life-entrenched job-jumping politico Lee Fisher for Senate, in the Democratic primary, over a new breed of successful Democratic leader - a smart change agent - taking-out the Courageous Jennifer Brunner, our successful Democratic Secretary of State, who also ran for Voinovich's Senate seat.

That the Ohio Democratic leadership rewarded Fisher's political gamesmanship with their endorsement, over the important new-comer Brunner, put Strickland out of the Governor's Mansion, and gave the state to Republicans, at many levels, putting us four years behind our opportunity curve for the future, which may cost Obama the White House in 2012. The real cost of the corruption of the Ohio Democratic Party.

I'm sure all real Democrats in the know wish they had the opportunity to vote for Brunner for Senate this November, rather than see that seat go to another Republican.

On the other hand, Secretary of State Brunner has continued to do an excellent job in Columbus, throughout her campaign and as she prepares to hand her office over to new leadership... today she emailed her constituents reminding them this is the last day to register to vote for the November election.

I wish her luck in the future, and thank her for one of the few jobs done well in politics in Ohio in recent memory...

Dear Norm,

Your inbox is going to be flooded today with emails from candidates and political parties telling you that today is the close of voter registration.  As Secretary of State, it's my job to tell you that, too, but allow me to point out a few extra things.

What does the close of voter registration mean?

It means that it's the last day you can register to vote in the November 2, 2010 election.  You can still register after today, but it will be for an election after November 2nd.

How do I make sure I get my registration form returned in time to vote in the November 2nd election?

You can bring it in person to any board of elections or the Secretary of State's office (180 E. Broad Street, 15th floor, Columbus, OH 614-466-2585).  You can also mail it in to your board of elections or to the Secretary of State, but make sure the post mark is no later than today, Monday, October 4, 2010.

Where can I get a voter registration form?

This link from the Secretary of State's office will give you all you need - you can download a form, print it out, fill it out and mail it in.

Can I still vote absentee?

Yes, and you can vote absentee in one of two ways.  You can vote absentee in person before the election at one of these locations or by mail using an absentee ballot application.  You can get the application and mail it to your board of elections  throughout the month of October, but a board cannot honor a mailed in request after noon on Saturday, October 30, 2010. You'll still be able to vote absentee in person on Monday, November 1, 2010 at one of these locations.

Whom can I call with more questions?

You can call the Voting Rights Institute in the Secretary of State's office at 1-877-VOTEVRI (1-877-868-3874).

What else?

Just for fun, you might encounter what used to be The Courage Express, my U.S. Senate primary campaign bus, which is still silver but with a facelift - new logo, carpeting, seats and tables (I'm hoping they worked on the suspension, too). That bus is registering voters on college campuses in central Ohio as a community initiative of WBNS 10-TV.  Here are some photos from last Thursday at the Columbus State University campus.

Stay strong and vote!

Jennifer Brunner
Ohio Secretary of State

Election 2010: Ohio Senate: Portman (R) Pushes Past 50%

Election 2010: Ohio Senate: Portman (R) Pushes Past 50%

Election 2010: Ohio Senate: Portman (R) Pushes Past 50%

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Republican Rob Portman now crosses the 50% mark for the first time in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Buckeye State shows Portman with 51% support versus Democratic Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher’s 42% when leaners are included. One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) remain undecided.

Portman held a 49% to 41% lead two weeks ago when leaners were part of the totals.   The race remains Leans Republican in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings

Excluding leaners, it’s a 49% to 41% race with Portman in the lead. Prior to the latest findings, the GOP candidate has led Fisher in nearly every survey since February with 42% to 49% of the vote. The Democratic hopeful in that same period has picked up 37% to 43% support. To see survey question wording, click here.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.  

The statewide survey of 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on September 27, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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Ohio Governor: Kasich (R) Keeps Lead Over Strickland (D)

Election 2010: Ohio Governor
Ohio Governor: Kasich (R) Keeps Lead Over Strickland (D)

Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Republican John Kasich now holds an eight-point lead over Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland in Ohio’s gubernatorial race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Kasich picking up 50% of the vote, while Strickland draws support from 42% with leaners are included Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Ohio remains Leans GOP on the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard.

Two weeks ago, Kasich led Strickland 50% to 43% when leaners were included in the totals. Leaners are those who initially indicate no preference for either of the candidates but answer a follow-up question and say they are leaning towards a particular candidate. Rasmussen Reports now considers results with leaners the primary indicator of the race.

Eight-two percent (82%) of Kasich’s supporters are already certain of how they will vote in November, as are 83% of Strickland’s backers. 

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on September 27, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

More information from this survey will be released later this week at www.rasmussenreports.com/ohio.

Republican Rob Portman now cross the 50% mark for the first time in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race.

When leaners are excluded from the totals, Kasich leads 49% to 41%. In the previous survey, he led 48% to 40% without leaners.

In surveys since December, Kasich has earned 45% to 50% support, while Strickland has captured 38% to 45% of the vote.

Kasich, an investment banker and former congressman, now picks up 92% of the Republican vote in the state. Eighty percent (80%) of Ohio Democrats support Strickland. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, the GOP candidate leads by more than 30 points.

Forty-one percent (41%) of all voters in the state now approve of the job Strickland is doing as governor, while 58% disapprove. These findings have remained basically unchanged for several months.

Eighteen percent (18%) of Ohio voters consider themselves to be part of the Tea Party movement, while 68% don’t. This is slightly higher participation than is found nationally. But nearly half the state’s voters (49%) say the movement is good for the country. Thirty-three percent (33%) see it as bad for the nation.

Ninety-six percent (96%) of Tea Party voters support Kasich, along with 36% of non-Tea Party voters. Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters who do not align themselves with the Tea Party back Strickland.

Kasich is viewed unfavorably by 51% of all voters in the state and unfavorably by 37%. Those numbers include 32% with a Very Favorable opinion of the GOP candidate and 24% with a Very Unfavorable one.

Strickland’s reviews are 46% favorable and 52% unfavorable, including 27% Very Favorable and 33% Very Unfavorable.

Most Ohio voters agree with voters nationally that the country's current economic problems are due more to the recession that began under President Bush than to the policies of President Obama. But 56% disagree with Obama's recent statement that the current policies of the federal government have put the country on the right course.

Still, voters in the state are evenly divided when asked which political party they trust more when it comes to the issue of taxes. Nationally, voters trust the GOP more on this issue.

Additional data   and a full demographic breakdown for this survey are available for Platinum Members only. 

In 2008, Rasmussen Reports projected nationally that Barack Obama would defeat John McCain by a 52% to 46% margin. Obama won 53% to 46%. Four years earlier, Rasmussen Reports projected the national vote totals for both George W. Bush and John Kerry within half-a-percentage-point.

In Ohio, Rasmussen Reports showed Obama and McCain tied at 49% in a race Obama won 51% to 47%. In 2004, Rasmussen polling showed Bush defeating Kerry in Ohio by a 50% to 46% margin. Bush won 51% to 49%.

In the 2006 Ohio race for U.S. Senate, Rasmussen polling showed Sherrod Brown beating Mike DeWine by 11 points, 54% to 43%. Brown won by 12, 56% to 44%. In the 2006 race for governor, Rasmussen polling showed Strickland leading Ken Blackwell by 25 points, 59% to 34%, in the 2006 governor’s race. Strickland won by 23, 60% to 37%.

See all Rasmussen Reports 2008 state results for president, Senate and governor. See 2006 results for Senate and governor. See 2004 state results for president.

Rasmussen Reports also has released recent polls on the 2010 governor's races in Alabama, Arizona, California, ColoradoConnecticut, Florida, Georgia,  Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland,   Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon,   Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

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Thank you for your posting on this subject, Norm!

Nice to know we are getting the word out as well!

 

Well, what's next for Jennifer Bruner?

Dumb and dumber....

 

"Democratic leadership" in Ohio is an oxymoron.  Norm, thanks for this post.  The title says it all:

How The Ohio Democratic Party Blew Their Opportunity To Lead Ohio and The Nation Forward, Destroying Obama Presidency