Question from a newbie

[progressiveforever]

I'm a new kid here (46 year old kid that is)- sorry to interrupt the vp chatter, but are any of you starting to worry a little about the general election? I'm in Ohio and it's starting to feel like 2000 and 2004. I HATE BEING NEGATIVE, but we have to win this time. I'm putting my time and money into this campaign, but Ohio is disappointing me again. Please---what are your thoughts?

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. My thoughts are that the GOP will continue stealing elections right out from under

our very noses until we do something to stop them. x(

[ClarkBayh 2008]

2. Was in OHIO in 2004

without Bayh or Strickland on the ticket I think it goes red.

[FrenchieCat]

6. !

[saltpoint]

12. I think Strickland has taken himself out of the running, although

I like him a lot and am proud of his win over Blackwell in 06.

I kind of see the Gilligan / Celeste / Strickland triumvirate of GREAT Democratic Buckeye governors!

Bayh would be a boost in Indiana, certainly, but even WITH Bayh, Indiana is a tough nut to crack. I think Obama is going to fight for it, and is putting some serious cash into it. So I'm hopeful.

Ohio I think Obama carries. Indiana? I hope so.

[progressiveforever]

13. Strickland is a great guy.

I agree with everything you said.....we have to carry Ohio.

[onehandle]

3. No. Obama will beat the tired old man. nt

[progressiveforever]

15. I appreciate your confidence.

McCain is like Bush and Cheney rolled into one--sick isn't it?

[annabanana]

4. Ohio is a tough nut to crack.

I trust you've read this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3448371&mesg_id=3448371

Your best shot there is send everyone to the polls with a cameraman and overwhelm the cheating with sheer numbers. . .

[progressiveforever]

7. Yes I have

Ohio???--my son says "move"

[saltpoint]

Your head and heart are in the right place, and this cycle, History

has your back.

Volunteer as much as you can, make a boatload of new friends, and I think on election night, you will have much to celebrate.

[progressiveforever]

10. I will

I will...promise you that.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

5. Welcome to DU!

[progressiveforever]

8. Thank you

Thanks--I've been with you in spirit all the time.

[DefenseLawyer]

9. How is that DHL story playing there?

Obama hit it pretty hard with local ads in Ohio that I thought were pretty effective.

[progressiveforever]

11. Let me clarify

I live in Southeast Ohio--on the Kentucky--West Virginia border. I don't think it played here. The only Obama ads I've seen are on CNN---only McCain ads locally.

[eljefe2]

14. naw

[Doremus]

16. Up here in Cuyahoga Co. we're still reeling from

the corruption investigation of the party leader. :(

Perfect timing too, how convenient. :sarcasm:

At least we're light-years ahead of '04 with Jennifer Brunner in the SoS seat. No more Ken Hackwell and his sanctioned thuggery this time, woohoo!

We've got a shot this time folks, never say never!

[progressiveforever]

20. Thanks for bringing that up

Jennifer Brunner is doing a great job---maybe a future governor?

[apocalypsehow]

17. My thoughts are I'm not worried in the least. How concerned are you?

( :rofl: )

[progressiveforever]

21. I'm concerned, but your confidence is encouraging..

I see you're a tested DUer. What do you think the electoral college vote will be?

[apocalypsehow]

24. 538-0, Obama. n/t.

[inthebrain]

18. Lots of time left..

Obama starts hammering on economy I think the midwest will start to swing.

[progressiveforever]

22. Ohio's a rustbelt.

He's gotta do it! Go Obama!

[johnaries]

19. Welcome to DU!

Excellent question! Ohio is a perfect example, because the evidence shows massive Election Fraud as opposed to "Voter Fraud", which implies that the Voters were being fraudulent. In Ohio in 2004 (in particular) they used several different methods to alter the outcome. Of course, they used the same methods in many different States, but Ohio became the "poster child" for many different reasons.

Republicans like to claim "Voter Fraud" harkening back to the Old School method of stuffing ballot boxes with votes from people who are dead, etc. They are using this claim as an excuse to suppress votes. They target districts that lean Democratic and challenge every tiny detail they can about an individual's right to vote (can you say Racial Profiling?). Whether the challenge has merit or not, the fact that it has been challenged means that the person's vote will not be counted in the initial tally. Since candidates have a tendancy to stay in or concede based on the initial tallies, once the challenged vote is cleared as "valid", that candidate has already conceded and, in essence, that vote desn't count. That is vote suppression. There are other methods of vote suppression, but that is the most popular.

In 2004, the Repuke SOS of Ohio - knowing that most "new voters" were planning to vote Dem - made up almost impossible rules for new voter registrations to be approved. That also made it easier to challenge voter's rights at the polls. Which made it easier to supress votes.

THEN we get into the whole issue of the DRE's. There is a whole DU Forum devoted to the issues of DRE's, so I won't even attempt to summarize it here.

With a new SOS in Ohio, we probably won't see as much voter suppression this time as we saw in 2004, but they will still be trying. You are right to be scared.

All I can say is: when you go to vote, keep your eyes and ears open. Anything you see suspicious, report. If you see an obvious case, MAKE A SCENE! Don't get violent, but make enough of a scene that it gets on the News. Let everyone know that something is wrong.

That's the best advice I can give. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

[progressiveforever]

23. You gave a great answer

AND I really appreciate the time you put into it. Thanks. In 2004, my wife's residence was questioned because she kept her maiden name--but she had been voting that way for more than 20 years.