What's the matter with Ohio?

[Quixote1818]

Obama has picked up an average of around 10 points in most states from what Kerry got yet he still is neck and neck in Ohio???? How is it that Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia etc. etc. etc. all have huge shifts of ten points our way yet Ohio is almost identical to the last election? Why is Ohio so evenly divided with so few swing voters?

[Quixote1818]

1. Kick with new Subject Title. nt

[bookman]

2. I've always considered Ohio as a red state

I can't tell you how many Ohio transplants I've met that are Republican. Most can't make any real arguments as to why. They've been Republican all their lives. Their parents were Republican.

So Ohio can move, but it will only be by a slim margin at best.

[Mz Pip]

3. If the Democrats

actually come out and vote to reflect the new registration numbers, Obama will win, I think. Turn out is the key.

[Tribetime]

4. I'm sick to death of these posts everyday I live here that's bad enough

can we save these posts until after the election if he loses here. I try to come to this site for good news. Obama hasn't lost Ohio yet and probably won't.

[Quixote1818]

5. I am not ripping on Ohio. I am asking why it's reacting differently this year

from most other states. Surely there can be rational analysis of what causes less shift in Ohio as apposed to most other states.

[Berry Cool]

6. Maybe you should ask yourself whether Ohio is actually being polled correctly or not.

Perhaps not. Perhaps when the actual election takes place, Ohio will be blue, and by a larger margin than anyone expects. Just might be a big surprise.

[Quixote1818]

7. Thats the type of answer I was hoping to hear. I hope you are right. nt

[Motown_Johnny]

10. I think it more reasonable to assume that the repugs have a strong organization in OH

and it is hard to make headway against the machine

combine that with the fact that parts of Ohio are "Appalachian" it is a tough set of circumstances for Obama to make serious gains

[VolcanoJen]

19. How did the GOP Machine fare in the 2006 midterm?

Here's How - Statewide Results:

US SENATE

Sherrod Brown (D) 56%
Mike DeWine (Incumbent - R) 44%

GUBERNATORIAL

Ted Strickland (D) 60%
Ken Blackwell (Incumbent Secretary of State - R) 37%

OHIO ISSUE 2 - RAISE MINIMUM WAGE

Yes - 56%
No - 44%

Give us a little credit. Ohio in 2008 is NOT Ohio in 2004. Our work paid off in 2006 and we're going to deliver AGAIN!

[Motown_Johnny]

24. i was trying to give you some credit..

there are some intrinsic problems in Ohio that makes it more difficult was my point.

I am not buying that the polls are wrong there, and only there.

I am also not buying that the people of Ohio are somehow different than people in other states.


I never said it was the same as it used to be, I am saying it is tough for Obama to make the same gains there as he did in some other states, that's all

[CitizenLeft]

26. thank you.

My skin is getting a little thin with the constant Ohio questions.

[CitizenLeft]

25. they got their asses handed to 'em, and you and I helped

Thank you!

I know not all who ask this "what's wrong with Ohio?" question don't mean to be insulting to the majority of us who have common sense, but I'm getting really tired of it. The problem is, we don't always vote. Not to mention the fact that Ohio was STOLEN in 2004, must we continue to remind people of that? YES, Ohio is one of the oldest states in terms of demographics, which means many are conservative. YES, we border the Appalachian states most prone to being racist or, if nothing else, under-educated. Surrounded by WV, KY, IN and the most racist part of PA, yet OHIO is always the scapegoat??? YES, even where I live, in the blueist county in the state, there are pockets of unrepentent racism - Parma, Strongsville. One day, it won't be that way. Please STOP with the "What's Wrong With Ohio" questions. We're not Kansas, and frankly, people in the blue parts of Kansas are probably really sick of THAT question, too.

[VolcanoJen]

8. Really.

I understand the concern about my beloved home state. But we are working our asses off here. You have to remember that the Ohio demographic leans toward Reagan "Democrat" Seniors and that's what's keeping the race looking tight in the polling. Things are very, very tough here and our economy is crapping out, but for reasons I can't explain, fear is gripping a lot of older Ohioans as well as the Appalachian sectors in southern Ohio.

We will close hard and strong. Please keep the faith, or better yet, COME TO OHIO and lend a hand (see my sig line!).

[CitizenLeft]

27. VolcanoJen, you are wonderful.

In every way. Thank you.

[Kukesa]

28. And, Jen, don't forget about NE Ohio and their racism.

Lots of bigots up there, too.

I'm a "senior" and I've been a Yellow Dog Dem for a long, long, time!

[JohnnyCougar]

9. The RNC and the state GOP is strong in Ohio

It's as simple as that. The opposition is well organized.

They've been asleep at the wheel in VA, NC, and IN though.

[Quixote1818]

11. I was thinking VA, NC and IN might have caught them by surprise. nt

[lizzieforkerry]

12. It is such a mix of big cities and small towns.

The top half of the state is STRONG Dem and the bottom half is STRONG Rep.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. My BIL is from there and he, his friends, his family, and alot of Dems left.

Once the manufacturing closed down, the ' pukes became unbearable and have progressively chased the reasonable people away.

[amborin]

14. this is what's the matter with Ohio: Link:

<http://blogs.wsj.com/undecided/2008/10/03/for-janet-chittock-vp-debate-illuminates-murky-decision/>

[jazzjunkysue]

20. This woman is irrational. There are no jobs in Ohio. Nothing else should matter.

No jobs, no healthcare, why are they hung up on how Biden looked at a camera? And, when it's all hitting the fan, why do you think an ignorant silly girl can save you?

It's almost like an oppositional disorder: I have students like this. Whatever is happening in the classroom, whatever the teacher wants, or the other kids are doing, they have to oppose. If you change your request, they'll still oppose. Your request is irrelevant: You're not getting it. Period. The arguement is the point.

That's how Ohio is starting to seem to me.

[gmoney]

15. Palin practically lives here now

the only thing that keeps Ohio competitive for the Dems is the large urban population in Cleveland, and to a lesser extent Toledo, Dayton and Columbus. The rest of the state is bible belt and gerrymandered beyond belief.

in 2004, Blackwell had the simple strategy of putting very few voting machines in Cleveland for people to try to vote on, which is why people had to wait in line for many many hours. Some probably had to leave and go to work, or just gave up, or were shut out when the doors closed.

I hope the new SOS is making sure there are adequate voting stations to handle the turnout EVERYWHERE in Ohio.

Some cincinnati puke lady called one of the talk radio douchebags and was saying "oh, in 2004, it was terrible how they held open the polls... if those people couldn't plan their day better and get to the polls on time, they don't deserve to vote" -- oblivious to the fact that that the wait was hours long. In my happy little suburb, I think I've only ever had 3 or 4 people ahead of me in line at the polling station, usually it's 4 empty machines, no waiting. This lady assumes it's like that everywhere...

[madfloridian]

16. "Patriot Pastors" and Rod Parsley. Ohio was a battleground for theocracy.

That is not going to just go away quickly. If you watched So Goes the Nation, you would have seen how the religious right was organizing there right under our noses quietly and powerfully.

Rod Parsley 2005: Ohio will be a training ground to launch a national reformation....a theocracy.

From Theocracy Watch, some statements by Bill Moyers.

Ohio's Patriot Pastors

Let's take a brief detour to Ohio and I'll show you what I am talking about. In recent weeks a movement called the Ohio Restoration Project has been launched to identify and train thousands of "Patriot Pastors" to get out the conservative religious vote next year. According to press reports, the leader of the movement- the senior pastor of a large church in suburban Columbus-casts the 2006 elections as an apocalyptic clash between "the forces of righteousness and the hordes of hell." The fear and loathing in his message is palpable: He denounces public schools that won't teach creationism, require teachers to read the Bible in class, or allow children to pray. He rails against the "secular jihadists" who have "hijacked" America and prevent school kids from learning that Hitler was "an avid evolutionist." He links abortion to children who murder their parents. He blasts the "pagan left" for trying to redefine marriage. He declares that "homosexual rights" will bring "a flood of demonic oppression." On his church website you read that "Reclaiming the teaching of our Christian heritage among America's youth is paramount to a sense of national destiny that God has invested into this nation."

More:

"Ohio will be a training ground that will launch a national reformation, he said. At his call, the crowd repeated several times the Ohio state motto, ``With God, all things are possible,'' with a volume that reverberated against the tall buildings surrounding the Statehouse. He brought with him his own security, a media relations firm, singers, rappers and television cameras. A big-screen television near Parsley played a three-minute video on the effort to save Ohio, including the institution of marriage.

Parsley said he has a three-fold plan: evangelize at least a million people, one in 10 of whom will become converts; help the disadvantaged; and register up to 400,000 new Ohio voters over the next four years."

(I believe in "So Goes the Nation" that Paul Begala stated the GOP had come up with 11 million votes and caught the Democrats off guard.)

[progressiveforever]

17. I live in Ohio--it's the evangelical churches--please read on

For some reason, this state is a safe haven for evangelical churches that preach politics directly- complete with sample ballots- from the pulpit. I- along with several others have protested this and written letters trying to question the tax emempt status. I do not know how they get around it. A megarich minister in Portsmouth, Ohio preached a sermon (it was advertised in the newspaper) "Why a Christian cannot Support Barack Obama" the weekend following Obama's visit. These churches often have huge followings. If any of you can tell me how to get more traction with the authorities on these issues, PLEASE TELL ME HOW.

[Dems4me]

35. You need proof, petitions and legal representation willing to do

The legal work for you and all those you get to sign petitions.
It sounds like that is what is going to take to make these people pay attention.
If it doesn't work this election, keep at it, maybe you can help make changes
for all future elections.


IRS-designated section 501(c)(3) However they are allowed to lobby their
causes as an organization. But not endorse a specific candidate - just issues.

Since it is a federal law, the attorney may not even have to be from Ohio, you might could find
even someone on DU willing to help. Just my thoughts, tho.

[Drunken Irishman]

18. He's up in Ohio, early voting is going his way in Ohio, Obama will win Ohio.

It might not be by much, but he'll win it. Remember, Clinton only won by 4 points in 19992.

[Quixote1818]

21. I think your analysis is spot on. He is slightly up and our early voting advantage

is better this year. Should be enough to shift Ohio our way by at least 1 to 3%.

[jazzjunkysue]

22. I hope those long lines will be avoided this year. Keep us posted, OK?

[Quixote1818]

23. I don't live in Ohio but this article shows early voting is going well for the Dems in Ohio

http://news.aol.com/article/democrats-bank-early-votes-in/217052?cid=3272

[Doremus]

29. Some good answers here.

Our state has been in the stranglehold of the GOP so long I don't think people can think for themselves anymore. We've made inroads in getting rid of many of them but there are a lot still around, i.e. John Boehner, House Minority Leader, and Mean Jean Schmidt. The GOP is still quite strong here.

Another factor that's even more disgusting is that there are a shitload of racists here, even in Cuyahoga County, as demonstrated in the infamous YouTube video of Palin deadenders in Strongsville. Such ignorance!

On the plus side, our new SoS Jennifer Brunner is a fierce scrapper and will do everything in her power to protect the integrity of the election.


Wish us luck!

[amborin]

30. Ohio

worries me tremendously

correct me if i'm wrong but no one has won the GE (rethug or dem) who has not first won the primary in Ohio (two exceptions: one whose name was not on the ballot and jfk)

I also think no one has won the GE who has not also carried Ohio in the GE

[VADem11]

33. Nixon won Ohio in 1960

but Kennedy still won.

[amborin]

37. i said "with the exception of jfk" in my reply, in paren

[Blondiegrrl]

31. It's next to West Virginia?

:rofl:

Disclaimer: I live in WV, so yes, I have a right to pick on my state.

[Thrill]

32. They haven't had enough of their jobs leaving. They have the highest unemployment rate

Yet they are thirsty for more Republicans.

[realisticphish]

34. no we aren't nt

[TahitiNut]

36. It's not Michigan.

:dunce: (It IS football season, ya know.)