Hey Ohioans. What do you guys think of Ted Strickland for governor?

[Bombtrack]

I was thinking how much importance should be put on your open governors mansion in 06. This guy seems like a pretty good bet. Anyone who would consider Jerry Springer is a frigging airhead.

from his congressional website:

Congressman Ted Strickland was born on August 4, 1941 in Lucasville , Ohio . The son of a steelworker, and one of nine children, Ted spent his childhood active in church and school life. Ted attended Asbury College in Kentucky , receiving a B.A. in History and Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. Ted continued his studies at the University of Kentucky , receiving a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology in 1980.

Ted is married to Frances Smith Strickland of Simpsonville, KY. Frances is an educational psychologist and author of a widely used screening test for kindergarten-age children. She has also authored a children’s book, The Little Girl Who Grew Up To Be Governor. Professionally, Ted has served as a minister, a psychologist, and a college professor. He was the director of a Methodist children’s home, an assistant professor of psychology at Shawnee State University , and a consulting psychologist at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF).

During his last four terms in Congress, Ted has served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he has fought to secure a meaningful prescription drug benefit under Medicare and to reform the managed care industry. Ted is also an active member of the Congressional Steel Caucus and has fought to protect American industry and jobs from unfair foreign competition. This term, Ted has also become a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. As a member of that committee, he has been tireless in his advocacy for full funding of promised veterans’ health programs.

[liberalnurse]

1. I met Ted a few weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio

after the Blackwell Protest at the Statehouse. Congressman John Lewis was there as well as Congresswoman Stephanie-Tubb-Jones. I really adore Ted.... He loves Ohio and is so insightful as to our needs.

I'm not sure he wants to be Governor..... I find him so much more needed in the U.S House of Representatives. He truly fights the good fight!

[buydonkey]

4. Strickland Could Win

Strickland was my congressman growing up, and I think he'd be fairly competitive. He's very moderate, and would have a ton of appeal with independents. Money is the big thing though.

There've also been whispering campaigns against Strickland that I won't go into, but they're something else to consider.

[Philostopher]

16. He got married, that should have cleared up at least one of them.

He ran for congress in my district when I was in high school, kept losing because his Republican opponent passed it around he was gay. In SW Ohio rural districts, that's a killer (I never cared, but I can't speak for my neighbors, obviously!). Were there others?

[buydonkey]

18. That's the one that I'm familiar with

But you know how it is with some people, especially from our part of the state. The rumor never really goes away.

[OzarkDem]

2. Strickland is very good

Great record, knowledgable, good speaker, great on issues, but he'll need a lot of money to overcome the tendency for the NE Ohio news media to ignore him as much as possible.

BTW, Plain Dealer's asshole editor Brent Larkin had a pathetic, fawning article about Rob Portman running for Governor. Larkin and Machaskee are already starting their campaign to get another Repub elected Governor. They must really hate Ohio.

[ShaneGR]

3. Sherrod Brown

He's the only one with statewide winning experience, has more than enough money and strong fundraising ties, he's fairly handsome, still young, and has a great record.

[mosin]

5. Sherrod Brown...

is just another horribly anti-gun northern Ohio politician who would get killed in rural Ohio.

It will take a moderate, pro-gun Ted Strickland-type Democrat to win the governor's race in Ohio. There just aren't enough Democrats in northern Ohio to make up for losing by 70%-30% margins in rural and southwest Ohio.

[Ninga]

6. Hmmmmmm , perhaps you may not know that herrod

gets votes from Geauga County, which is heavily rural.

[mosin]

8. Not any more

None of Brown's district is in Geauga County any more.

But you're right, I didn't know about Brown's prior performance in Geauga County. Brown did do surprisingly well in Geauga County in 1998 and 2000, but I still expect that he would not do well in southwest Ohio and in the rest of rural Ohio where he is not already well known. His anti-gun votes alone would be fodder for attacks. Outside of northern Ohio, Ohio is a pro-gun rights state, and it will take at least a moderately pro-gun rights Democrat to win one of the big 3 statewide offices (governor or U.S. senator).

[OzarkDem]

13. Sherrod would do fine

He's from rural Ohio, grew up in the Mansfield area. He's won statewide races before, having served as Secy of State IIRC. R's have feared him running for governor for years.

Problem is, Sherrod is really, really happy where he is. He is the ranking minority member on a key House subcommittee with a great deal of power over health care legislation - his favorite issue. He still holds out hope of a Dem majority which would give him the chance to realize one of his big goals - health care for all.

[lizzieforkerry]

7. I'm all for Strickalnd.

I have already signed up to be a campaign (unofficial right now) volunteer. He is great.

[AndrewCMc78]

20. Volenteer?

I was wondering where you went to volenteer for his campaign (assuming the best)

[Philostopher]

9. I think it's probably not a bad idea.

I grew up in a county Strickland used to represent (it's since been redistricted at least once), so I'm familiar with him.

He's a good speaker, and he seems to connect well with rural voters. I would have no problem voting for him.

And as much as I used to like Springer, you're probably right that he just couldn't get around the circus he built around himself. I think a lot more of him, knowing his early history, than some do around here -- I think he'd be a good governor -- but I don't think he can get to the statehouse. Edit -- and we have to think that way, from now on; sometimes, the right guy for the job is the guy who's best to bid for the job, not the guy who'd do the best job, and that's just the way it is anymore.

I want Eric Fingerhut to have a go at Mike DeWine. Nobody was going to beat Voinovich, too many Dems vote for him because they recognize his name, and he manages to come across as sensible and centrist (he isn't, especially, if you look at his voting record, but he gets the message across better than most GoOPers).

[AngryOldDem]

10. I'm still open on the subject

...except to seriously consider Jerry Springer. That door is definitely shut and locked.

[ohio_liberal]

11. He's my congressman.

I'm all for him running for Governor.

[Kolesar]

12. I think he would struggle with name recognition

Only political nerds like me know who he is around Cle.

[AndrewCMc78]

21. Actually

Ted Strickland is the congressman from the Ohio 18th district which is around the upper Ohio Valley in the Marietta, Athens area.

[truth2power]

14. I worked on Ted's first campaign for congress way back when.

I believe he's a person of integrity. has much to recommend him.

[Andrea]

15. Mayor Mike Coleman of Columbus...

would be a very good choice. He hasn't decided whether to run yet, but if he does he has my support and he could win. He's fairly liberal, but maintains good ties with business. He has a good record in Columbus. His son will be deployed to Iraq soon. He's African American, young and handsome, and can raise money. He's smart and a very good speaker. He has lived in Columbus a long time, but is originally from Toledo.

[realisticphish]

17. god that would be great

i live in Columbus, and he really is a great mayor. hes an excellent speaker, and is "electable", if you will, without betraying liberal causes. i can see it...


The Incorrigible Democrat

[AndrewCMc78]

19. Absolutely

I grew up in his district and was pretty upset when I found out I had moved into another district. He is an incredible man he would really represent us. He has great appeal across the spectrum with being a career Democrat as well as a former minister, for the Christian Middle and right. Since he has such great appeal in rural areas (I'm from Monroe County originally and I don't think the Republican's even challenged him in November)

The only problem I can see with this is that he sits in the House of Reps and we need all the help we can get there. If he were to run I would have him appear as much as possible with someone trusted in the area to get the seat. It would be an uphill battle but at the moment I think the party (especially in the state) needs someone to rally behind that is a trusted leader and someone who knows how to win, this is Strickland.

I've also started a geocities' site for those who are interested.
http://www.geocities.com/stricklandforohio .