Ohio Democrats Aren't Banking On A Blue Wave

[DonViejo]

By Alice Ollstein | April 20, 2018 9:55 am

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO — Ahead of Ohio’s May 8 primary election, die-hard Democrats like Dave Betras are watching closely, but skeptically, for signs of 2018’s predicted “blue wave.”

“It’s like Donald Trump threw chum in the water and brought out swarms of sharks,” Betras, the chair of the Mahoning County Democratic Party, told TPM. “I see so many people getting excited and go out and march and work against him, but I don’t know whether those people will vote.”

At the same time, Betras said, Trump remains popular. Some of his policies, like tariffs on Chinese steel, “sell well” in a state hit hard by globalization and outsourcing.

“Trump can bang all the porn stars he wants and it won’t matter here,” he quipped. “They haven’t abandoned him yet.”

So far, more Democrats than Republicans have requested absentee ballots — a reverse of the usual midterm trend for the state. But is that a sign of higher enthusiasm on the left, or is it just that the Democratic primary in the governor race is seen as more competitive than the GOP primary. And though new progressive groups have sprouted up in the state amid an outpouring of post-2016 energy, and have organized everything from gun violence marches to an anti-gerrymandering ballot initiative, will those people show up to the polls in a midterm year?

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https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/ohio-democrats-arent-banking-on-a-blue-wave

[tonyt53]

1. Reaffirmation that every race is local and/or regional.

[marble falls]

2. Every Democrat in every state needs act like there will be no Blue wave, but be determined to....

create one. The Nov election needs to be treated as a fight for survival, not a cakewalk/spanking of the GOP.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Absolutely!!! NT

[blueinredohio]

4. I live in the northwest corner of Ohio and I feel the same way.

Nothing he does is bad to them. It's like they worship him.

[MyOwnPeace]

5. Just as in 2016,

so many "assumed" that Hillary would finally put an end to the "Trump Nightmare" - and didn't bother to vote.

We cannot let that happen again - assume there will be a "blue wave" and that everybody hates Trump!

We must Get Out The Vote!!!

[Kittycow]

6. I wonder if hog and soybean farmers still stand by their man?

I think we're still in some sort of grace period on the soybeans but pork tariff is in place.

Congress might give the farmers a "handout" to cover their losses, which frankly, would really piss me off in view of the GOPs typical attitude of No Help for You!

[Mariana]

8. I suspect they will. He's God's choice, after all. nt.

[Kittycow]

9. Yeah, their suffering could be "God's Plan" to some of them.

[gratuitous]

7. "I don't know whether those people will vote"

Gee, if only there was an organized political organization that could spend some time and money, maybe attract some volunteers, and employ a strategy whereby citizens were helped to get registered to vote, educated about where and when they can cast their ballots, and maybe even give them a reason or two to go to the polls.

But that's just unpossible, and Dave Betras is powerless to do anything.

[Fullduplexxx]

10. Sounds to me like that clown has the primary confused with the general

[Demsrule86]

12. Dave needs to go.

[Demsrule86]

11. The Democratic party leaders in Ohio are weak. Lordstown is losing a shift thank to the steel

tariffs and steel jobs are generally shitty unlike the good paying auto jobs. I think these 'leaders' are going to be surprised. But we will have to do it ourselves because they are not doing their job. We need new leaders.