Obama's fight for Ohio: A "giant generational divide," persistent rumors

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: Obama's fight for Ohio
By John King
CNN Senior National Correspondent

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (CNN) -- At the bustling Market Street Cafe, there is a good vibe for the Democrats: The half-dozen younger workers in the kitchen are all for Sen. Barack Obama and excited about voting come November.

Yet older Democrats like Steve Sturgill seem to be bracing for disappointment. Sturgill, who is an economic development official, says that even fellow Democrats tell him they have a hard time relating to Obama, and some keep asking whether he is a Muslim or associates with radicals. "I have that question all the time. People that I talk to in our community still have reservations about that," Sturgill said in a lunch-hour conversation. "There is no doubt in my mind Sen. Obama is not a Muslim. He is not a left-wing crazy."

It should be a Democratic year; the party generally benefits when times are tough. And in southeast Ohio, the official unemployment rate is near 7 percent. Sturgill says many have just given up looking for jobs, and he believes that the unofficial jobless rate is closer to 20 percent. The Scioto County Democratic headquarters is buzzing with activity, with several volunteers working the phones, looking to win over new votes. It is a sign of Democratic intensity in the state, but the scene is also telling of the hurdles Obama faces trying to make inroads here.

An office worker felt compelled to attach a shiny flag pin to the lapel of a cardboard cutout of Obama that is perched in the center of the office. And although the economy is by far the biggest issue here, the literature spread out on the table at Democratic headquarters includes fliers designed to answers concerns of gun owners and a thick stack of papers that try to rebut persistent rumors Obama is a Muslim, took his Senate oath on a Quran, won't put his hand over his heart when saying the Pledge of Allegiance or won't wear a flag pin on his lapel.

Local Democratic Chairman Randy Bashem says some of those reached by the phone banks say they simply aren't ready, or willing, to vote for a black man....

Obama was trounced here in the Democratic primaries; Sen. Hillary Clinton won 81 percent of the vote in Scioto County. Top Democratic strategists say Obama has yet to fix things in order to get Ohio's 20 Electoral College votes....Recent history suggests that winning southeast Ohio equals winning the White House. Democrats have carried the region just three times in the past 10 presidential elections: in 1976, 1992 and 1996. Those happen to be the only three times the Democrats have carried Ohio, and won the White House, in the past 40 years.

Market Street Cafe co-owner Mary Rase, a loyal Republican, sees a giant generational divide. "I think people my age seem to be for McCain, but I feel overall that there is more Obama people," Rase said....

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/09/ohio.race/index.html

[Thrill]

1. If the people of OH vote for McCain again. They deserve everything they get

[maseman]

2. I live in Ohio

It might as well be Alabama besides Cleveland, Akron, Toledo and parts of Columbus.

[elkston]

5. What about Cincinnati?

[Fired Up Democrat]

7. cincinnati is basically kentucky

but the other poster is right. outside of franklin county and cuyahoga county this is almost like alabama.

[maseman]

8. Cincy is very red

I should have also included Dayton as being pretty blue and also Youngstown. The Ohio River used to be union but now it is pretty much bible thumpers.

[elkston]

6. What about Cincinnati?

[HughBeaumont]

9. This state voted for Bewsh. Twice.

(Well, a little theft goes a long way, but still . . . )

Even in the bluest area in the state (NE Ohio) there are more than several thousand whitey nutjobs that don't care about what happened in the past 8 years; they just believe things will be much much worse under a Democrat. That's some Moibus logic for you. So Republicans on ALL levels of government drove Ohio to become the weeded-up parking lot that it is and the logical thing to do . . . is vote for another neo-con, ultra-free-trader such as McCain so it can (by his own admission; remember "Some of the jobs aren't coming back, my friends") continue.

I share the same opinion on another thread: if for WHATEVER reason people vote The Maverick & Palin Circus in 2008, I'll cease voting, cease caring and laugh as people lose their jobs and health care. If 8 straight months of job losses doesn't teach ANYONE a lesson on how lousy Repukes are at running everything, then FUCK them. They truly are stupid enough to get and deserve whatever is coming to them.

[Dawgs]

3. People need to realize that Muslim is code for blackie, negro, ni**er, etc..

These people know it's not true, but they can't say what they really mean so they use another term to describe someone who's 'darker' than them.

[paulk]

4. I'm seeing the same thing here in Colorado

there's a real split in the party, and it seems to be generational.

An even bigger problem seems to be that the people canvassing for Obama, at least the ones I've talked to, are younger, sometimes really younger, and don't seem to understand how to talk older people into voting for Obama. There's a real disconnect. It was pretty much the same thing at the caucus - two very disparate groups - with the Obama group, after winning - not connecting with the Clinton voters. In fact, we were pretty much ignored - they went ahead and started the 2nd part of the process (caucusing for US Senate candidates) without us. It was very strange and offputting.

This is a major problem for Obama, and I hope he can get a handle on it...