All Blog Posts from Horserace

Appearing on NPR's "All Things Considered," Ohio Governor Ted Strickland unequivocally ruled out being Barack Obama's running mate, The Washington Post reports.

Hailing from one of the most important swing states, Strickland had been one of the most talked about VP possibilities for Obama, but asked if he is auditioning for the job, he was Shermanesque in ruling it out.

"Absolutely not. If drafted I will not run, nominated I will not accept and if elected I will not serve. So, I don’t know how more crystal clear I can be," he said.

Strickland is expected to join Obama when the presumptive Democratic nominee stumps in Ohio on Friday.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, a longtime, key supporter of Hillary Clinton, today announced that he is endorsing Barack Obama. Strickland is seen as a possible running mate for Obama despite his strong initial support of Obama's rival, though he has said he is not interested in becoming vice president.

In announcing his "wholehearted and enthusiastic support" for Obama, Strickland said in a statement that "Ohioans desperately want real, meaningful change. And I believe Barack Obama will bring that change."

He also said he had spoken to Clinton earlier today, thanking her "for her friendship and the strong effort she put forth in this historic campaign."

Hillary Clinton has a new ad out in Ohio, "Fighter," featuring the state's governor, Ted Strickland – a longtime Clinton friend who has been talked about as a potential vice president for the former first lady.

"We need a president, first of all, who's going to be a fighter," Strickland says in the spot. "That's the way I see Hillary Clinton. Hillary's always been an advocate for the middle class. She's got great plans to create new jobs in every part of Ohio."

Strickland goes on to describe Clinton as a "person of deep faith" who has "devoted her life to caring about other people" and is "fighting for us." Watch below:



Clinton also has a new Ohio radio spot out, "Faith," which also features Strickland – you can hear it here. Strickland again says Clinton "is a person of deep faith" who "understands Ohio very deeply."

Ohio voters go to the polls Tuesday, and a solid win there is considered essential for Clinton to have a legitimate shot at closing the gap on rival Barack Obama.

Voters in Iowa (and New Hampshire) are a defensive bunch when it comes to their "first-in-the-nation" status. It's one reason why candidates were so willing to pledge to avoid campaigning in Michigan and Florida when both states jumped ahead in the primary calendar.

So a few eyebrows were probably raised when one of Hillary Clinton's most prominent backers, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, lashed out against not only Iowa's spot on the calendar, but also its arcane caucus process – something of which the state's Democrats are very proud.

According to the Associated Press, Strickland called the caucuses "hugely undemocratic" and, because they require attendance at a certain time, intentionally exclude those who might be working or are too old or too sick to get to the caucus venue.

"I'd like to see both parties say, 'We're going to bring this to an end,'" Strickland told The Columbus Dispatch for a story Monday. His comments came only days after campaigning for Clinton in Iowa over the weekend.

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, who is often mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate, endorsed Hillary Clinton in a conference call with reporters this afternoon. In explaining his decision to endorse Clinton, Strickland stressed the New York Senator's experience. "These are very serious times for our nation and the world and I believe that we need a serious leader who is capable of bringing about the change that I think we so desperately need."

More importantly for Clinton's campaign, Strickland characterized her as the best candidate to win the state in the 2008 general election. Ohio was the pivotal race in 2004 and a state narrowly won by President Bush. "I believe that she's the strongest candidate that our party could put forth" in Ohio Strickland said, adding, "I believe she is the person who can win the presidency."

Although Strickland said his endorsement is not meant to be a negative statement on the rest of the field, he seemed to take a backhanded jab at them for their recent attacks on the front-runner. Clinton, "in the face of attacks has remained resolute in putting forth a positive message," Strickland said, "and I believe that is the kind of campaign that will have greatest appeal to Ohioans."

"I am very honored to have Governor Strickland's endorsement," Clinton said, lauding his record as Governor and earlier as a congressman. Strickland is "a man of incredible integrity and commitment in serving others, something he's done long before he ever got into elective office." Clinton also said Strickland will attend the Iowa Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson dinner with her tomorrow night, a major event in the crucial first-in-the-nation caucus state.

Asked whether he would accept an invitation to join the Democratic ticket, Strickland said he is not "presumptuous enough" to think he would be considered and maintained, "I have no interest at all in the vice presidency." Asked if she would consider Strickland as a running mate, Clinton said "it's way premature to be talking about running mates. I'm not taking anything for granted, I'm working as hard as I can every day to win my party's nomination."