CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Nov. 3. 2008
A Hard-Fought Battle In Hard-Hit Ohio
Washington Post: Decisive State In 2004 Is Economically Battered And Electorally Coveted
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Obama On His Aunt
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Fight To The Finish
John McCain is still confident that he will be victorious on Nov. 4th and is making stops in critical swing states like Ohio and Pa. Chip Reid is with the campaign.
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With the presidential campaigns pressing to get out the vote in the race's final hours, no state is being more fiercely contested than Ohio, which provided President Bush with his decisive margin of victory four years ago.
Both tickets sought to rally their supporters Sunday, with Sen. Barack Obama holding events in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP vice presidential nominee, closed out the race's last weekend with events in Canton and other cities across the state.
Both sides expect a close finish, something of a paradox in a struggling state in a year in which the poor economy is driving support for Obama and other Democrats. Ohio lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs this decade and its median income has dropped by 3 percent, yet polls show Obama with no more than a narrow lead in a state that Sen. John F. Kerry lost to Bush by two points.
That may be because the weak economy has driven away younger and college-educated residents who lean Democratic, because abortion remains a potent issue and because an African American candidate with an unusual name remains a tough sell in some corners. But voters also say the poor economy has not swung more voters to Obama precisely because the state has been down for so long -- many have come to see the woes as systemic, and not easily blamed on a particular party.
Obama has mounted an ambitious effort to correct the mistakes of Kerry's campaign, which boosted turnout in cities but lost the state by ceding exurban counties and rural areas. Obama has scattered dozens of offices and scores of paid organizers across central, southern and western Ohio, hoping to find enough pockets of support to put him over the top.
The Republicans aim to counter that approach with the formidable network of volunteers and reliable GOP voters built by strategist Karl Rove, which has been enhanced by high-tech telephone systems that allow supporters to place more calls than in the past. In the party's strongest areas, the exurbs of Cincinnati and Columbus, offices are packed with veterans of 2004 -- nearly all women, many of them antiabortion activists wearing lipstick pins in honor of Palin.
Elsewhere, though, are signs that Democrats have the organizational edge. In polling in Ohio, more voters report being contacted by Obama's campaign, which has 89 offices to Sen. John McCain's 46. With its operation organized into 24 regions and hundreds of "neighborhood teams," the Democrats are better prepared than in 2004 to absorb out-of-state volunteers.
Here in Chillicothe, in a county in south-central Ohio that Bush won by 10 points in 2004, Republicans have focused mainly on distributing yard signs, a much bigger priority for McCain statewide than it is for Obama. Unlike in 2004, Republicans in Chillicothe have made do without a paid organizer and did little canvassing until this past weekend.
"We're talking to more people by letting them walk through our door than by canvassing," said Bill Jenkins, a retired corrections officer who is helping to lead the campaign in town. "If they're coming through the door, we know it's going to be a good conversation, as opposed to going door to door and having people say, 'Get off my porch.'
The Democrats have been more active. To close the gap, Tammy Simkins has spent weeks recruiting volunteers, knocking on doors and calling voters, her eye fixed on the number of votes she has been told her territory must produce: 1,482.Ways To Win
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She took heart that the Obama operation had been so much more organized than the McCain one based just up Main Street. But then came word last week that Palin was visiting. Residents rushed the GOP office for tickets, providing a treasure trove of new voter names, and a crowd jammed downtown the next day to cheer Palin.
"I'm anxious," conceded Simkins, 39, a mother who recently returned to college. "We need to make sure we get all our voters to the polls."
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In 2004, Kerry carried Ohio's large and medium-size cities, the industrial Mahoning Valley around Youngstown, and the northern edge of Appalachian Ohio. Bush carried exurbs, most of Appalachia and the rest of rural Ohio.
This year, the Republicans are targeting the Mahoning Valley, where Obama was crushed in the state's Democratic primary. Democrats typically win more than 60 percent of the vote there, and the Obama campaign says the region is holding strong, thanks partly to the efforts of organized labor. But McCain and Palin have visited repeatedly, and even as polls nationally show Obama faring better with white working-class voters than Kerry did, valley Republicans say they are winning supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, as well as rank-and-file union members. They have given out more than 1,000 "Democrats for McCain" signs in Trumbull County alone.
"I'm struck by the uneasiness people express about Obama," said Mahoning County GOP Chairman Mark Munroe. "He doesn't seem to fit real well with my Midwesterners here."
In Columbus, one of several cities where Obama is counting on big support from both white and black voters, Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown said she has been unsettled by questions about Obama's trustworthiness when she speaks to fellow Jewish voters. But in general, Brown is upbeat. The Obama operation, she said, is better run than Kerry's, which relied on an outside group for turnout help that by law could not be coordinated with the campaign.
Most encouraging for the campaign are the numbers from early voting. Of the 30,000 people who cast early ballots through Oct. 26 in Franklin County, 15,000 were Democrats and 1,260 were Republicans, with the rest unaffiliated. Democrats have returned absentee ballots at twice the rate of Republicans.
"It's a little frightening to me," Brown said. "You have to believe that the Republican Party, having been so well organized in '04, will have something coming, but I don't know what they're doing. I just can't believe they can make up this much ground."
Top McCain staff members in Ohio dismiss Obama's early-voting lead, saying the Democrats have simply been getting their most reliable voters to the polls, while Republicans have been targeting only sporadic voters for early voting.
Obama's biggest push has come far from the cities. In Appalachian Ohio, he is being aided by Gov. Ted Strickland, who hails from the region and has put his statewide network behind Obama, an asset Democrats lacked in 2004.
Polls suggest, though, that the Obama campaign is having the most success improving on Kerry's margins in central, western and southwestern Ohio, where it is trying to capitalize on discontent among independents who voted for Bush in 2004. In Warren County, an exurb between Dayton and Cincinnati, Bush won with 72 percent in 2004. That year, the Democrats' office was open 10 hours per week; now it's open 10 per day, with more than 300 volunteers available.
Read more of the latest news from the campaign in Ohio from CBS News and around the Web
The campaign hopes to increase the Democrats' share in Warren from 27 percent to 35 percent. It is counting on voters like John Frame, 45, who supported Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole but has been disillusioned by Bush and sees Obama as a "different kind of Democrat." Tapping the Wall Street Journal next to his plate at a Bob Evans restaurant, Frame said that people like him, who stay informed and play by the rules, have been let down by a Republican Party that devalued knowledge and accountability.
By Alec MacGillis
© 2008 The Washington Post Company
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See all 269 CommentsA vote for Obama is a vote for America''s enemies.
McCain uses fear to get your vote
A vote for Obama is a vote for Change
Vote like you are the tiebreaker
Vote for Change - we are tired of the same ole'' politics
Vote for Obama
Obama will apply penalties to coal fired electricity producing plants so severe as to ''bankrupt them.''
SO....
... this can only mean that my city''s coal-fire electric power plants will be so penalized by Obama that ''we'' (they) will be RUN OUT OF BUSINESS!
SO....finally,
... this means that our power plant ''conversions to foreign oil'' (because we WILL NOT ''drill baby drill'' under Obama) in our 1,000,000 population city of Jacksonville, Florida, will find it unbelievably so costly that we will be plunged into abject poverty to have electric power in our homes??? !!! ???
VOTE MCCAIN/PALIN 2008
And help us out here!
Thank you.
SO....
... this can only mean that my city''''s coal-fire electric power plants will be so penalized by Obama that ''''we'''' (they) will be RUN OUT OF BUSINESS!
SO....finally,
... this means that our power plant ''''conversions to foreign oil'''' (because we WILL NOT ''''drill baby drill'''' under Obama) in our 1,000,000 population city of Jacksonville, Florida, will find it unbelievably so costly that we will be plunged into abject poverty to have electric power in our homes??? !!! ???
VOTE MCCAIN/PALIN 2008
And help us out here!
Thank you.
Posted by tuffone31 at 08:24 AM : Nov 03, 2008
Typical of the Reich.. sleazy, mud slinging right up to the last minute! I HOPE America sends you low lifes a REAL strong message tomorrow. Let''s show all these people who wish to talk about anything they can dig up and DISTORT that we want our elections to be about something ELSE! The State of OHIO has lost MILLIONS of good paying jobs to "Trickle Down"!!
The hate,fear, and smear campaign conducted by McCain and Palin are a disgrace to America. By pandering to bigotry and intolerance, McCain and Palin are launching an obscene assault on everything America stands for.
I care about working class people. I want working class people to have decent jobs, with decent salaries, and safe working conditions. That''s a big reason I am voting for Obama and his Democratic allies.
P.S. In the latest issue of Men''s Health, Obama lists his 9 rules of living. Rule # 5 states, "The Government is NOT your nursemaid." McCain should remember that before he calls Obama a socialist.
Another 4 years of Bush & Free Trade = NO THANKS
If you have no brain you''ll vote McCain!!
Ready Fire Aim!
No American Oil.
No American Coal.
No American nuclear power plants.
No American free trade agreement.
No more 22nd Amendment to U.S. Constitution.*
*Obama: President for Life.
VOTE: McCain/Palin 2008
LIVE FREE OR DIE.
OHIO WILL VOTE FOR OBAMA AND HELP RESCUE THIS COUNTRY FROM TOTAL COLLAPSE.
McSame''s message of ''fear and smear'' has proven that people do not want to live in misery and malaise so that the ''few'' can benefit the most.
Congratulations President-Elect Barrack Obama.
Now lets see who the swing voters decide on because most of you will vote party line so that leaves just the swing voter to decide.
This is funny.
Vote Obama 08 for WE the people!
America is for Obama/Biden.
1."I will bankrupt Coal Power Plants"
2."Electricity Rates will skyrocket"
3. OBAMA TAX PLAN WILL KILL JOBS
4. WHAT IS OBAMA TAX PLAN. 250K,200K,150K,120K??
By the way "Earthlived" don''t be so smug. We all work. You are LUCKY to have a job. Give the GOP 4 more years and you will be singing a different tune.
Where is the story about Obama radio Interview where he says his policys will bankrupt the coal industry and electricity will skyrocket! Can anyone explain this. I find this important to know before voting. The Media has betrayed the American People. Anybody tell me why Hannity from Fox News always seems to be months ahead in reporting.
It is NOT time to obfuscate the truth. Obama is not going to create a welfare state. It is very, very clear what Obama is going to do but Limbaugh and Hannity seem to find it easy to lie to their minions. Come on EarthLived. Step up and be a good American and help people make informed decisions with clear and accurate information - not the spew from the Right-wing radio which you have to admit has lost its final wheel.
I spoke with friends in England who can''t BELIEVE we are EVEN CONSIDERING a "Party Line Dinosaur whose VP is a PTA/Hockey Mom".
The Brits said that America cannot be STUPID enough to vote McCain in. God, I hope they are right this time..Remember they BEGGED US not to elect BUSH.
VOTE OBAMA 08'' I (and my ENTIRE family did already)
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So your basically saying if Obama spends like a bat out of hell this country will be great!! And if the Media stays on Obama side and we dont get the whole truth this country will be great. Sorry you have to come up with something better.
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Posted by hannity2012 at 08:53 AM : Nov 03, 2008--
Nobody cares about your stupid junkyard dog Sean Hannity!
The reason why you think he''s months ahead of the News Media is because he brings forth non-issues day after day.
Nobody in their serious mind wanted to talk about some act that happened when Barrack was 8 years old or the tyrades of a mentor who''s not perfect but has every right in this country to say what he wants to say.
Nobody gives a da**n about your stupid petty issues.
We would rather have Mickey Mouse/Goofy for President then John McSame. Why can''t you understand that we don''t want failure anymore?
We want change period.
Vote Obama 08'' to STOP THE CORRUPTION!!
(Don''t worry, he''s a smart man and will launch Pelosi, the Democratic do nothing)
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Posted by liberal4sure at 09:02 AM : Nov 03, 2008--
LMAO!!! Exactly!
VOTE OBAMA 08''. I DID!
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Posted by hannity2012 at 09:04 AM : Nov 03, 2008--
Our power rates have already skyrocketed up!
Why can''t you and the Republicans admit you guys have
utterly failed this economy???
Why?
The economoy can only go up from here.
Let me sort of describe my overall policy.
What I''ve said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else''s out there.
I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.
So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it''s just that it will bankrupt them because they''re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that''s being emitted.
Bush team rushes environment policy changes
Whether it''s getting wolves off the Endangered Species List, allowing power plants to operate near national parks, loosening regulations for factory farm waste or making it easier for mountaintop coal-mining operations, these proposed changes have found little favor with environmental groups.
Even some free-market organizations have joined conservation groups to urge a moratorium on last-minute rules proposed by the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others.
John Kostyack of the National Wildlife Federation, which joined Lehrer''s group to call for a ban on these last-minute rules, said citizens are cut out of the process, allowing changes in U.S. law that the public opposes, such as rolling back protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Industry is likely to benefit if Bush''s rules on the environment become effective, Madia said.
"Whether it''s the electricity industry or the mining industry or the agriculture industry, this is going to remove government restrictions on their activity and in turn they''re going to be allowed to pollute more and that ends up harming the public," Madia said in a telephone interview.
What is unusual is the speedy trip some of these environmental measures are taking through the process.
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Ok, listen to Obama frightening Radio Interview.
youtube.com/watch?v=Hdi4onAQBWQ
YOU WANT HIGHER ELECTRICITY RATES AND TO BANKRUPT A COAL INDUSTRY. VOTE OBAMA OR SHOULD I SAY OSAMA.
WE ARE DIFFINATELY FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF EVERY FAILED SOCIALIST SOCIETY.
This request was ontop of the worse failure of national security that happened on 9/11 and no WMDs in Iraq.
We made the mistake and gave this misreable President 4 more years and look what happened? IT GOT WORSE????
OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY IS IN CRISIS!!!
OUR PENSION FUNDS AND 401ks ARE WORTHLESS!!!!
GAS HIT $5.00 A GALLON IN SOME PLACES ACCROSS AMERICA!
HOME HEATING BILLS DOUBLED AND TRIPLED!!!!
THE REPUBLICANS HAD PRODUCED THE WORSE PRESIDENT IN MODERN HISTORY!!!!
WE MUST NOT REWARD THAT TYPE OF FAILURE....NEVER EVER!!
I DON''T CARE WHAT HANNITY SAYS!!!
And hannityxxx - we truly, honestly don''t care about your ***. Go talk to the mirror bud, no one is listening, not even the good people in your own party. Try selling your *** at a KKK rally or in the appalachians, you might get a few takers.
Mccain, Bush, and the rest of the GOP-
Managed to take Clinton''''s surplus,
And 8 years later they replaced it with:
Bigger Gov''''t --
Though they promised Smaller Govt-
Greater Debt-
Though they promised fiscal responsibility-
The largest Trade Deficit in history-
Outsourcing millions of US jobs
Then they Pulled a Commie Chavez move
Nationalizing Fannie and Freddie
The Socialization of our Financial Institutions-
With Billions in tax payer paid bailouts-
Institutional Welfare for Wall Street Incompetents-
War in Iraq and Afghanistan
Costing us 10 Billion + a month
Ridicule throughout the world--
But they did give Tax breaks and incentives to:
The upper 3% -
To Big Oil,
And the GOP Defense Conglomerates--
The Choice is Astonishingly Clear---
VOTE GOP
VOTE MCSAME
CONTINUE THE BUSH LEGACY
FOUR MORE GLORIOUS YEARS
OF GOP BS
I am John Mccain and I approved this Post!!!
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