Don’t squander Ohio’s role in the presidential election
Written by Brandi Barhite | Associate Editor | bbarhite@toledofreepress.comHere’s a prediction: Ohio might not always be a presidential swing state.
We might not always be the state to win.
One day the Buckeye State might not be worth the gazillions spent on television ads, mailings, phone calls and every-other-day visits from the candidates. Our population is declining; we are down to 18 electoral votes and the next census could take away more.
As populations shift to the Southwest and the Latino population becomes a more sought-after demographic, Ohio could lose some of its electoral prominence, according to Sam Nelson, a political science professor at the University of Toledo.
But for at least one more presidential election, maybe two, Ohio matters.
We matter a lot. And we should enjoy it.
“Every vote does count. That is for sure,” said U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio. “I know people are tired of seeing TV ads. I am, too, but we do have a great opportunity.”
It is a proud fact that Ohio has accurately picked the president for the past 12 elections; the last candidate to lose Ohio and still become president was John F. Kennedy in 1960. Also, no Republican has ever won without carrying the state. Current polls show President Barack Obama, a Democrat, with a slight edge on Republican Mitt Romney.
Before I spoke to Portman on Oct. 31, he had been campaigning in Ohio with Romney. After I spoke to him, he had plans to keep campaigning for the former Massachusetts governor. 
Portman said Ohio is a classic swing state with no clear majority. Adding to Ohio’s complexity is that voters are willing to change their minds, making the state’s 18 electoral votes anyone’s to win — or lose.
“We are not blue or red, which makes us a prime target in every presidential election year,” the Republican said. “It puts us in the spotlight. If you lived in Texas or New York, you would be looking at Ohio and saying, ‘I wish I could impact the election like that.’”
But many Ohioans are tired of the onslaught. They want the ads to stop. They want the visits to end. They want the calls to cease.
So what’s the alternative?
Nelson said some states haven’t seen the candidates this entire campaign season. He has friends in other states who plan to vote, but know their votes won’t truly matter.
The professor used to be in that club. Then he moved to Ohio before the 2000 election.
“I had been living in Illinois where things weren’t close, and I got here and I was like, ‘Oh, my vote matters.’”
In 2000 and 2004, Republican George W. Bush won Ohio — and the election. Before that, Democrat Bill Clinton won two terms in the White House, taking Ohio both times.
Ohio’s importance probably doesn’t go back to its founding in 1803, but certainly in modern politics Ohio has played a pivotal role, according to Nelson.
He attributes it in part to the state’s location. Ohio borders Michigan to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the east, Indiana to the west, Kentucky to the south and West Virginia to the southeast. Each border comes with a variety of educational levels and occupations.
“The state is really diverse and is somehow a microcosm of the U.S., which means it will be in the middle of the divide,” Nelson said. “Even though the state is Republican leaning, it is close enough that it is a swing state.”
In 2008, Ohio went blue for Obama. Nelson said in this election there are plausible ways for Obama to win a second term without Ohio, but it would be much harder — almost impossible — for Romney to do the same.
Portman said Ohioans are concerned about jobs and their future. He thinks Romney’s plan for economic growth would benefit the state’s large automobile industry. Romney did not want the automobile industry to go bankrupt, Portman said. He had a plan, just not the same plan as Obama.
Ron Rothenbuhler, chairman of the Lucas County Democratic Party, said the election hinges on Ohio. Billboards, radio and television ads and volunteers at every polling location are part of the plan to secure Ohio for Obama — a president who designed the auto bailout that many Northwest Ohio workers lauded.
Rothenbuhler has been interviewed by journalists from across the globe. Everyone wants to know how Ohio will swing.
“If that doesn’t make us feel important, then I guess you don’t care,” Rothenbuhler said.
But even if you don’t care, it’s hard to ignore. Ohio was mentioned during the first presidential debate in Denver on Oct. 3.
Portman said he tried to be as authentic as possible when he played Obama during prep for that debate. He didn’t take it easy on Romney. He wanted to prepare him for anything.
“If you are doing a good job, the candidate doesn’t like you,” he said.
Portman is proud to be a part of a moment that many pundits say turned the campaign into a “horse race,” but he gives the credit to Romney.
“He did that on his own, not because of his advisers,” Portman said. “He was being himself. He is passionate about needing to get America on track.”
Democrat Angela Zimmann, who is running for Ohio’s 5th Congressional District, said if she beats Republican Bob Latta she will work with Obama or Romney.
“I have a group of supporters who are called ‘Republicans for Zimmann’ — they are voting for Mitt Romney and me,” she said. “People here in this district are really independent and cross party lines all the time.”
That independence is what both Romney and Obama camps are hoping for come Election Day. And it’s why everyone will be watching Ohio.
“I would encourage everyone to go online or otherwise get the information that you need and exercise your right to vote. This could be a close election in Ohio,” Portman said.
Email questions or comments to Toledo Free Press Community Ombudsman Brandi Barhite at bbarhite@toledofreepress.com.
Tags: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, John F. Kennedy, Mitt Romney, Rob Portman, Ron Rothenbuhler
Governor Romney wanted to let Detroit go bankrupt (his editorial, not mine).
Mr Romney wanted to let home foreclosures hit bottom (his words, not mine).
He says we can’t afford FEMA and we should turn it over to the states. (his words, not mine)……..
The Governor is a very dangerous man. Certainly the wrong type of leader for these precarious times.
This comment was posted on November 1st, 2012 at 5:38 pmAl Gore-received $2.85 BILLION on 14 Green Energy projects that are all in default !
The Winter Weatherization Board, has found $5 BILLION of union “work”, that is substandard and,
“of poor quality” ?!
Energy Inspectors-launches 100 investigations , files 8 criminal charges,and recovers $2.3 MILLION from one union contractor alone !?
Yes indeed, listen to chas and, we’ll all be dumpster diving for food like New Yorkers are TODAY !!!
Rolling out of my chair in laughter….
This comment was posted on November 2nd, 2012 at 12:36 pmThe current administration touts job growth, but the jobs that are being created are low paying, part-time jobs. In the retail and wholesale sector, a million full-time jobs have been cut since 2006, while more than 500,000 part-time jobs (http://1.usa.gov/Riud6o) were added. Are these really the jobs you want added in Ohio?
This comment was posted on November 2nd, 2012 at 1:28 pmVote to keep our economy running, vote for Obama! Please don’t fall for the scam artist Romney…
Romney will tell you whatever you want to hear. He’ll promise you that he’ll make your life better but when he turns around, he tells his donors how there’s going to need to be big sacrifices made from lower and middle income families in order to maintain his donor’s low tax rates.
He say’s the deficit will be paid for with “closing loop holes” DON’T BELIEVE IT! He also says there will be a “fair” tax system but he’s already promised his wealthy donors a low tax rate.
MAKE NO MISTAKE if you are making less than $500k a year and IF YOU VOTE FOR ROMNEY YOU WILL PAY for your choice in a variety of ways. A higher tax rate will just be one of them.
This comment was posted on November 3rd, 2012 at 8:47 amIt would be hard for anyone to battle this type of behavior from Congress
This comment was posted on November 4th, 2012 at 10:16 amThe chief complaint against Barack Obama is that he promised hope and change in 2008 and has not delivered. Most people wanted a new type of politics to replace old-style politics; one not dominated by money and political self-interest. Instead, the Supreme Court gave us Citizens United.
Everyone who believed in Obama’s goals of hope and change interpreted those goals the way they wanted to. No one established a measurable time-frame to achieve hope and change.
The type of new politics people expected could not be instituted in one term. In order for change to occur changes would need to take place concurrently in Congress and in the executive branch other than with the presidency.
Change has to begin with each of us. Where were all the voters who elected Obama in 2010? Many stayed home and allowed the tea party to elect a record number of inexperienced members to Congress.
Obama has had several important achievements, including ending the Bush “war of choice” in Iraq, establishing a firm date for Afghanistan withdrawal, getting a law passed that establishes equal pay for equal work for women, doubling of the stock market, and a nearly 100-year struggle started under Teddy Roosevelt to establish a national health insurance program.
On the evening Obama was inaugurated, GOP leaders met and plotted to make Obama a one-term president. They intended to insure that outcome by obstructing the Congress from acting.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell publicly admitted his role in this plot and has reaffirmed the will of the GOP to carry it out. The GOP has been butting heads with Obama every time he tries to make a difference, but he has not backed down, and that is what America needs, a president that will stand up for us.
Some people do not look at the fairness of the matter. They say either Obama got the job done or he didn’t. If we establish a precedent of rewarding a political party for obstructing government then what is to stop the Democrats from deliberately stonewalling the next GOP administration?
Democrats want to protect and expand the middle-class while the GOP is stuck on a strategy of more tax cuts for the wealthy seasoned with an abundance of social values initiatives.
The trickle-down nonsense that underlies the GOP tax cut strategy does not work! It did not work under Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush. Why would we go down that road again?
Despite GOP obstruction, Obama has slowly nudged the economy forward. We have seen small, steady job growth, the rate of mortgage foreclosures dropping dramatically and home prices rising again in many parts of the country. GOP policies will drive us back into the ditch.
Another reason to be weary of the GOP is the trust factor. Mitt Romney has lies in order to sell himself. Willard made himself the all-time Liar in Chief. The media documented more than a half-dozen Romney misstatements. The real whopper was Willard’s claim he had no knowledge of a $5 trillion tax cut proposal he has been selling for the past year.
We will not reward Willard by putting him in the white House? We continue and not start over with Romney who cannot make up his mind on which Romney candidate will lead us (Romney or Multiple Choice Romney)
Re-elect Obama!
THE SEEN & THE UNSEEN: many see jobs saved in the Auto Bailouts but they don’t see jobs lost, profits lost, value lost, investors ruined. Pension Funds STOLEN and GIVEN to the UAW!
LET’S BE FAIR, General Motors has been bleeding billions for over 20 years “prior” to the bankruptcy. Investors have lost over $150 Billion since 1992 and 50% market share decline.
What was “necessary” didn’t happen: Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Chevy, Plymouth, Chrysler, etc should ALL GO INDEPENDENT ….it is the cycle of life.
This comment was posted on November 4th, 2012 at 10:59 amREALITY CHECKS – why voting for Romney, and not just against Obama, is just and proper
1) Mitt Romney is the closest Republican that you will ever get that is most “like you”
2) Mitt is called a MODERATE from those on The Right for a reason
3) Mitt “excelled” at getting along in Massachusetts with 87% Democrats
4) Mitt built companies that “today” create over $60 billion a year in wealth for America
5) Mitt built Bain Capital “IN” blue state Massachusetts and “FOR” other liberals
6) Mitt built investments in products “you use everyday” like Staples, Dominoes, Sealy
7) Mitt built a spectacular personal fortune of $275 million …from scratch
Social Security is the governments “mutual fund”
Pensions are invested in “mutual funds”
Retirees live off their “investments”
Millions of “you depend” on guys like Mitt Romney to act in a FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBLE MANNER that protects those funds AND ensure they grow.
Mitt Romney is a Professional Money Manager that “built the Golden Goose” where wealth is created and consumed by everyone in some way everyday.
…Businesses trust him
…Investors trust him
…Retirees trust him
…You trust him.
VOTE – Romney / Ryan – VOTE
This comment was posted on November 4th, 2012 at 11:02 amPOLICIES of the PAST that work for YOUR FUTURE
—————————————————————————- The Great Recession of 1981-1982
Ronald Reagan’s response to Carter’s Malaise
70.0% TAX RATE …down to 28%
21.5% MORTGATES …down to 10%
13.5% INFLATION …down to 4.1%
10.8% UNEMPLOYMENT …down to 5.3%
06.0% DEFICITS/GDP …dropped to 3.2%
04.0% SPENDING/GDP …dropped to 2.5%
19 MILLION NEW JOBS CREATED!
Won Cold War with Russia and forced Collapse of the Berlin Wall
This comment was posted on November 4th, 2012 at 5:39 pm————————————————————————————————–
Watch Ronald Reagan’s Farewell Address …19 million job recovery!
Mitt Romney was part of the financial manipulation that destroyed our economy. He never managed a real business. He was a stock trader specializing in corporate takeovers.
This comment was posted on November 4th, 2012 at 7:42 pmThis short video explains how a corporate takeover works and what business experience you need:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5us3uLU0tk4
Before you vote, think about whether our country can survive another 4 years of Obama. Across the board, things are worse now than they were when he took office.
Obama and his minions have nothing to offer Ohio voters. Obama has no plan to improve our terrible economy. All he and his lackeys have left are attacks, anger, and outright lies.
It’s time for Democrats and Independents to put country ahead of party and vote for Mitt Romney.
Under Obama’s watch, we have 7.9% unemployment, anemic 2% GDP growth, record high gas prices, and the looming bureaucratic mess known as Obamacare.
It’s time we had a real economic recovery. Don’t vote for ‘revenge’ as Obama has said. Vote for love of country. Under Mitt Romney, Obamacare will be repealed and the economy will improve.
This comment was posted on November 5th, 2012 at 8:00 amI’m not “into” politics…I’m “into” babies!
Abortion is an abomination!! Abortion is dead wrong!!
People want kill a baby in the womb and STOP A BABY’S
LITTLE HEART BEAT! THAT’S MURDEROUS!! THAT’S
MURDEROUS!! THAT’S MURDER in the WOMB!
God will judge these people SEVERELY!
Abortion is not “the right to choose.” A woman DOES NOT
have the right commit MURDER of the womb…not before
the eyes of the living God!! Abortion is not “Pro Choice”…it is
PRO DEATH to the small, little child in the womb!! When you
stop a heartbeat you have killed!! [it only takes around 22 days
for the baby's heart to start beating after conception]. It is not
a lifeless “Fetus” material…it is a dear, precious, valuable baby!
[Somebody wake up!!]
Is Abortion a “sensitive issue?” YES! YES! IT IS SENSITIVE
TO THE LITTLE BABY IN THE WOMB!! An Abortion Doctor puts
a hollow plastic suction tube, with a knife-like edge on the tip,
into the uterus and sucks. The suction tears the baby’s body into
pieces. The suction is 29 times stronger than a vacuum cleaner.
YES! YES! THAT IS VERY, VERY SENSITIVE TO THE LITTLE
BABY!! How about the Cord Cutting technique? This is similar
to a Cesarean delivery, except that the umbilical cord is usually
cut while the baby is still in the womb, thus cutting off his oxygen
supply and causing him to suffocate. YES THAT IS SENSITIVE TO
THE BABY!! God will judge this evil and it’s promoters and “allow-ers.”
Or the Salt poisoning technique may be used. A long needle injects
a strong salt solution through the mother’s abdomen into the baby’s
sac. The baby swallows this fluid and is poisoned by it. It also acts
as a corrosive, burning off the outer layer of skin. It normally takes
somewhat over an hour for the baby to die. How “SENSITIVE” is that?
THIS IS AN ABOMINATION!! And Leaders of our nation are FOR THIS
HELL ON EARTH?? Listen! You hear Christ cry, “Let the little children
come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven
belongs to such as these.”[ Matt.19:14]
Or how about later term abortions? The entire infant is delivered
except the head. A scissors is jammed into the base of the skull.
A tube is inserted into the skull, and the brain is sucked out.
The now-dead infant is pulled out. YES THAT IS A SENSITIVE
ISSUE TO THE BABY!! MY GOD!! MY GOD!! THIS IS INSANITY
TO THE EXTREME!! How that baby screams and writhes in pain
because of someone “inconvenience.”
This is God’s Creation! No one has the right to destroy God’s
Creation! This is God’s dear, precious little child in the womb…
with a heartbeat…with a beating little heart!
STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT!! STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS
This comment was posted on November 5th, 2012 at 4:57 pmOF THOUSANDS OF BABIES IN THE WOMB WHO CAN’T TALK!!
STAND UP AGAINST ALL WHO PROMOTE OR “ALLOW” MURDER
IN THE WOMB! CAST YOUR VOTE AGAINST ALL WHO APPROVE
THE KILLING OF WHAT GOD HAS CREATED! You will be held
accountable for your actions! WHAT A MURDEROUS SHAME FOR
ANYONE…ANYONE TO DEFEND KILLING AN INNOCENT BABY!
STAND UP!! DON’T STOP THE LITTLE BABY’S HEART BEAT!!
DON’T STOP THE LITTLE BABY’S HEART BEAT!!
Please help the little baby!! The baby cries for your help.