Blue Buckeye Blog

Polling shows Sykes with 17 point lead

Polling conducted recently by the labor group AFSCME shows State Rep. Barbara Sykes leading her Republican challenger by 17 percentage points.  The early-July poll gave Sykes 39%, her Republican opponent 22%, with an additional 39% undecided.

Sykes, like all of our statewide, Congressional and local candidates, needs your help.  Without a solid volunteer effort an early lead doesn't mean much - especially in the face of Republican mudslinging and dirty tricks.  So sign up to volunteer with Barbara Sykes - www.sykesforauditor.com.

Save the Date! State Convention Announced

The Ohio Democratic Party announced today that it will hold the 2006 State Convention at the Cuyahoga Community College located in Parma on Saturday, September 16th.  More info to follow...

Chairman Redfern on the DNC's Weekly Podcast

Chairman Chris Redfern recently participated in the DNC's Weekly Podcast, talking about the upcoming election in Ohio and the efforts of the state party.  Redfern spoke at length at the DNC's 50 State Field Strategy and the impact it has had in Ohio in 2006.

Redfern also talked about issues - war in Iraq, the economy, job loss, and the price of gasoline.  He slams the Republicans for focusing on the politics of division and distraction. 

Listen to the audio at the DNC's site here.

National Democratic Reunion reports coming in...

What a rousing success!  Here at the Ohio Democratic Party headquarters, we hosted over 140 volunteers who heard from Sherrod Brown, Bob Shamansky, and a trio of local candidates before writing postcards to voters, calling voters, and knocking on voter's doors.  You can read about the Columbus event in the Dispatch here or here on the DNC blog.

It's safe to say that the ODP has not hosted such a grassroots, volunteer event of that caliber in quite some time.  Thank you to everyone who volunteered your time to make the event the success that it was.

The best part about the day?  The Columbus event was only one of over 40 events all across Ohio.  Over 200 volunteers canvassed in Toledo, Dems gathered in two locations in Licking County, and numerous county parties used the occasion to open up a campaign headquarters.

THANKS!

Strickland on GOP attacks

Mr. Strickland predicted that attacks on him and other Democrats would bring a "gully-washer" of voter disgust onto Republican officeholders this year.

"There's a flood coming that's going to sweep away a lot of the leadership we have in Ohio and this country," he said. "The only way [Republicans] are going to be able to win is obscure the issues and avoid discussion of their failures … I'll indulge them, I'll respond to them, but I'm not going to let them derail me in the discussion of the issues facing our state."

Democratic Reunion this weekend!

43 events organized across Ohio and counting...

National, state, and local candidates, their campaigns and volunteers, county parties, grassroots supporters, and probably a few Republicans will be canvassing, making phone calls, and writing postcards all across Ohio this Saturday for the National Democratic Reunion.

Find a location near you:  http://www.democrats.org/page/event/search_results?type=advanced&orderby=day&state=OH

Is Ken Blackwell hiding something?

Ken Blackwell is a man obsessed with taxes.  Just don't ask him about his own.

In response to a request by Ohio news media, gubernatorial candidate Congressman Ted Strickland has agreed to share his tax returns with voters. Mr. Blackwell, however, doesn’t think Ohioans should have access to that information, despite the fact that even Governor Bob Taft made such records public four years ago.

So what is Blackwell trying to hide?

We already know Blackwell held investments in a company that makes the morning-after pill, despite his opposition to abortion.  Despite his opposition to gambling, we know he invested in a slot-machine company.  Does Blackwell have any more skeletons in his closet that could come out if he released his tax returns?

Katz offers plan to bring America home from Iraq while providing Real Security

Lewis Katz, Congressional challenger in Ohio's 14th District, offered a plan today to reduce American military presence in Iraq, replacing American troops with a Middle Eastern Security Force and redeveloping Iraq's infrastructure.

The plan is a well needed document - but what it clearly shows is the top-notch level of Democratic challengers in '06.  All across Ohio, from Cincinnati to Marysville, from Zanesville to Chardon, and down to Mansfield, Democrats, Independents, and yes, Republicans will have real leaders who they can choose to send to Congress in November.

You can read Lew's plan here:  http://www.katzforcongress.com/index.php?itemid=53.  His plan dovetails well with remarks made recently by Bob Shamansky, who spoke on the need to end the War in Iraq.  Bob is a former Army Counter Intelligence Special Agent, so he knows what he's talking about.

Ohio FOP endorses Strickland over Blackwell

The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police unanimously endorsed Congressman Ted Strickland for Governor today, saying he would best represent Ohio's law enforcement community.

The FOP represents over 24,000 officers and families at the state, local, county and federal level.

“Congressman Ted Strickland has a long relationship with us and has consistently supported law enforcement,” said Nick DiMarco, president of Ohio’s Fraternal Order of Police. “Ted is an honest and decent man. Not only is he what law enforcement in Ohio needs, we believe he’s what the state of Ohio needs, and we unanimously endorse him.”

Buckeye Firearms Association endorses Marc Dann for AG

The Buckeye Firearms Association announced last week its support for State Sen. Marc Dann in the race for Ohio Attorney General.  The BFA sites Dann's support for the 2nd Amendment and for conceal-carry legislation in their endorsement.  The following paragraph from the Buckeye Firearms website says it all:

If you are a Republican who is happy with Governor Taft and Senator Mike DeWine, then you will probably like Marc Dann’s opponent. But if you are sick of your party selling you out to the highest bidder, or what ever else would make a person fight to kill good legislation for gun owners, than you need to support Marc. He is the only pro-gun candidate running for Attorney General, a crucial office for the gun owner.