Why the hell isn't Ted Strickland still the governor of OHIO?

[MrScorpio]

What the fuck were they thinking down there?

[leftyohiolib]

1. because the shoot-ourselves-in-the-foot democrats decided their we'll-show-them

we'll-sit-this-one-out message was more important than an election. there were also a "shortage" of voting machines in the population dense mostly democratic areas. plus the rural areas around the big cities are still mostly red these white people tucked away in their suburban enclaves figured that kasick would save them from the ravages of taxes that go to help the (black)poor. lots of racists and tea tards in them thar hills

[RZM]

2. Republican year in a swing state

It was an economy/jobs election and Strickland had to own the job losses. That's generally how it goes. A bad economy just doesn't bode well for any incumbent.

Remember too that Strickland was a product of 2006, which was a Democratic year and also in the middle of a particularly bad period for Ohio Republicans. Not only did they have the Bush baggage, but they were also coming off of the Bob Ney scandal and 8 years of Taft, who had his own scandal and was one of the least popular governors in the country.

Four years later, Bush, Taft, and Ney weren't around to help drag down the Republican brand.

And it was still pretty close. Kasich won by only 2 points, 49-47.

[leftyohiolib]

3. yea , that too