CNN: Ohio no longer a graveyard for Democratic dreams

[theHandpuppet]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/18/ohio.democrats.ap/index.html

Ohio no longer a graveyard for Democratic dreams
POSTED: 8:04 p.m. EDT, October 18, 2006

GREENVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- For more than a decade, Ohio was the place where Democratic dreams went to die.

Now, in the state that sealed President Bush's 2004 re-election, even Republicans concede Rep. Ted Strickland is on track to become the first Democratic governor in 16 years.

At the same time, Rep. Sherrod Brown has clawed his way to a large lead in the polls over GOP Sen. Mike DeWine.

Democrats have led for weeks in races for two House seats long in Republican hands, and party officials talk giddily of snatching two or three more seats -- gains that would almost certainly portend an end to GOP control of the House.

(snipping)

Republicans insist Chabot is comfortably ahead, and Schmidt is in no danger of losing. But they're not taking any chances, either, even though the district gave Bush 64 percent of the vote in 2004.

The House GOP campaign committee recently spent more than $100,000 for mass mailings to shore up Schmidt's chances.

[Divine Discontent]

1. Schmidt...

Schmidt... Schmidt??? Jean Schmidt can kiss all of our big butts!

http://www.cafepress.com/bushablowjob

[OzarkDem]

2. All thanks to Howard Dean

He put money into the state and raised Dems spirits when they were absolutely in the basement. He helped us run off the crummy ODP leaders and forced us to build a better organization in Columbus (though it still has room for improvement).

Howard Dean believed in Ohio and he made it happen.

[beaconess]

4. It's clear now that replacing Hackert with Brown was the smart move

[BlueManDude]

3. Call me in 3 weeks n/t