MyDD :: OH-05: Gov. Strickland: "This Race Is Absolutely Winnable"

OH-05: Gov. Strickland: "This Race Is Absolutely Winnable"

by Todd Beeton, Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 12:11:58 PM EST

Good to see the DCCC isn't waiting until next year to start going on offense in order to expand our majorities. Remarkably, in the OH-05 open seat race set for December 11, a district that Bush won with 61% in 2004, Democrats smell blood.

Swing State Project reports that the DCCC has purchased a $148,000 ad buy to support Democrat Robin Weirauch who won 43% last year in this R+10 district. This comes on the heels of Weirauch's reportedly raising $138,000 so far for this special election alone, including

$5,000 from Emily's List and $2,000 each from committees affiliated with Rep. Rahm Emmanual (D-IL), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Niles), and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Cleveland). She also recived funds from various Congressional leadership PACS, including $5,000 from Rep. Kaptur's PAC. Weirauch also got over $34,000 from union PACs.

While a poll that Weirauch's Republican opponent, Bob Latta, commissioned 3 weeks ago showed Latta ahead 50%-37%, the same poll showed a generic R beating a generic D by just 8%, indicating that voters are perhaps even more willing to vote Democratic this year than they were last when Weirauch lost by 14%. And in a glimpse into what may be driving the surge in institutional support for Weirauch in the closing days of the race, Governor Ted Strickland let us in on a little secret about Weirauch's internal polling at an appearance with her on Saturday (h/t Ohio Daily Blog):

Robin's pollster is the pollster that I have used since 1992. She's the best there is, I trust her explicitly. She does not sugarcoat the results and her results say that this race is absolutely winnable.

In this district that both Strickland and Sherrod Brown carried last year, Weirauch is sounding populist themes, promoting fair trade over trade deals that have sent jobs out of the district, demanding up front in her speech on Saturday that we "bring our troops home safe, honorably and soon" and has been vocal in her support of the Employee Free Choice Act. In other words, it's clear that on Dec. 11, even in this red district, we have the chance to add not only one more Democrat, but a better one to congress.

Help send Washington a new "Congresswoman by Christmas" by showing Weirauch some love over at ActBlue.

Tags: oh-05, robin weirauch, bob latta, ted strickland, dccc (all tags)

Permalink :: 4 Comments :: Post a Comment

"This Race Is Absolutely Winnable" (none / 0)

It would be nice if we could get some of the presidential candidates to take a day off and head out to Ohio to rally the troops. In such a low-turnout election, the more-energized side will win.

The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK

by Vox Populi on Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 12:34:38 PM EST

OH-05: Gov. Strickland (none / 0)

I was afraid I'd have to wait till February 5th for some special election excitement! Clearly I get a quick hit, boost, whatever you want to call it from the DCCC investing here! Eight days away!

by JeremiahTheMessiah on Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 12:54:09 PM EST

Re: OH-05: (none / 0)

We'll have special elections here, in VA-1, and in IL-14. As with MA-5 earlier this year, the incumbent party is expected to hold the seat without breaking a sweat, and making a close race can be heralded as a huge, HUGE sign of realignment portending a sweep of the more competitive districts in November 08.

In Ohio, we have already done that. Republicans in the 5th should be talking, not about whether their crook will win, but by how much. Instead, they're worrying about the closeness of the race, and the RCCC is dumping their already shallow warchest into territory they should be taking for granted.

An actual win here is possible, and will be devastating to the state and national GOP if it happens. It will inspire more Republicans to retire, and force the Ohion GOP and RCCC to take more resources away from the open 16th, 15th, and 7th districts, where they are in far more danger of losing in November.

Democratic candidates for President should campaign here with Weirauch. Everyone knows Ohio will be a major battleground state in 2008, and appearances here cannot hurt at all. After the primary, time will be at a premium and appearances are likely to be limited to the major cities and Democratic strongholds--Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinatti, Akron, Toledo, and Youngstown--while most of the rest of Ohio is ignored. What would happen if Democrats shaved off some Republican voters in the farm-area strongholds of West Ohio before it came down to that? Would our chances of winning the state go up? Is Rudy America's Playa?

by admiralnaismith on Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 01:16:43 PM EST

Robin Might Win (none / 0)

If Robin Weirauch can win in this conservative, rural district, it means Democrats can win just about anywhere. A win would probably encourage a lot of Republicans to retire, including perhaps, Ohio Senator George Voinovich in 2010. A win here would also help retired judge Bill O'Neill challenge Republican Steve LaTourette in OH-14.

Check out Ohio Daily Blog for great coverage.

by RandomNonviolence on Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 05:09:57 PM EST

You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.