Early Voting In Ohio Starts September 30th

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Obama, Ohio 2008
• Date: Sep 24,2008

Obama's message to Ohio voters:

You will be able to vote early at your county board of elections starting September 30, 2008. Unregistered voters can both register to vote and vote on the same day between September 30 and October 6. In this short video clip, Barack Obama explains the process to supporters and explains how important early voting is. One important difference between 2004 and 2008 that is just starting to become relevant in the press is that the elections in Ohio will be managed by the Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner instead of Ben's gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell.

Related: The Plain Dealer has endorsed Betty Sutton for Congress in OH-13.

Related(2): Barack Obama released three bullet points to outline how he thinks our country should respond to the "financial crisis as profound as any we have faced since the Great Depression."

• No Golden Parachutes — Taxpayer dollars should not be used to reward the irresponsible Wall Street executives who helmed this disaster.

• Main Street, Not Just Wall Street — Any bailout plan must include a payback strategy for taxpayers who are footing the bill and aid to innocent homeowners who are facing foreclosure.

• Bipartisan Oversight — The staggering amount of taxpayer money involved demands a bipartisan board to ensure accountability and oversight.

Biden: Hillary 2012!

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Obama, Presidential
• Date: Sep 23,2008

Story: Barack Obama's running mate says a campaign ad that mocked Republican presidential candidate John McCain as an out-of-touch, out-of-date computer illiterate was "terrible" and would not have been done had he known about it……Asked about the negative tone of the campaign, and this ad in particular, during an interview broadcast Monday by the "CBS Evening News," Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, said he disapproved of it. "I thought that was terrible, by the way," Biden said. Asked why it was done, he said: "I didn't know we did it and if I had anything to do with it, we'd have never done it."

Hasty statement put out by Chicago: I was asked about an ad I’d never seen, reacting merely to press reports. As I said right then, I knew there was nothing intentionally personal in the criticism of Senator McCain’s views which look backwards not forwards and are out of touch with the new economic challenges we face today. Having now reviewed the ad, it is even more clear to me that given the disgraceful tenor of Senator McCain’s ads and their persistent falsehoods, his campaign is in no position to criticize, especially when they continue to distort Barack’s votes on an issue as personal as keeping kids safe from sexual predators.

Uh Joe, I don't think that even if you had known about it before it aired your original opinion would have mattered.

I guess it is good that even Biden realizes that it was an ad that shouldn't have been run. Actually, it was a grateful thing to hear him say. The problem for his team that it is still has the tagline of "I am Barack Obama and I approved this message." On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being completely not a big deal and 10 being disaster, this is probably a 4. Would be higher, but Biden is really a non-factor. Biden's task from here on out will to be say nothing that can be even measured on said scale. Just stay out of sight, prepare for his debate, and be a potential VP only because Obama had to pick someone because the United States Constitution required him to do so.

But don't put out a statement that basically says, "oh well I guess I was wrong the first time and actually it is perfectly okay to make fun of McCain for not being able to use a keyboard due to his injuries." That doesn't fly.

60 Minutes Interviews McCain and Obama

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: McCain, Obama
• Date: Sep 22,2008

In case you missed it, 60 Minutes had two well done interviews with the presidential candidates. It was also the first 60 Minutes broadcast in HD, which will add a lot to the stories they cover at home and around the world.

Contrasting Biden and Palin in NE Ohio

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: McCain, National Landscape 2008, Obama
• Date: Sep 18,2008

Joe Biden with Eric Mansfield

Joe Biden spoke with Eric Mansfield during his stop in Wooster yesterday for about 10 minutes. They touch on keeping college graduates working in Ohio after school, home foreclosure, job loss from Ohio, and Ohio's National Guard. It is clear that Joe Biden has a sound understanding of the issues important in our state. Contrast Biden doing an interview with a local news anchor as he stops in our community with Palin taking one question shouted from a reporter while she sits at some coffee shop in Cleveland:

Compare the two and tell me who is ready to address the issues important to Ohio.

The novelty of Sarah Palin is starting to wear off as voters start to realize the importance of this presidential election in the midst of an economic crisis. Joe Biden is hitting Ohio hard this week. Today, he will campaign in hard hit Canton, where he will be introduced by Congressional Candidate John Boccieri. Later today he will be in Youngstown for an outdoor rally. These events present Biden with an opportunity to continue to showcase his understanding of the economic issues impacting our state.

The press has become increasingly impatient with Palin's unwillingess to participate. One of my favorite lessons from political science class is something to the effect of "you've got to feed the press or they will eat you alive." Since Sarah Palin isn't feeding the press, they have gone looking for something to eat and seem to have chosen a steady diet of fact checking Palin's talking points and looking into her record. The coverage is revealing that she is all show and little substance.

We've got a long way to go. I believe this race is dead even nationally and that we are a bit behind in Ohio. I also believe that Joe Biden is the kind of guy who understands the working class issues of Ohio voters and will be a difference maker down the stretch.

Senator Clinton Visits Ellet High School

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: National Landscape 2008, Obama, Ohio 2008
• Date: Sep 15,2008

1,600 people were packed into the gym at Ellet High School to see Senator Hillary Clinton yesterday. The line stretched around the high school parking lot hours ahead of the doors opening. The crowd was wearing a mix of Clinton and Obama apparel, which served as a reminder of the primary that seems so far away.

Ellet High School is on the East Side of Akron just inside Ohio's 17th Congressional district. It is a working class part of Akron and the place where the economic message of the Democratic Party must resonate this election. The introduction was given by Congresswoman Betty Sutton, who continued a rallying cry of Senator Clinton's from the primary: "Fired up and ready to go." Hillary was fired up for Barack Obama. She took the microphone off the podium and walked from side to side playing to the crowd. The goal of her speech was to thank her supporters who worked hard for her in the primaries and let them know their fight continues by supporting Barack Obama.

One of my favorite past times at Democratic events is watching the crowd, especially in Akron. Yesterday's event was a real cross section of our community. As people filed through the halls of the school into the event, they were greeted by an army of Obama volunteers collecting contact information. It was a lot of volunteers for such a small event. Older people sat in the bleachers and the younger folks stood in the hot gym waiting for the speech. Also in attendance were Mayor Don Plusquellic, Akron City Councilwomen Kelly Crawford and Tina Merlitti, and Ohio Supreme Court Candidate Peter Sikora.

As I drove home from the event, I was relieved that the Democrats are definitely united behind Obama. The question is whether we are as energized as the Republicans. The Palin pick lit the Republican base on fire and got them ready for November. I feel that Democrats have the kindling in place, we just need a spark. That said, I believe this race is dead even and it will be a tough fight in Ohio down the stretch.

Weekend Daily Part IX

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Ad Watch, Congress, McCain, Obama, Ohio 2008, Weekend Daily
• Date: Sep 13,2008

"I'm Barack Obama, and I approved this message."

Good one!! Obama's new ad, which I mocked yesterday, gets even better. It tries to make McCain look old and makes fun of him for not using a computer. Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer: "It’s extraordinary that someone who wants to be our president and our commander in chief doesn’t know how to send an e-mail." Yes, it is true. McCain can't use a computer. He can't type on a keyboard. Nor can he tie his shoes or comb his hair. That is because his arms were repeatedly broken in Vietnam. Well played, Chicago! It will go down as one of the worst campaign ads ever. I guess this is what "taking off the gloves" entails.

And really, is insulting a large segment of the voting population that is probably in the same boat and are uncomfortable with computers a good idea anyways?

Cleveland Frowns which sometimes gives out advice on sports betting has a call for the 2008 election. Put your money on John McCain at the current odds.

Sarah Palin from the ABC Interview: ""I think he's regretting not picking her (Hillary) now, I do." Yes, but he also probably regrets not picking Sarah Palin.

Whoopi Goldberg, to John McCain, on The View: "Should I be worried about being a slave again?" Goodness.

Scott MacFarlane of WTOV 9 (Wheeling / Stubenville) has interviews with both candidates in OH-18, incumbent Democrat Zack Space and Republican challenger Fred Dailey. The pieces discuss each of their plans for the current housing market and what to do. Worth taking a look at.

Ohio State - USC. I am in the minority, I think OSU plays a good game and it comes down to the end. Plus, even if we lose we have a built in excuse that Chris Wells didn't play. I went with my dad to watch Wells his senior year at Garfield in their opening game against Hoban (2005). I could not have been less impressed with his performance. He didn't run hard, he didn't want to get hit, and generally looked like he would have rather been anywhere else. I said he was going to be a bust. That is why I don't recruit for college football teams or give advice on that front anymore. Speaking of Wells, and I know this is way off topic, but Maurice Wells should never get another carry ever for Ohio State. They should have told him the wrong time the plane was leaving for Southern California and left him in Columbus. He is just not good. Lets hope he doesn't get too many carries tonight.

Lastly, Ohio.com launched another new blog this week. It is a style blog titled "See Jane Style." Many people often tell me I am need of style tips. Probably accurate. Anyhow, I know Jane and had a heads up this blog was coming, and so far I have enjoyed reading it. Check it out.

And of course, there are the other two great political blogs on Ohio.com - All Da Kings Men (from the right) and Blog of Mass Destruction (from the left). Both authors are frequent commenters here. Be sure to check out their pages if you haven't already. Yes, Reverend, I don't like your politics, but you are a talented blogger.