Ohio 2nd Blog

Connie Schultz will be discussing and signing her book His Lovely Wife: A Memoir from the Woman Beside the Man 7:00 p.m this Thursday @ Joseph-Beth Books in Norwood.

The book has to be good since it has a nice word for the mighty Ohio 2nd Blog Seriously, Connie provides a unique perspective to the Senate race, and it’s refreshing how honest she is about things. It doesn’t hurt that she’s a great writer. I’m glad that she finally got to have her say.

As ugly as it was, the silver lining of blogging about the Senate primary was getting to know the people on both sides. It did make for some awkward conversations. Sure there are still some kvetching in the blogosphere, but those guys need to get over themselves. Leave it to liberals to turn a huge victory into a negative.

Fundraising numbers are in for the two “front-runners” (front-runners?!) in the Ohio 2nd’s Democratic primary. At their current pace both Democrats are on track for beating the primary money records set by Republican Pat DeWine in his losing bid for the 2nd in the 05 special election.

Steve Black

From the start the first bullet point on Steve Black’s resume was his ability to leverage his status as Indian Hill mover and shaker to raise cash. In our interview early this year Mr. Black said that fundraising was something that he is very skilled at. Veteran journalist Bill Sloat spells out the case for Black:

He’s a genuine Indian Hill blue blood whose dad was a judge. The corporate crowd in downtown Cincinnati can feel comfortable with him — he once headed the Harvard Club and was on the board at Seven Hills School, a private prep school. In other words, on paper he’s got the feel of being a Democratic version of Rob Portman, who was undefeatable in OH-02 and gave up the seat to become the Bush administration’s trade rep, then budget director. And, Portman worked at Graydon Head before running for Congress.

And under normal circumstances Black’s numbers are impressive. According to FEC Q2 reports he has raised $209,500.

Under the surface a few things stand out: $58,320 of it is a loan to himself, and a significant portion comes from family and coworkers at Graydon Head & Ritchey. Still… these are wells that Black can go to many times over the course the campaign.

Dr. Victoria Wulsin

One bit of insider gossip that I heard from people close to the Wulsin campaign was that one of the main areas of tension between the Doctor and her once campaign manager Mary Huttlinger was over resistance, common with newbie candidates, to the constant demands of fundraising. It’s certainly why Paul Hackett has such disdain for the political process. This election Ms. Huttlinger and Dr Wulsin have parted ways and she is working for Attorney Steve Black.

That’s why I was surprised to find out today that Wulsin for Congress is reporting Q2 numbers of $213,000, outraising Black with or without his personal borrowing. BSB was also impressed.

The Wulsin for Congress campaign crows:

Wulsin’s strong showing in her first quarter as a candidate for 2008 continues to demonstrate the strength of her campaign and her growing base of support, with more than 99 percent of her funds raised coming from individual donations. [This contrasts with 41% of Schmidt’s funds coming from individuals, in the 2006 race, the last year for which data is available.] Having come within one percentage point of defeating Schmidt in 2006 and winning more votes in Ohio’s Second District than any previous Democratic candidate, Wulsin has proven her self well-positioned to defeat the incumbent Congresswoman.

“I am starting earlier and I am starting stronger,” Wulsin said. “I am grateful for the encouragement I’ve received from the people of the Second District. This early outpouring of support indicates the strength of my campaign and desire for grassroots change in our district.”

Wulsin’s impressive fundraising strengthens her position as the candidate best suited to unseat the widely unpopular Schmidt, whose vulnerability is acknowledged by Republicans and Democrats alike. After scraping through the last election with only a one point lead, Schmidt has already received a spot on Karl Rove’s list of the most vulnerable members of Congress. Her highly publicized mistakes, such as repetitive lying (one leading to a reprimand by the Ohio Electoral Commission); impugning the valor of a fellow Congressman; downplaying hazardous and unsafe conditions where veterans are hospitalized; and marching in lock-step with the president’s escalation of the war – demonstrate her failing to effectively represent the district, reflect poorly on her constituents, and hurt her chances of re-election.

It’s our opinion that Steve Black is going to have to out raise and out hustle Dr. Wulsin if he’s going to have a chance of beating her in the primary. Wulsin is an experienced campaigner with a devoted base. Add to that the fact that primaries generally lean left, playing to Vic’s strengths.

So far it’s 0-1 Wulsin.

Well, sports fans… this is going to be one hell of a barn burner. Like it ever isn’t here in the OH02

Re: Democratic Plans For American Troops In Iraq

I don’t like the foundation of this thread.

The implication is that you have to be running for President for it to matter what your position on Iraq is. The race for the White House is a side show from the real crisis that is happening in Washington right now. Online punditry that focuses on that sideshow does serious harm in terms of making a positive impact on the real world problems that need to be resolved long before 2009.

We won control of Congress. We should act like it.

The fact that there is no consensus for resolution in Iraq from the Democratic leadership is a very real problem. Everyone wants to be a star. Everyone knows all the answers. Everyone is a genius. We don’t need geniuses, we need closers.

When I have time to worry about the race for the White House my vote will be based upon what they do now, NOT what they promise me they will do in some hypothetical future date.

Just got an anonymous tip in that Paul Hackett was seen yesterday running a 5 minute mile pushing his boys in a walker while sporting a Hackett for Congress t-shirt. After the race he was asked by WLW’s Billy Cunningham if he was running again. Hackett said he wasn’t ruling anything out but he wasn’t ruling anything in either.

Never a dull moment in the OH02.

Ohio blogger extraordinaire Yellow Dog Sammy has just posted a great two part interview with Connie Schultz. (Part 1 | Part 2)

Today at 4pm at his Indian Hill home attorney Steve Black will officially declare his candidacy to run for Congress in the 2nd District. Mr. Black is an attorney with the Cincinnati law firm of Graydon, Head & Ritchey.

Several days ago he was kind enough to let me interview him on the positions. I found him to be very a personable and sincere person. Only by reminding myself of how carefully guarded some of his answers were did the 30 years of legal experience come through.

While he made a point of telling me that he wasn’t experienced at running for Congress, he came off to me as someone who could get up to speed quickly. While he’s not a barnstormer, his opinions are refreshingly unboilerplate. We talked openly about abortion, health care, defense spending, guns , Iraq, and global warming. The fact that he veered right into a passionate advocacy of nuclear power was interesting in light of the issues here in the district. This will probably be the last chance to hear unvarnished answers from the candidate before he gets put through the standard wash cycle of campaign staffers, so enjoy.

I listen back at the interview and kick myself over how unprepared and rambling my questions were. Hopefully you won’t find them too annoying. I do love to hear myself yammer on.

steve_black_interview_5-15-07.mp3

The thing that struck many people right off that fact is that Black’s campaign manager used to be Vic Wulsin’s. If there’s a story there and you know there’s a story there, Mary Huttlinger isn’t spilling the beans. I’m sorry but Steve’s the complete candidate package just isn’t going to cut it. I’m sure that the weeks ahead will bring out lots of juicy gossip to wile away the months as we suffer through this God forsakenly too long campaign season. (Personally, I’m not sure how many more action items, urgent appeals, and heartfelt yet empty orations I can stand. Doesn’t anyone have a job anymore? Surely being a Senator takes time, doesn’t it?)

Bottom line, at this point Black’s candidacy is more significant because of what he is than what he believes in. As a man highly connected to some of the richest political donors in the country, his entry radically shifts the Democratic primary landscape. The question is how much? Many underestimate Vic Wulsin’s substantial backing from the liberal base in the district. Vic’s core is very loyal. This is a primary. Money doesn’t have nearly the edge that it does in the general. Candidates are rallying the base. Right off the bat I’d give her a 35% to 40% head start. Anyone (except one person) who runs against her will have to shatter a significant portion of that margin in order to have a chance. However, when you talk to anyone thinking of heading her off, including Black, the last thing they want to say is that they are running “against” Vic Wulsin. I’m running FOR mom, apple pie, and the right to drive around in oversized SUVs, not against Vic. Get an internal poll 30 days before the primary that has you down 20 points and see what sort of sucker punches your war room will be coming up with. As Reese Bobby always says, if you’re not first, you’re last.

Right now this pundit would have to say that with the name recognition, strong core, momentum from 2006, and battle experience Vic Wulsin still has to be considered the odds on favorite in the 2nd.

Politics is a deceptively difficult craft. Much like poker and Jackass, it’s easy for someone to look at it and think that they can be good at it. Steve Black will have to prove to people quickly that he’s got the right stuff to play this ugliest of blood sports. He says he does… right before he tells you that he’s never really done this before.

Well… welcome to the game, Mr. Black. The Ohio 2nd is the most talked about, action packed Congressional District in the country. Thus it is the nastiest. I do hope you’ve brought a helmet.

• BSB > OH-02: Add Steve Black to the List
• Daily Kos > OH-02: Steve Black To Run
• Politics Extra > A challenger for Wulsin?

It’s not often that a cynical old coot such as your humble editor is impressed with anything. These days life seems to consist of long streams of boredom punctuated by weekly fits of anger directed at the writers of The Sopranos. (Please, guys… is anything EVER going to happen??? Could you let me in on the secret now… we’re on a budget and I could use the time for more constructive purposes.)

However my friend Jerid, the new zoo keeper over at the mighty Buckeye State Blog, has managed to come up with a real winner. He calls it The New Hampshire Project. The idea is that since the early primary states like New Hampshire have so much control over states like Ohio when it comes to who gets to be President, that he’d spend the summer blogging about the race from an Ohio perspective.

The idea has been such a hit that he’s gotten such local Democratic heavy hitters such as Rich Cordray, Mary Jo Kilroy, John O’Grady, Dan Stewart, Andrew Ginther to host a fundraiser for him 5:30PM Thursday May 10 at the Short North Tavern, 674 North High Street; Columbus, OH 43215.

Suggested contributions are $25, $50, or $100. Hope to see you there.

Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner will be the special guests for the 2007 ODP Mother’s Day Tribute Lunch at the Columbus Renaissance Hotel on May 12 at 12:30 pm.

Here’s a message from the regional Southwest Regional Co-Directors Michele Young and Elizabeth Motter: (more…)

From the Clermont County Democratic Party email list. I was hoping that we could make it to the dinner tonight, but family stuff is clashing.

LOG ON AT 2 PM TODAY

for VIC WULSIN’S on-line interview at firedoglake blog

Text From firedoglake Blog: This Saturday, April 21st at 2:00 pm ET/11:00 am PT, Howie’s guest for Blue America will be the fantastic Victoria Wulsin. You guys will no doubt remember that Vic Wulsin very nearly unseated Mean Jean Schmidt in the last election cycle in a very, very red district — the OH-2. And I hereby pledge to move heaven and earth to make that Mean Jean defeat happen in 2008. Please make some time to stop by and let Vic Wulsin know we’ll all be working with her for victory in the next election. If you missed the Blue America chat that we had with her during the election, please do read it — it isn’t just unseating Mean Jean, because Doc Wulsin is an amazing person who would be a wonderful voice in the House.

LINK TO: http://firedoglake.com/

http://www.firedoglake.com/category/2008-election/

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THEN GET READY FOR THE Clermont County Democratic Party Golden Donkey Dinner (Formerly the “Kennedy-Truman” Dinner)

5:00 – 6:00 pm Social Hour 6:00 pm Dinner

LINK FOR DETAILS: http://www.clermontdems.org/ht/display/EventDetails/i/1008933/pid/276805

Where Campbell Country Recreation Center,1836 Ohio Pike, Amelia, Ohio 45102

Map

Paid for by the Clermont County Democratic Party Visit Us: www.clermontdems.org

From the rumor mill…

Word is that Wulsin already has some DCCC muscle working with her: one for message, and one for finance. It seems that she’s already working the phones hard locking up the prized early bird cash.

Also, many are giving Vic props for the early declaration move stifling primary competition. That hasn’t stopped several potential players from considering a stab at it. Personally, your humble editor feels that the state house races offer greater potential gains than a single term Dem in the House and wonders if some of the talent couldn’t be distributed all along the ticket. Ted could definitely use some help out there in Columbus.

The big question has to be about what the landscape will look like in a Presidential year. Turnout is going to be high… that means Republican turnout is going to be very high. Will the person the Dems serve up be able to draw away straight thinking Republicans? Will Republicans be thinking that the Schmidt they know is better than the…?

Finally, on the Schmidt front, word has it that a dark horse local blue blood is considering a run in an attempt to restore dignity to the house that Rob built. With Brinkman chumming up the waters it’s difficult to see how anyone can take the Congresswoman in the primary. Nevertheless, many Dems are concerned that their beloved foe won’t be available to kick around come November. One can only hope.

p.s. it’s good to see that Barry Bennett reads our humble little publication.