Ohio 2nd Blog

One of the reasons why I’m kept at a comfortable distance from many of our more partisan Democratic allies is that I like to keep good relationships with Republicans. I work hard to stay in the loop and go overboard to try and respect their perspective even though I disagree with it. I’m about as liberal as they come, but that and $4.10 still only buys me a venti carmel macchiato.

So a little while ago I heard something that impressed the hell out of me. One of Jean Schmidt’s secret weapons seems to be that she’s kept surprisingly good relationships with quite a few on top of the Hamilton County Democratic Party food chain. Hey… she’s bringing in the pork… people go back a long way.. there are many enemies of her enemies… and as long as the spice flows, who cares?

Congresswoman Jean Schmidt is Congresswoman Jean Schmidt because of lack of hustle by Hamilton County Democrats. For some reason they always seem to be focusing on the 1st when go time rolls around. Her public persona may be that of “Mean Jean”, but I’m not so sure that local Democratic powerbrokers see it that way.

Isn’t politics a wonderfully complex game?

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Word on the street is that Ohio 2nd Democratic Congressional candidate Steve Black is looking for a new campaign manager.

Word is that Jean Schmidt is turning monied heads thanks to an internal poll showing the Congresswoman holding a 68% lead over Phil Heimlich in next year’s Republican primary. They’re also pleasantly surprised that her negatives are starting to go down now that her minority status has relegated her to naming post offices, flying around the world on the tax payer’s dime, and bringing the bacon to downtown Cincinnati. Republicans losing power was probably the best thing that could have happened to her. I’m told that they’re planning on releasing it in a few weeks. Schmidt released a similar one last time around against McEwen.

We’re also waiting for the announcement from “Time Waster” Tom Brinkman to enter the race as well so that he can insure a Schmidt primary victory by splitting the anti-mean vote. Personally, we here at the Ohio 2nd sports desk would love to see a Schmidt Brinkman one on one right wingnut v. right wingnuttier death match just for the pure blissful carnage that would ensue. Surely there must be a job as Indian Hill dog catcher that can be pawned off on Heimlich so that we can get the blood fest that the voters demand. If I were a Republican I’d be contacting my Party chair now.

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.

It’s been a while, but I couldn’t really sit on this one:

Word has it that Russ Arey, Democratic State Central Member for the 14th District, and Vice-Chair of the Clermont County Democratic Party has been indicating to local playas that he’s intending to run in the 2nd. Supposedly it’s with the encouragement of Governor Ted Strickland and ODP Chair Chris “Talk To Me” Redfern. Certainly two good friends to have in your corner. Russ is a one of the most dynamic figures in Southern Ohio politics. It will be fun to see him on the stump.

As for Dr. Vic Wulsin, whose razor thin loss embarrassed the local and national Democratic power brokers, she has been sited in the Beltway since being rejected for a cabinet position in the Strickland administration. Many think she deserves another match against the Congresswoman. Personally, I wonder what she can bring to the table to match the perfect storm that was 2006.

On the Republican side Phil Heimlich, Tom Brinkman, and Joe “I like handing Republican seats to Democrats on a silver platter” Deters are rumored to be considering taking Congresswoman Schmidt on. At this point I don’t see any of them as being serious threats against her. Heimlich is damaged goods… Brinkman’s already blown his play… and Dieters, well nuff said. Besides, Schmidt’s survived two of the most grueling, back to back, elections one could imagine. Her minority status actually gives her a nice buffer since she can no longer be blamed for not accomplishing anything. Keep her head down and she’ll be almost impossible to beat. That is, unless…

The big question on everyone’s lips is what about Paul. Certainly, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters all but made the seat a lock for Major Hackett. However, these days the I just want to serve my county fresh from Iraq political neophyte has been ground into dust and replaced with a weary, battle scarred, cynical veteran thanks to the criminal conspiracy known as American politics. Talk to him about Congress and he’s got much worst things to say about the Democrats and their non binding resolutions than either Jean Schmidt or George “son of a bitch” Bush. As for his legacy: Hell, I got to call the President of the United States a chicken hawk on the cover of the New York Times. I’m happy with that. Legacy indeed.

You do have to ask yourself how serious Ted Strickland, Chris Redfern and the DCCC are about winning the 2nd when they haven’t even spoken to Paul Hackett about running again. Word is from many circles that the Governor simply doesn’t like the man who raised so much money for him in the past. What politics and like have to do with each other is beyond me. You couldn’t kill for the press Hackett’s been getting, and his hash criticism of both sides on such issues as immigration and the Iraq war would make sure that he’ll move a conservative lock like the 2nd straight into the top tier for the Democrats. Not that he wants the job, but it does make you wonder how strong the Democrats will to win really is.

The one thing that I really hate about Democratic politics in Ohio is that it resembles more a high school clique than a political machine. Say what you will about Karl Rove, but he never let his feelings distract him from the score board.

UPDATE: Ironic that this was happening in Hackett’s neighborhood last night.

Is it true that Schmidt attorney and Bill Clinton best bud Stan Chesley held a fundraiser for the Congresswoman back in December?

Well, well, well… talk about small worlds. Fun bits of rumor and trivia coming out on that now withdrawn lawsuit filed by Schmidt’s Democrat super lawer Stan Chesley. The big rumor on the street is that the judge that was going to hear the suit is also a lunch buddy and big fan of none other that Congresswoman Jean Schmidt. Talk about good timing on getting that assignment! What luck! Course that’s all coincidence, right? It’s not like Chesley’s married to a judge on the court and so has insider information or anything, right?! SNARK I can certainly now see why Schmidt would hire someone like Chesley even given his Clintonesque past.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with complex plans spawned by diabolocal aerobics instructors hellbent on world domination, fortune went against Schmidt and her Democratic flying monkeys. Beckwith ended up being out of town and McEwen pulled the rug out from under her by voting early. Curse you!!! I would have gotten him if it wasn’t for those meddling kids!

UPDATE: Schmidt has also lost her suit against McEwen before the Ohio Elections Commission. Wonder why she used William Todd as her attorney instead of Stan Chesley?

Some anonymous comments over @ the Politics Extra blog on the event. From one example:

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According to the PD Opener Blog controversial interim campaign manager Dan Lucas has left the Sherrod Brown campaign.

Many in the upper echelons of the Democratic Party, including Congressman Sherrod Brown and ODP Spokesperson Brian Rothenberg, have admitted to hearing the false rumors that there was evidence Paul Hackett had committed war crimes in Iraq. Only Clermont County Democratic Chairman Dave Lane has been willing to publicly describe any actions by Mr. Lucas that might related to the “swiftboating” activities that Paul Hackett has accused of coming from the Sherrod Brown campaign.

Privately people have talked about being show pictures that were said to be of Hackett mistreating the body of an Iraqi casualty after the battle of Fallujah. Hackett has maintained that the picture wasn’t of him and that the photo was of someone doing normal casualty recovery operations. Part of Hackett’s job in Iraq was escorting groups to recover bodies.

This is not the first time that Dan Lucas has been at the center of controversy related to campaign activities.

As of now I’ve found no statement from the Brown Campaign as to the reason for Mr. Lucas’ exit.

(via Buckeye State Blog && UAPA && Psychobilly Democrat)

Note the difference:

Before:

Of course it’s not true.

After:

The campaign has been assured by Mr. Lucas that he was not part of any supposed effort to spread rumors.’

The campaign’s given themselves a little buffer.