Posted on 07/31/2005 7:14:33 AM PDT by GoBucks2002
It's a fight to the finish to represent the Second District in Congress.
In just three days voters in Ohio's Second Congressional District will choose a replacement for Rob Portman, who was recently appointed a US trade representative by the Bush administration.
Both Republican Jean Schmidt and Democrat Paul Hackett were out in force Saturday, shaking hands hoping to get some last minute exposure before Tuesday.
Whether on TV or even just driving around the Tri-state, it's hard to avoid mention of Tuesday's special election.
The congressional race between Hackett and Schmidt is even getting the attention of the national political parties -- and, their contributions are leading to more and more ads.
On Saturday Hackett was joined by former Senators John Glenn and Max Cleland who touted Hackett's record as an Iraq war veteran.
"I like many other Americans, grew up looking up to John Glenn as an icon of American leadership," said Hackett. "He's an American hero. I'm humbled that he would come out and stump for me."
The Schmidt campaign is boasting endorsements from firefighters, police officers, and the National Rifle Association (NRA).
And here is what Congressman Ted Strickland, a Dem candidate for Governor next year, had to say (source is a paper that does not allow posts)"If Paul Hackett can win this race, it's going to be a real shock to the Republicans in Washington,'' said Strickland. "It's going to be as if (House Majority Leader) Tom DeLay stuck his finger in a light socket.''
if the 2nd goes Democrat, it will be a very big surprise...
what are the polls saying so far?
Rumor has it that he is going to win it. Are you from out there? What is the word in Ohio?
It would still be an upset if he ran. However, two things are going in his favor, a national anti-tax group is running radio adds encouraging people to stay home on Tuesday and not vote. (Their stated theory is that they want Hackett to win because it will be easier unseating a democrat in `06 than a Republican). Second, Hackett has a very effective ad campaign going right now pointing out Schmidt's tax-raising habits and very effectively tying her to a scandal plagued and incompetent Bob Taft.
The Cincinnati Enquirer endorsed her in today's edition. She'll need her people to turn out to win. As for me, I hoted for Tom Brinkman in the primary. I'm lukewarm on Schmidt at best.
Well I see it as a pretty bad situation.
Even if Hackett loses and it's close, bad news for 2006. This is a very red district and if they don't elect Schimdt by a landslide then there are issues, deep issues that have not been addressed. Mistakes were made by our side in this race:
1. And it's a big one, they tried badly to swift boat this guy. Now with Kerry it worked because it was true, but it seems to have backfired with Hackett. I think a backlash may happen because the swiftboating went so badly and made our side look weak.
2. Outside of her own district Schimdt looks bad. Shes not a very good candiadate IMHO
3. Too little too late. Face it we got lazy, we saw it as a shoe in and got blindsided.
Again I could be wrong but tuesday will tell. If we do lose or its close then there are lessons to be learned.
Anyone for predictions? I call it 60 - 40 Schmidt.
hope so. That would be a good spread.
eh
It's a red district, get the voters out and you'll do ok.
This will be really bad news if Hackett wins. I was willing to cut the guy some slack as an Iraqi vet, but he's from the fever swamp. When asked by the Cinn. Post as to what the greatest danger the country faces is, his answer was George Bush. He's called him a chicken hawk, etc etc. Of course he's a hero to the wacked out left now and is drawing in a lot of money from out of the district. The RNCC has belatedly stepped in with funding for Schmidt. He's also totally pro abortion and pro taxes, typical lib. It will all come down to turnout, which will be light because it's a special election.
That wasn't really my point. Sure its a red district but so far the republican side of the ticket has been less than inspiring nationally.
If it's very close it's a win for the Dems.
What is going on there? We lose Ohio and we get Hillary back in the WH.
Very stupid.
It won't be close
relax, get your voters out
Well, I would expect most of the 59,000 primary voters to come back and vote again.
In that context, Schmidt herself received more votes than the ENTIRE Democratic field.
Let's say every Schmidt voter returns on Tuesday to vote for her again. And let's say every single Dem voter comes out to vote for Hackett, regardless of who they supported in the primary. If just one-third of Brinkman, DeWine, and McEwen supporters vote for Jean this time, Hackett needs to produce votes from 9,000 more people who did not vote in June than Schmidt does in order to win.
It's looking close in Hamilton County, but Jean will mop the floor in Clermont. That's 2/3 of the voters right there. I don't have an accurate read on the other third.
Who "swift boated" Hackett? I haven't seen or heard anyone besmirch Hackett's military record, unless you count people pointing out that he didn't serve in combat, which except for talk radio, has not been mentioned anywhere.
Haven't seen any. In any event, turnout matters far more than polls in a race like this.
The news media, especially the Enquirer, have done everything possible to make Hackett look good and Schmidt look bad. Wednesday's front page showed Hackett front and center and Schmidt walking away from him in the background. It was a photo taken right after they shook hands at the beginning of a debate. The headline was "Hackett paints Schmidt as a Taft 'rubber stamp'"
For all that, she's still the favorite. The weekend TV news coverage seemed balanced for the first time. I think they've figured this out.
Another strike Hackett has against him is the out-of-state liberals who have come in for him. He was careful to not be identified as a Dem, then he has Cleland, Carville, and Glenn campaign for him here. Then, he has these vagabond volunteers, a la Dean in Iowa, these pencil-necked, pasty-skinned, long-haired, hippy freaks come in and help him. It gets hard to paint yourself as a moderate after that.
Sure hope you are right.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.