Posted on 03/04/2003 4:56:29 PM PST by LdSentinal
COLUMBUS | State Sen. Eric Fingerhut, D-Shaker Heights, on Monday formally entered the race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2004, setting up a possible showdown with talk-show host and former Cincinnati mayor Jerry Springer.
The Democratic candidate is expected to contest U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, the former Cleveland mayor and governor who had $2.3 million in his campaign treasury last year.
Both Fingerhut and Springer, whose syndicated tabloid-style talk show has featured chair throwing and X-rated squabbles, are expected to be at Hara Arena next Tuesday for the Montgomery County Democratic Party’s Frolic for Fund. It would be the first joint appearance since Fingerhut’s formal entry into the race.
“We’ll let them both say something briefly,” Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Dennis Lieberman said.
Fingerhut, 43, a lawyer, filed a statement of candidacy with the secretary of the Senate in Washington. Springer, 59, will decide by summer whether to seek the nomination, said Mike Ford, a Springer spokesman.
Fingerhut said his decision had nothing to do with whoever else might seek the nomination, but that it would be “a tragic mistake of historic proportions for the Democratic Party to nominate Jerry Springer."
In Columbus, Fingerhut is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee and has emerged as a leading party spokesman on budget issues as well as a frequent critic of Republican Gov. Bob Taft’s budget, higher education and economic development policies.
He was elected to one term in the U.S. House in 1992 but lost a re-election bid. He was re-elected to the state Senate last year.
“There is only one question for 2004. What are the public policies that are necessary to get Ohio moving again?” Fingerhut said.
The federal government can play an important role in helping Ohio move ahead by the support it gives to primary and secondary education, higher education and research and development, Fingerhut said.
“We just can’t wait any longer to get the kind of leadership that is focused on Ohio’s future,” he said.
We seem to have the ability in Ohio to elect super liberals, so I am not surprised by his candidacy. We gave the US Senate John Glenn and Howard Metzenbaum, and then followed up with George Voinovich and Michael DeWine.
Sorry folks, there just aren't enough FReepers in Ohio to elect good reputable conservatives. We are trying to spread the word, but it takes time.
In God We Trust.....Semper Fi
Clinton will be there, I take it...
Jerr-eee! Jerr-eee! Jerr-eee!
With friends like this, who needs enemies?
"This measure would have no hope of a success as a purely Democratic bill, but Mike DeWine gives it important bipartisan support," said Matthew Bennett, spokesman for Americans for Gun Safety."
DeWine supports gun owner registration and killing gun shows among other things.
The ACU just lost some credibility if they rank DeWine decently.
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