Youngstown's mayor endorses Bush

Cleveland Plain Dealer ^ | 8/24/2004 | Associated Press

[AllTheRage]

Youngstown's mayor endorses Bush Tuesday, August 24, 2004 Associated Press

Youngstown, Ohio - The mayor of this Democratic stronghold known for its steel industry job losses endorsed President Bush's re-election on Monday.

"Although I have never publicly endorsed a presidential candidate, the significance of this election, an election which I view as the most important of my lifetime, has motivated me to acknowledge my support for President Bush," said Mayor George McKelvey, a Democrat in his second term.

Democratic mayors of the biggest cities in the battleground state are one of Democratic candidate John Kerry's main supports. Republicans control the

General Assem bly and all state wide nonjudicial elected offices.

McKelvey pledged his sup port for Bush at a news confer ence. With him was Jo Ann Da vidson, chairwoman of Bush's campaign in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana.

"It's a courageous thing for him to do," Davidson said. "It's a very meaningful thing for him to do for the Bush campaign."

McKelvey said he has no intention of becoming a Republican, but he said he might accept an invitation from Ohio Republi cans to attend the Republican National Convention in New York.

In the 2000 presidential election, Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic nominee, received 69,212 votes to 40,460 for Bush in Mahoning County, which includes Youngstown. Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 5-1 ratio, according to the Mahoning County Board of Elections,

State Sen. Robert Hagan, another Youngstown Democrat, said he is not surprised by McKelvey's decision.

"He's been a Republican running as a Democrat as long as I've known him. I'm friends with him, so I'm not disparaging him," Hagan said.

[MissTargets]

I doubt that Mayor McKelvey's endorsement will make much of a difference here, but I am glad that he did.

Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 5-1 ratio.

[highlander_UW]

I doubt that Mayor McKelvey's endorsement will make much of a difference here, but I am glad that he did.

That would make his endorsement even more surprising given the risk to his own position and the likelihood he'll lose support from many of his constituency.

[no dems]

Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 5-1 ratio, according to the Mahoning County Board of Elections, Considering the ratio, I'd say The Prez did pretty good in 2000. Hope he does better this time. The Mayor's endorsement won't help much but it won't hurt. Every little bit helps. No pubbie has ever been elected president w/o carrying Ohio.

[Keith]

drip...drip...drip...

[AmericanChef]

Maybe it's a trend. St. Paul's Dem mayor also publicly spouted his support. Got a lot of press. Could be a motivating factor, or maybe the Republicans are on a mayoral mission?

[Mike Darancette]

The election is Kerry's to lose - and he is doing an admirable job of it.

[AmishDude]

Anybody got a pic of Traficant? This is his neck of the woods.

[AmericanMade1776]

Mayor McKelvey, must of attended the Mayors convention in Boston, and had a rude awakening to Beantown politics.