Free Republic

I think John Kasich would be a great choice for the Newt's VP. The Governor or Ohio, an important swing state and someone that worked on balancing the budget with Newt in Congress. This would also lay the groundwork for a conservative successor to 8 years of Newt. We could have 16 years of conservative leadership to undo all the damage the O did in the last 4 years.

When the Ohio Legislature was tasked with eliminating two Congressional seats with the decennial redistricting, the delegation was on notice. And with Republicans holding a 13-5 advantage, one of their own was likely to be on the chopping block. How Rep. Steve Austria got the short end of the stick was the result of a last-minute deal that came together on Dec. 14, the last day of the Ohio House’s 2011 session.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman today endorsed fellow Republican Josh Mandel, the current state treasurer, for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Sherrod Brown. Although Portman's backing of Mandel was not unexpected, he hadn't announced it until today when he met with The Dispatch's editorial board. "I'm helping Josh," Portman said. "I guess I haven't officially endorsed him yet, so I guess this is a news opportunity. But I'm helping Josh. I don't know if anybody else is going to get in. I think his fundraising in the second quarter has been pretty impressive. I think he's a good...

Ohio Republican Party donors and other attendees at the state GOP's dinner tonight picked former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in a straw poll to take on President Barack Obama in 2012. Romney finished comfortably ahead of the Republican field, picking up 25 percent of the vote. When state party chairman Kevin DeWine announced Romney as the winner, a few people in the audience booed. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (16 percent) finished second, followed by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (15 percent).

A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll reported last week that 45 percent of GOP voters are not satisfied with the candidates running for their party’s presidential nomination. While the exact same percentage said they are content with the field, the current split is a long way from the same point in 2008 when 72 percent of Republicans said they were pleased with candidates running for the nomination. The poll comes as the 2012 presidential field is pretty much set. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman formally enter the race Tuesday. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann made her entry official at the beginning of...

The first votes for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination are still months away, but Ohioans have already given nearly a quarter of a million dollars to would-be candidates, including $58,000 to “SarahPAC,” former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s political action committee. Trailing just behind Palin in cash from Ohioans is former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s “Free and Strong America PAC,” which has received $50,000. Ohio, long a bellwether in presidential politics, isn’t necessarily considered a must-win for Republican primary candidates. But the enthusiasm a candidate musters in the Buckeye state — including financial contributions — can be indicative of how they’ll...

John Boehner thinks President Barack Obama is engaging, smart and brilliant but also remains smarted by the president accusing him of taking taxpayers hostage to secure a tax break for the rich. In an interview with Leslie Stahl of “60 Minutes” for broadcast Sunday night on CBS, Boehner said Obama showed him “disrespect” by calling him a hostage-taker. “Excuse me, Mr. President I thought the election was over,” Boehner said, according to a transcript obtained by POLITICO. “You know, you get a lot of that heated rhetoric during an election. But now it's time to govern.” The relationship between the...

Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Democratic leaders Wednesday afternoon that President Barack Obama has to be “perfect” to win a second term, several senior Democratic aides told Roll Call. Pelosi told leaders on a conference call that Obama will have problems running for re-election because of the loss of governorships in Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states, several aides said. The soon-to-be-ex-Speaker also said House Democrats have many opportunities to take back 25 House seats and win back the majority, aides said. According to one aide, Pelosi also said she wasn’t sure whether the White House is prepared to deal with a...

What a difference a couple of weeks — and a historic “shellacking” in a midterm election — makes. In October, John Boehner had to answer whether he would accept extensions on only the tax rates for middle- and working-class earners if Democrats insisted on blocking extensions for the top tax bracket rates. Today, Boehner announced that not only will he insist on extensions of the current tax rates, but that those extensions be made permanent: “Extending all of the current tax rates and making them permanent will reduce the uncertainty,” said Representative John Boehner, in line take control as House...

The Strickland campaign is pounding the Kasich/Lehman Brothers connection really hard. Strickland is an Obaminite who will support the socialist marxists no matter what. As they believe, Strickland also believes even more government intervention is needed. Not only has Strickland allowed the destructor-in-chief to campaign for him, he has also allowed the former President who actually committed felonies in an attempt to fix a court case against an American citizen to campaign for him also. Strickland is a obviously lying scoundrel. Since many voters affected by sound bite campaign adds I wonder how effective this theme of "Kasich ruined Ohio...

NRCC UPGRADES THE RACE TO "CONTENDER" STATUS Peter Corrigan Advances to ‘Contender’ Status Ohio Candidate Continues to Advance in ‘Young Gun’ Program Washington- The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has officially announced that Peter Corrigan (OH-10) has advanced to “Contender” status, a significant step in the progression of its Young Guns program. Founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Paul Ryan (R-WI), the Young Guns program is a member-driven organization dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide. Corrigan is challenging seven-term incumbent Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) in Ohio’s 10th Congressional District this...

The county were I live has had a 30% jump in GOP registrations! A large part of this is due to the hard work of the local TEA Party! See story at link...

Great news, folks! Jim Graham is running for Congress in the 17th district of Ohio - a seat currently held by Tim Ryan (D). Ryan is a very liberal democrat, a close ally of Pelosi and voted for ObamaCare, Cap and Tax, and every bailout and stimulis that his (former?) girlfriend's mother told him to. That's right - he dated Pelosi's daughter. This is also the same seat (OH-17) that Jim ("Beam me up, Scotty!") Trafficant held until he was convicted and sent to jail. Jim Graham is making a race out of it - Ryan is showing less than...

According to multiple sources, including those folks who watch TV ad buys for a living, the first incumbent House Democrat to see the national party (DCCC) fully pull its financial support for TV ads is: Ohio Democrat Steve Driehaus. Driehaus is facing a rematch with the Republican former congressman he defeated in 2008, Steve Chabot. Polling in this Cincinnati-area district this entire year had shown Driehaus behind Chabot. It's a district that in 2008 saw a surge in African-American turnout that many folks attributed to Barack Obama's name being on the ballot. Without the same level of support, it's an...

Democrats in Cleveland will get a political twofer later this month: a joint campaign appearance by President Obama and his wife, Michelle. The first couple will visit the city on Oct. 17 to stump for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, who is in a tough race for re-election against John R. Kasich, a former Republican congressman. On Monday, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was in Youngstown headlining a rally and fundraiser for the Democratic governor. The Cleveland visit will mark the first time the Obamas have campaigned together in this election cycle...

Distressing signals for Democrats keep streaming in as key polls in two major electoral bellwether states show the prospect of major gains for Republicans in November. Long considered two critical and accurate measures of the electorate’s mood in Presidential and other federal races, recent polls in Ohio and Pennsylvania are showing signs of voter disappointment with Democrats, particularly in hard fought Senate and Gubernatorial races gaining national attention. In a soon-to-be-released survey by Raleigh, NC-based Public Policy Polling, a majority of Ohio-based respondents surveyed claim they’d prefer former President George W. Bush in the White House than current President Barack...

Less than 200 votes place Bob Gibbs ahead of Fred Dailey for the Republican nomination in the 18th Congressional District, but the results could change as county boards of elections wait for provisional ballots and conduct an automatic recount. According to the Ohio Secretary of State's Office, Gibbs is ahead in the election with 10,953 votes. Fred Dailey received 10,789 votes, a difference of 164 votes. The winner will run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover. "Provisional and absentees, as long as they were postmarked by the time, will be received up to 10 days after the election," said...

A conservative Minnesota congresswoman who has been an outspoken critic of Democratic health care plans will be the keynote speaker for a Republican dinner in Ohio. The Hamilton County GOP in Cincinnati says Rep. Michele Bachmann will speak at the annual fundraising event Feb. 26 called the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. The county party praised Bachmann in a statement Monday as leading the fight against big government. She organized a protest rally last month against health care legislation.

A new conservative talk radio show, The Conservative Underground Radio Show, can be listened to at Electric Talk Radio at http://curadio.reaganites.org There will be a new show every Saturday night at 10 PM. It currently has about 4,000 listeners per week and is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Ohio, a traditional bellwether state, will take center stage once again to gauge how the two major parties will fare in 2010, a year Republicans are hoping to make gains in statehouses and congressional seats across the country. Republicans are looking to defeat Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland with the help of former congressman and Fox News host John Kasich, and win an edge in congressional redistricting in the process. The Republicans are also playing defense in the state, however, hoping to hold onto the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. George Voinovich — a moderate Republican representing a state that...

Ohio state Sen. Bob Gibbs is in the 2010 race to unseat Democratic Rep. Zack Space. Gibbs, a Republican, recently filed a statement of candidacy and a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission to initiate a campaign in Ohio's 18th, a mostly rural and culturally conservative area of east-central and south-central Ohio that includes Zanesville and Chillicothe. Gibbs also has set up a rudimentary campaign Web site. Gibbs was elected to the Ohio House in 2002 and served three two-year terms, then was elected to the Ohio Senate in 2008 with 59 percent of the vote in a...

Obama's down 13 points in approval survey in Ohio so he has sent Biden packing to Ohio to rally the faithful. "Everything is out of...uh, I mean under control!" Read the full text at http://www.edistojoe.com

Several local Republican lawmakers are considering running against Rep. Zack Space (D) next year, although none is ready to toss his hat into the ring yet.

clevelandteaparty.webs.com

While most establishment Republicans are rallying around the idea of a Rob Portman candidacy to replace the retiring Senator Voinovich, some Ohio conservatives are quietly clamoring for an attractive conservative outside-the-box candidate to emerge. That candidate may just be Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor. Like Sarah Palin, Taylor is thought of as both a conservative, and as a maverick who stood-up to the Republican "good old boys" machine in Ohio. A CPA by trade, she has also proven she can win in a difficult environment. In fact, she was the only Ohio Republican to win statewide in 2006. Taylor was even...

ACORN has been in the news for their creative get out the vote efforts. From Mickey Mouse to the entire Dallas Cowboys offense, they've managed to get some dude registered (73 times at last count)for nothing more than some smokes. So how do supposedly sober Democrats greet this affront to this most cherished of American rights? With scorn and half-truths of course: From the New York Post we get openers like this one: an Ohio man registered to vote several times and cast a bogus ballot with a fake address... One Ohio man is a conduit to voter fraud, something...

Republican presidential candidates John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will hold a large rally Wednesday afternoon in the Cleveland area. The location has not been set. Expect McCain and Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama to be slugging it out in campaign visits in Ohio during the last three and half weeks before the Nov. 4 election.

The video features red title cards and the theme music from the movie, "The Untouchables." It accuses state Sen. John Boccieri (D-Alliance) of using "Youngstown tactics" in his campaign against state Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Jackson Township) in the race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre) in Ohio's 16th Congressional District.

The Weekly Standard’s Brian Faughnan notes here that things are looking good for McCain in the battleground state of Ohio at this stage in the race for the presidency. Ohio, as we all know, is a must-win state for whoever will go on to win the presidency. Daily Kos blogger and failed candidate for US Senate (as well as the US House) Paul Hackett (D-AntiWaristan) has noticed this as well and, after blaming poll numbers partly on racism, has what he feels is a “solution” that would “help” Barack Obama win the state of Ohio in November. Check this out...

We are doing all we can to enlighten the left wing in America. We get hundreds of E-mails a day saying how www.StopObamaExpress.com has open the eyes of Obama supporters, by listen to Obama in his own words at www.StopObamaExpress.com . If we all work together we can save our great nation from the liberals. ALL ABOARD! The Stop Obama Express. A great site for Anti-Obama Fun, videos, pictures, quotes and more. Check it out at www.StopObamaExpress.com

We've been saying for some time that all of the national polls in the presidential contest may be one thing, but the real battle for the White House will play out in several "battleground'' states where Barack Obama and John McCain each hope to build their victory in the electoral vote-count. Like Ohio - a place where victory generally has meant election as president for some time now. Twenty electoral votes in play. And the word today from one of the nation's most respected state polls - the Ohio Poll conducted by the University of Cincinnati - shows a narrow...

Readers may recall that I'm a bit down on the prospect of John McCain finding a running mate who will do him more good than harm. However, one person who might fit this description is John Kasich. He was a popular nine-term Congressman from Ohio, a state Republicans desperately need to carry. And he's originally from western Pennsylvania, another key area. Kasich seems to possess a blue collar appeal that his party desperately needs. To be sure, he was never a Senator or a Governor, but he held a leadership position in the House, serving as Chairman of the Budget...

Day three of the Clark controversy, and things keep getting more and more interesting. Today, Barack Obama is apparently denying that his own speech yesterday in Ohio -- where we all assumed he was specifically repudiating Clark's comments -- was, in fact, aimed at Gen. Clark. Here is what Obama had to say today: "... I notice that I think in at least one publication it was reported that my comments yesterday about Senator McCain were in a response to General Clark. I think my staff will confirm that was in a draft of that speech that I had written...

So much for the 50 State Strategy, announced just last week. The Obama campaign admits neither FL and OH "was hospitable to Obama this year." Even three states Kerry won (PA, MI, NH) "look competitive" for McCain. Obama will try to pick off VA, NM, and others to make up the difference. Is Obama the underdog in this Year of the Democrat?

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain delivered the following remarks as prepared for delivery at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, in Columbus, OH, today at 10:00 a.m. EDT: Thank you. The hectic but repetitive routine of presidential campaigns often seems to consist entirely of back and forth charges between candidates, punctuated by photo ops, debates and the occasional policy speech, followed by another barrage of accusations and counter accusations, formulated into the soundbites preferred by cable news producers. It is a little hypocritical for candidates or reporters to criticize these deficiencies. They are our creation. Campaigns and the media...

Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann admitted that he had an affair with a subordinate on Friday at a press conference held in response to an internal investigation of sexual harrassment claims against Director of General Services Anthony Gutierrez. Results of the internal investigation were released on approximately 9:30am Friday morning.

One meme that has emerged in recent days is the idea that Hillary Clinton’s remaining in the race, and especially her negative attacks on Barack Obama, will seriously damage the Democratic Party and make Obama damaged goods in the fall. John Aravosis is one of the more passionate advocates of this position. Well, come Wednesday, if Hillary doesn’t win 65% of the delegates in Ohio and Texas, and still insists on staying in the race and ripping our party in two, it will be time to start treating candidate Clinton with the same golden rule she is using for candidate...

After reading this question that was posed to Fred Thompson and his answer, I can't help but think it's a shame that he's not doing better in the campaign (h/t Instapundit): AKD: What will you do for the farmers of Bremer County? FT: (laughs) AKD: You knew this was coming, right? FT: I would continue to enjoy the fruits of their labor. I’ve been looking all over Iowa for a bad steak and I can’t find it. Been trying my best. It’s not a matter of what I would do for the farmers. Farmers are not looking for a president...

Many active duty military are praising Fred Thompson, as the conservative leader they want as the next Commander in Chief. Typical of these comments is this one from a soldier in Ohio: "As a soldier, I know there is some pressure to not get involved in anything political, but as a current member of the finest Army to have ever existed, and a Combat Veteran of the crucial Iraq campaign, I feel it is my duty as a patriotic American to see a good conservative succeed our current commander and chief. Every Soldier wants a leader that they can proudly...

State Rep. Bob Latta narrowly defeated a like-minded conservative rival yesterday following a rancorous campaign to represent the GOP in the heavily Republican congressional district vacated by the late Paul Gillmor. Latta, receiving more than 32,000 votes, or roughly 44 percent, defeated State Sen. Steve Buehrer, who received just under 29,400 votes, or 40 percent, according to unofficial returns with 100 percent of precincts reporting. Latta will now face Democrat Robin Weirauch, who cruised to victory in the Democratic primary, in the Dec. 11 general election. In the 2006 election, Weirauch received the most votes in her party's history in...

The Ohio Elections Commission unanimously slapped congressional candidate Bob Latta with a reprimand after ruling today that his congressional campaign knowingly or recklessly lied about opponent Steve Buehrer’s positions in political flyers. Even the Latta campaign’s attorney, Scott Pullins, admitted statements that Mr. Buehrer “opposed’’ prayer in public schools and “didn’t want’’ the Ten Commandments posted were “misleading,’’ a “cheap shot,’’ and a “political low blow.’’ But he argued unsuccessfully that the false statements did not rise to the level of a violation of Ohio election law. Mr. Latta and Mr. Buehrer are campaigning for the GOP nomination for the...

Stivers jumps into Columbus congressional race Posted by Sabrina Eaton November 05, 2007 15:59PM GOP State Senator Steve Stivers of Columbus today announced that he'll seek the congressional seat that will be vacated by the retirement of GOP Rep. Deborah Pryce of Upper Arlington. In a press release that announced his candidacy, Stivers criticized the partisanship and bickering in Washington, as well as a new tax plan floated by Democrats that Stivers called a "$3.5 trillion tax increase." Stivers and his fiance, Karen Tabor, are scheduled to be married later this month. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ohio...

This is a special election to replace the deceased Republican U.S. Representative Paul Gilmore. Whoever wins the Republican nomination on November 7 will be heavily favored to win the general special election on December 11. So let's send a "True Republican. True Conservative." HEY! That just happens to be State Sen. Steve Buehrer's campaign slogan! What a coincidence. According to the Club for Growth's profile in their endorsement of Sen. Buehrer, he fought against the now disgraced former Governor Bob Taft's runaway taxing and spending before it was cool. He did was what right, even though he knew it would...

The Ohio Republican Party announced today the results of its 2007 Presidential Straw Poll, declaring former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson the winner with 33 percent of the vote. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani took second with 24 percent, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney placed third with 17 percent of the ballots cast. A Fred vs. Hillary matchup would be an interesting repolarization of Ohio, as one would expect that the southern-oriented south and southwest Ohio would be quite friendly to Fred. I would think that Northeast Ohio would remain friendly to Hillary, leaving a big fight over...

The Hannah Report is covering news that the Ohio Republican Party released the results of its recent straw poll for the 2008 presidential primary showing the pro-gun former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson leading the anti-gun former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In the poll, Thompson received 33 percent, Giuliani received 24 percent, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney received 17 percent, U.S. Sen. John McCain received 11 percent, former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee seven percent, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback four percent, followed by Duncan Hunter with two percent, Ron Paul one percent, and Tom Tancredo one percent. Nearly 2,300 Republicans...

Karen Gillmor (R), widow of Cong. Paul Gillmor (R), has decided to forego a run for her late husband’s seat, according to normally reliable Republican sources. State Rep. Bob Latta (R) is now likely to get in the race. Latta served in the state senate (1997-2000) and ran for the 5th District back in 1988, but lost to Paul Gillmor in the primary by 27 votes. Latta was running for the open seat vacated by his father, Delbert Latta (R), who served in Congress for three decades beginning in 1958. (Congressman Latta served briefly on the House Judiciary Committee during...

Ashland County Commissioner Matt Miller will seek the Republican nomination for the 16th congressional seat now held by longtime incumbent Ralph Regula, R-Bethlehem Township. Miller garnered about 42 percent of the votes in the race against Regula in the 2006 Republican primary. The district covers Stark, Wayne, Medina and Ashland counties. "Our people recognize that it is going to take fresh leaders who are not part of the establishment to turn our nation and our region in the right direction," Miller said in a statement. Miller is president of the Northeast Ohio District of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio....

Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has joined Ohio's Buckeye Institute. Here is their full press release: For Immediate Release Thursday, February 15, 2007 Contact: David Hansen Office: (614) 224-4422 Cell: (614) 783-0309 BLACKWELL JOINS BUCKEYE INSTITUTE AS DISTINGUISHED FELLOW COLUMBUS – The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions today announced former secretary of state, state treasurer and 2006 Republican gubernatorial nominee Ken Blackwell has joined the organization as a Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow. Blackwell will focus on state issues with national significance such as taxes, energy, education and health care reform. Also, he will lead the institute’s effort...

A former chief of staff to Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, pleaded guilty Monday in the Jack Abramoff scandal, admitting he participated in a conspiracy to corrupt Ney, his staff, and other members of Congress with trips, free tickets, and meals. Neil Volz, 35, admitted that he engaged in the conspiracy for more than four years, both while he was Ney's chief of staff and after he left to go work with Abramoff.

Just 16% said the Cincinnati Republican is doing a good job as Ohio’s chief executive, while 83% said he is doing a poor job leading one of the most important political states in the nation. The poor approval ratings span the political spectrum - 93% of Democrats, 86% of independents, and 82% of Republicans give him poor marks for his work. A Zogby Interactive survey in mid-November put his job approval rating at just 6%. He has virtually no significant base of support anywhere in the state, the poll shows.