Flop isn't the only person preoccupied with Ohio's electoral politics this week. Today, in Ohio's Second Congressional District, an Iraqi War veteran who anchored his campaign on intense opposition to the war and blistering criticism of the President came within four points of winning a special election against a traditional right-wing, pro-Bush candidate.
This was a near-miss, but considering that 65 percent of this same district backed Bush nine months ago, it's a reason for hope. Maybe it's hard to read too much into this (I'll defer to Flop for his knowledge of Ohio's congressional districts) but it made for a happy evening nonetheless. I also view this as a partial vindication of Howard Dean's 2004 candidacy and his leadership of the Democratic Party. Dean's message was ahead of its time.
This election has been extensively covered by the major left-wing blogs like Atrios and Daily Kos. Not everyone checks those sites 20 times a day like I do, but everybody should.
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No, your analysis is pretty much correct, that's the Republican part of the state down there. The erosion of Republican support in the district could also be construed as supporting a pet theory of mine. Namely, that Ohio is not a conservative state at all, but instead a highly moderate one, and the Republican dominance there more a product of a disinterested, rotting Democratic party than anything else. There are, of course, other factors, but that electorate should simly not be so hard for Democrats to crack statewide. I think the last Democrat to win statewide was Bill Clinton.
To finish that thought, the drop in GOP support in the second district I think reflects the willingness of an essentially moderate electorate to cross party lines. Of course that it's taken the kind of scandal that even Carl Hiaasen himself would find worthy to get the ball rolling on this is kind of shameful. But those of us who cringe whenever New Yorkers who think Ohio is in Central Time start lumping the state in with Mississippi and Utah will take what we can get.
I'm loath to enter this discussion, owing to the lingering anger I have at my home state (I grew up there, and I really wish I could be unashamed of that fact), except to say this:
Yes, I know that this exceeded expectations by a mind-boggling amount (for comparison's sake, imagine a Republican really seriously challenging Carolyn Maloney on the Upper East Side...and OH-2 is even MORE Republican than NY-14 is Democrat). Dean's 50-State Strategy is going really well. The fundraising was a revelation.
I know and appreciate all of these things, but it doesn't change the biggest thing.
I am very, very sick of moral victories.
Just once, I want to freaking win.
The Ohio Democrats are the Boston Red Sox of American politics. Keep cool. Your day will come.
It's your day too, Homes.
maybe similar to the bosox, but not nearly as whiney.
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