Tuesday, August 02, 2005

52 to 48 Schmidt

First off to those fools on the right who thought Schmidt would get 70, let alone 60 percent of the vote, they really were not paying enough attention.

Secondly, I am perplexed by why half of Clermont county was the last to report in the entire district.
After all six other counties in the district had completed their ballot counts in what was a low-turnout election, Schmidt’s home county, Clermont, had reported a little more than half of its precincts.
“I have no idea what is going on over there,’’ said Hamilton County Board of Elections chairman Tim Burke. “I don’t know what their problem is.’’
They have electronic optical scan machines, which means they should have been done the fastest. Why were they later than Hamilton County? I am not look for conspiracies here, just like to point out things that look like incompetence. I hope they double check how they vote. What makes this look bad, is that before the rest of Clermont county finally submitted their votes, the race was a dead heat, 50/50. It just looks bad. It would be nice, especially since the newspaper is reporting it, that the Clermont county officials come out and say why they were delayed. That can put to rest, assuming they have a valid and plausible excuse, and fears of hanky panky.

Democrats should hold their heads high. This was a long shot race and in the end, the bigot vote and nutty anti-women (anti-abortion) vote won out. There are still people who can't get past those issues. They can disagree on everything else, but those, and they still will give their vote to the extremist. Well, the same kind of fools voted for Bush, and in America fools do grow on trees.

The House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has this to say in press release:
"Paul Hackett is a war hero who campaigned with the same dignity and honor that he served our country. Paul ran an excellent campaign and made what should have been an easy Republican win a tough contested race.



"The issues, political, and ethics environment are good for Democrats and Paul Hackett's campaign in a Republican district proves it.



"Republicans are on notice -- Americans are demanding a change. Americans will no longer tolerate the Republicans' continued abuses of power and catering to corporate special interests at the expense of the public interest.



"Democrats are committed to expanding opportunity, growing prosperity, and increasing security for every American."
She is right; Hackett proved that Democrats are alive and kicking in this city. We are not rolling over and this should be making some statewide GOP folks mighty nervous right now.

Hackett Party


I made my way downtown to the Paul Hackett party at the Aronoff Center. Very nice event, spirited crowd. I think everyone felt good. I could not stay late and missed Paul addressing the crowd. The media was there fairly heavily, including a couple of national outlets, like Mother Jones.

Elections Results

The polls closed over an hour ago and things appear tight in the early returns.

Check WCPO for Results

The Enquirer's site is running slow and overloaded. They are to have results here.

Predictions Thread

So who will win and what will be the percentages. I myself don't know who will win. If Schmidt wins she will get 56 to 44 for Hackett. If Hackett wins, he will get 52 to 48 for Schmidt. Either way the story will read that the Dems gained ground in OH-2.

FOXNews is Even Playing Up the Election

Could this election be a bellwether for the 2006 Congressional elections?


Also on FOX this headline "Bush: Schools Should Teach 'Intelligent Design' Alongside Evolution". So Bush is a Theocrat after all! Go figure that he wants to get religion into schools through the back door. Well, Bush seems to think he can run for office again, because this is the stupidest thing I have heard him say to the press in a long time. He doesn't need to stroke the religious right any more than he has.

Monday, August 01, 2005

August 2nd - Get Out The Vote for Hackett

Canvass:

Adams County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, 1 Courthouse Square at Roy Gabbert's Law Office
Brown County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, 707 Mt. Orab Pike, Bail Bonds Office (Cut-N-Up Barber Shop)
Clermont County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, Clermont County Democratic Party North 2nd Street, Batavia OH (next to Hackett's HQ)
Hamilton County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, Old Kerry Headquarters Park ing Lot, 1523 Madison Rd., 45206
Pike County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, Boilermakers Hall on US 23 in Piketon, OH and parking lot of Waverly Police Dept., 202 S. Market St.
Scioto County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, New Boston Community Center, 3980 Rhodes Ave., New Boston 45662
Warren County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, 6775 Park Lake Dr, Mason 45040, in Village Lakes subdivision AND 228 S. Mechanic St, Lebanon, 45036

Phone Bank:


Hamilton County Democratic Party HQ
615 Main St., Downtown Cincinnati, Tues, 9-7
Hackett HQ
27 N. Second St., Batavia, Tues, 9-7
Crowley HQ
1523 Madison Rd., East Walnut Hills, Tues, 9-7
Warren County Democratic Party HQ
8 East 5th St., Franklin, Tues, 9-7
Zimmeran CPA, 1080 Nimitzview Dr.
Suite 400, Anderson, Tues 9-7

Please get this information out however possible throughout the district, thanks.

- This post was made by guest blogger Josh Nelson of Cincinnati News

Home Stretch

It is down to the last full day before the election for the 2nd District. Paul Hackett has run a wonderful campaign. I have been fairly out of touch this weekend, so I have no concept of how the campaigns are going, other than the reminder by the RNC that Paul Hackett is not anti-gay, since he doesn't support the Gay Marriage ban that I guess is now a nation GOP policy. Good to know the GOP is in full anti-gay mode now.

Today will be ruff on both candidates with the temperature expected to be in the low 90's. The staffs did well and now it is about turnout. In case people didn't know, you should be getting out and vote for Paul Hackett. Since this is my personal congressional seat, I have to say I don't want an extremist like Schmidt who will be a failure in office and likely will not get the GOP nomination next year. Her failure will be her lame duck before she begins status. That is something the Enquirer failed to see. She would have lost big in the primary if the field did not have 3 other well known candidates.

I don't know who will win, but it has shown to me that the Liberals/Progressives/Moderates are not dead in this town and can stand up to extreme right wing when they need too.