YOUNGSTOWN Springer turns his sights to race for governor

Celebrities are viable political candidates, the TV talk show host says.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jerry Springer said he feels politically empowered by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory in the California gubernatorial election.
"It certainly answers the question whether or not a celebrity can be taken seriously by voters," Springer told The Vindicator after speaking Thursday at Youngstown State University.
Springer said he is considering a run for the Democratic nomination for Ohio governor in 2006.
Earlier this year, Springer announced he would not run in 2004 for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican George Voinovich because of his negative image from his television talk show.
"It negates any questions about [the viability of a celebrity running for office] when the governor of the largest state in the union is one," he said, adding, "as we get closer, you'll know I'm running if I start to bulk up." The quip was a reference to Schwarzenegger, a former bodybuilder.
Springer acknowledged that his television show -- which specializes in transvestites, threesomes, trailer-park love, incest, hookers and women taking off their tops for "Jerry Beads" -- made it impossible for him to beat Voinovich next year.
What polls revealed
Springer said extensive polling he did before opting to not challenge Voinovich showed that people could take him seriously as a candidate, but not while his show is on the air.
"Polling showed I can clearly win, but I have to stop the show," he told the audience of about 100 people at YSU's McKay Auditorium at the Beeghly College of Education. "Voters said, 'We'll vote for you, but the show has to end.' I was happy because I thought they'd never vote for me even if the show ended."
After the speech, Springer told The Vindicator that there wasn't enough time to separate himself from the show to run in the March 2004 Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. But if he ran for governor in 2006, Springer said he would quit the show about a year before the election.
"I don't want to give a date, but if I decide to run I'd probably give myself a year of lead time," he said. "What I learned this time is I need more than [a few] months of separation."
Springer doesn't give state Sen. Eric Fingerhut, a Democrat challenging Voinovich next year, much of a chance to beat the incumbent.
"It's hard to see [Fingerhut winning], but who knows?" Springer said. "Obviously, it's going to be tough."
Thoughts on party
Invited by the Mahoning County Young Democrats, Springer gave an impassioned 25-minute speech and took questions from the audience for 35 minutes.
He criticized Republicans for much of the problems in the nation and Ohio, but he said fellow Democrats are also to blame.
"As a party, we have lost our message," he said. "If we had a party, you wouldn't even be talking to me [as a potential candidate.] We've given up on the message. Too many Democrats are trying to be Republicans. We don't golf that well. We bowl. That's what we are."
Springer got a few converts after his speech.
Haley Wilson, a YSU freshman, said she was skeptical of Springer before his speech because of his talk show.
"But now, I hope he runs," she said. "I would definitely vote for him. He has the capability to make people change their mind about him."
Kyle Daley, a YSU sophomore, said he would have described himself as a conservative Republican before hearing Springer. Now? He's a moderate Republican.
"I like what he has to say, and I would consider voting for him," he said. "I'm glad to see he's a totally different person than on his show."
skolnick@vindy.com