MAHONING VALLEY Fingerhut to visit area with Rep. Strickland

The congressman isn't sure he can help the state senator from Cleveland.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- State Sen. Eric Fingerhut, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, is hoping he can make inroads in Mahoning, Columbiana and Jefferson counties with a little help from his friend.
Fingerhut, of Cleveland, will campaign Sunday with U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, in Youngstown, East Liverpool and in Jefferson County. Strickland's district includes the latter two communities, and many of Youngstown's suburbs in Mahoning County.
"These are areas where he is better known than I," Fingerhut said of Strickland. "Campaigning with him is a way to introduce myself to people who know we're working together. He'll be able to help me in that area."
Strickland, who is considering a 2006 run for governor, said he is more than willing to help Fingerhut, even though he doesn't think being seen with him will provide much assistance to the Senate candidate.
"I've always had some question as to whether one candidate's support for another candidate influences voters," Strickland said. "But I'll do whatever I can for him. I would not be so presumptuous to say that being associated with me is helpful, but I'm happy to help him. He's very smart and he's got a very positive point of view regarding public policy."
Challenging Voinovich
Fingerhut is challenging U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, a Cleveland Republican, in the November election.
Polls show Voinovich with a double-digit lead. The University of Cincinnati's Ohio Poll has Voinovich leading Fingerhut by 16 percentage points, and a poll done for The Plain Dealer of Cleveland shows the senator with a lead of 31 percentage points.
Also, Voinovich has a huge financial edge over Fingerhut. Campaign finance reports filed Thursday show Voinovich with a $5.6 million fund balance and Fingerhut with $152,996. Voinovich has raised $7.9 million during the election cycle compared with $861,955 for Fingerhut.
But Fingerhut says he is "making good progress" with finances, and he's raised more money at this point in the campaign than any other Ohio Democratic candidate who's run in recent years.
Fingerhut visited the Trumbull County Fair earlier this week.
On Sunday, Fingerhut and Strickland will have a town hall meeting at 12:30 p.m. at the Sam Camens Center on Salt Springs Road in Youngstown to discuss health care and prescription drugs. Then they go to the East Liverpool Motor Lounge on Dresden Avenue at 2:30 p.m. to discuss job loss and the economy, and finish the day at 4 p.m. at Stratton Community Days festival in Jefferson County.