OHIO Senator gets on stump

The 68-year-old Republican is seeking a second term.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CLEVELAND -- Touring the neighborhoods where he grew up and still lives, U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich kicked off his campaign for re-election Friday, saying he has more work yet to do.
"I desperately want to go back to the U.S. Senate," the first-term Republican told about 35 supporters at his home here. "I know I'm making a difference."
Voinovich, 68, plugged his years of experience as a mayor of this city and as a former Ohio governor in saying he believes he's the right choice for voters in his race against Democrat Eric Fingerhut of suburban Cleveland for another six-year term.
"It's knowledge. It's experience. It's passion," Voinovich said.
Voinovich said the U.S.-led war on terror will continue to be an important issue in the years to come.
"We're talking about Islamic extremists who have hijacked the Koran," Voinovich said. "This is a new long-term battle."
Tort reform
On domestic issues, Voinovich called for tort reform to end what he called a "litigation tornado." He also called for greater enforcement of the nation's trade laws. Voinovich was especially critical of China's trade practices, practices he characterized as unfair.
With his wife, Janet, Voinovich welcomed supporters at his home before touring the Collinwood section of Cleveland where he grew up and still resides and visiting with workers at the International Steel Group factory, which employs about 1,500 workers.
Meeting with about 30 steelworkers, Voinovich talked about his efforts to help the faltering steel industry, but one worker Sam Moyer, wanted to ask the senator about a different issue.
"Outsourcing, George," the Garfield Heights resident said of the practice of companies sending jobs to other countries. "What are you going to do about outsourcing?"
"They're being short-sighted," Voinovich said of those companies.
Voinovich later made a campaign stop in Lorain County before heading to Toledo to tour the DaimlerChrysler Jeep factory there.
Voinovich is scheduled to stop in Lima, Dayton and Cincinnati today and in Ashland and Parma Sunday.
Voinovich has raised about $7.9 million so far in his campaign for a second six-year term, Voinovich campaign manager Matt Carle said. The Voinovich campaign began airing television advertising in all Ohio media markets this past Tuesday, Carle said.
Fingerhut's assertions
Fingerhut said he believes it's time for a change.
"I actually think Senator Voinovich is framing this election the right way," said Fingerhut, 45.
"He thinks the direction of Ohio is good enough," Fingerhut said. "I believe we have been falling behind."
"[Voinovich's] policies have not been working for Ohio," Fingerhut said, citing thousands of jobs lost in the state and increasing health-care costs for Ohioans.
Before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998, Voinovich served two four-year terms as Ohio's governor.
Voinovich also served as mayor of Cleveland from 1979 to 1988. In the past, he has also served as a lieutenant governor, as a commissioner and auditor in Cuyahoga County and as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives.
Fingerhut represents Ohio's 25th Senate District, which is roughly the eastern half of Cuyahoga County.
Fingerhut was elected to a four-year Ohio Senate term in 1998 and then re-elected in 2002.
Fingerhut served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1993 and 1994 and first served in the Ohio Senate back in 1991 and 1992.
The general election is Nov. 2.