Monday, March 20, 2006
The event raised between $150,000 and $200,000.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
HANOVERTON -- Vice President Dick Cheney said that as a congressman, state Rep. Chuck Blasdel would work closely with the Bush administration to continue to move the country forward.
Cheney stumped for Blasdel, of East Liverpool, considered the leading Republican candidate in the 6th Congressional District race, at a fund-raiser Monday on the grounds of the Spread Eagle Tavern & amp; Inn in Hanoverton.
About 400 people attended the event, which raised between $150,000 and $200,000 for Blasdel's campaign.
Those attending the event could give the campaign as little as $150, and get small sandwiches, pasta salad, fruit, pastries and soft drinks. The maximum donation amount was $2,100, which also included the food and meeting Cheney and getting a picture with the vice president.
During his 20-minute speech in a heated white tent on the inn's grounds, Cheney said he and President Bush "have great confidence in" Blasdel. Cheney said Blasdel, the Ohio House speaker pro tempore, is a friend to taxpayers, works in a bipartisan manner and listens to his constituents.
"We need more people like him in Congress," Cheney said.
Touting administration
The vice president said the country has faced many challenges in the past five years, including wars, domestic terrorism and an economic recession. Cheney said the president and his administration are successfully addressing all of those issues.
Cheney said 5 million jobs were created since August 2003, and he credits the Bush tax cut program as a key reason for the economic stimulation.
While the country's economy has picked up, Ohio lags behind. The national unemployment rate for January was 4.9 percent compared with 5.3 percent in Ohio, according to the state's Department of Job and Family Services. The unemployment rate in most of the 12-county 6th District, which includes all of Columbiana and a portion of Mahoning, is higher than the state average.
A comprehensive tax cut plan recently implemented by the state will address the state's unemployment and job creation issues, Blasdel said.
"I will continue to stand against the status quo and stand with workers and businesses," Blasdel said.
Important race
Cheney said that the 6th District is one of the most important congressional races this year, and that he and the president, who spoke about Iraq at an event Monday in Cleveland, have great confidence in Blasdel. Blasdel is one of four Republicans running in the May 2 primary.
Cheney criticized Democrats for opposing the president's strategy in Iraq.
While national polls show Cheney with a low approval rating, Blasdel said the vice president's appearance at Monday's fund-raiser was a tremendous boost to his campaign.
"I don't think there's any backlash," Blasdel said.
Dave Johnson, who owns the Spread Eagle and serves as honorary chairman of Blasdel's congressional campaign, said the strong turnout at Monday's event shows that Cheney is popular.
Opposing view
Cheney's appearance shows how out of touch Blasdel is with his district, said Jason Burke, campaign spokesman for state Sen. Charlie Wilson, a Democratic write-in candidate for the 6th District seat.
"This district wants Dick Cheney as much as it wants the bird flu," he said. Blasdel "has no feel or any idea who he's trying to represent in Congress."
When asked about a Saturday article in The Vindicator about state officials' saying he owes $20,986.23 or $54,915.87 in estimated delinquent taxes and fees on two defunct businesses he co-owned, Blasdel said he was as "surprised as anybody" when he heard about the tax issue.
skolnick@vindy.com