State Auditor Taylor in GOP spotlight

State Auditor Taylor in GOP spotlight

It wasn't that long ago that an endorsement by Mary Taylor meant nothing to a Republican presidential nominee.

Taylor served about 18 months as the 1st Ward councilwoman in Green, a Summit County city. Her term ended in December 2002. She then spent four years in the state House before winning the state auditor's race in November 2006.

During the last two presidential elections in 2000 and 2004, Republican George W. Bush had the support of the person holding the state auditor position: Jim Petro in 2000 and Betty Montgomery in 2004.

The endorsements were nice for Bush, but hardly put him over the top in Ohio, long considered one of a handful of key states that determine who serves as president.

But with Democrats taking control of the state's administration, Taylor's endorsement may be among the most important for a Republican presidential candidate in Ohio.

I don't want to overstate the importance of having elected officials from a presidential nominee's political party endorsing and campaigning for that person. But it's certainly better to have it than not, particularly from someone like Taylor. She is bright, articulate and seen in some Republican circles as the party's biggest political star and potential 2010 gubernatorial candidate.

Taylor is the only Republican serving in a statewide executive office seat. U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich is the only other Republican statewide elected official in Ohio, excluding state Supreme Court justices. Justices are prohibited from engaging in partisan politics.

It was just last year that Republicans held every statewide executive office seat as well as both U.S. Senate seats. Republicans also had a majority in Congress therefore giving power to U.S. House members from Ohio, most notably U.S. Rep. John A. Boehner of Hamilton. Boehner was House majority leader when the Republicans were in power. He is now the minority leader.

When Bush campaigned in Ohio in 2000 and 2004, he shared the stage with many statewide elected Republicans.

The Republicans running for president won't have that luxury.

It will be the Democratic nominee standing with fellow Democrats including U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, Gov. Ted Strickland, Treasurer Richard Cordray and Attorney General Marc Dann.

After Democrats won every statewide executive office race last year, except auditor, and Brown defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, there are few Republicans of note in Ohio to share the stage with and campaign on behalf of the party's presidential nominee.

The Republicans will have to rely heavily on Voinovich and Taylor.

While Voinovich is an old pro, Taylor is going to learn quickly what it's like to campaign for a presidential candidate in one of the most important states in that race.

Some of the leading Republican candidates already recognize Taylor's importance in a state with so few recognizable officeholders from their party.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani personally called her asking for support. The campaigns of ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee have also reached out to Taylor.

Wisely, Taylor isn't making any commitments now. She is unsure if she'll make an endorsement before the state's March 2008 presidential primary.

As for helping the Republican nominee, Taylor said, "I'll stand on the podium and I don't know what else I'll do or if someone will want me on their podium."

She also added: "Depending on how much I like the candidate will determine my level of support."

So if Taylor isn't crazy about the nominee, you won't see her doing much campaigning.

Ohio is a state that could determine the next president of the United States and one with so few statewide elected Republicans. That means an unknown just a few years ago — and someone who still isn't a household name in Ohio — could play a very prominent role in the success or failure of the Republican presidential nominee.