Hanni to Hillary & Barack: Come here

The candidates aren’t ready to commit to an Ohio debate.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — A long-dormant political group is back with an ambitious purpose: to get the two remaining Democratic presidential candidates to agree to debate in Youngstown just before Ohio’s March 4 primary.

When Don L. Hanni Jr. was still in power as Mahoning County Democratic chairman, he created “The Riverboat Captain’s Club of Mahoning County” in 1983. The club’s main responsibility was to raise money for Democratic candidates.

When Hanni fell out of power in 1994, the captain’s club sank. But he’s thrown it a life preserver.

Hanni, the club’s admiral, and Jim Graham, its vice admiral, sent letters to U.S. Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton through the Democratic National Committee inviting them to come to Youngstown on either March 2 or 3 to participate in a public debate.

The candidates are “talking about a recession. Hell, since 1978, this area’s been in a depression. It’s about time these people listened to us. I think we’ve been pretty patient,” Hanni said.

Mahoning County has long been a major supporter of Democratic candidates.

The Mahoning Valley has suffered through more than its share of job losses, declining population, financial hardships and unemployment, Hanni said.

Having a presidential debate here “would be a hell of a shot in the arm to the community,” Hanni said.

With Obama and Clinton focused on Tuesday, when 15 states hold Democratic primaries and seven others hold caucuses with 2,075 delegates at stake, the campaigns aren’t thinking past that day right now.

“Our post-Feb. 5 schedule has yet to take shape but our campaign presence in Ohio grows every day,” said Ben LaBolt, an Obama spokesman.

“We are totally focused on Feb. 5,” said Isaac Baker, a Clinton spokesman. “Any decision on planning for debates will be tackled after that.”

CNN announced Thursday that it will partner with the state’s Democratic and Republican parties to hold presidential debates for each political group. The Democratic one would be held on Feb. 27 and the Republican one a day later.

No site has been selected and the Obama and Clinton camps said they haven’t made a final decision on participation.

As for the Riverboat Captain’s Club proposal, Hanni says there are many great locations for the debate. His No. 1 choice would be the Chevrolet Centre in downtown Youngstown.

The proposal has the complete blessing of Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini.

“Knowing [Hanni], he’ll get on the phone to everyone and won’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” she said.

Unless Clinton or Obama essentially sweep the 22 contested races Tuesday, it’s quite likely March 4 when Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island hold their primaries will determine the party’s nominee, Antonini said. There are 444 Democratic delegates up for grabs on March 4, the second largest amount for a single date in the Democratic presidential race this year.

To win the Democratic nomination, a candidate needs 2,025 delegates. To date, Clinton has 232 and Obama has 158, according to CNN.

skolnick@vindy.com