Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The state’s GOP deputy chairman expects his party to lose seats in the Ohio House in November.
YOUNGSTOWN — Despite Republican John McCain’s slightly increasing his lead in polls of Ohio voters, the state’s GOP deputy chairman says the presidential race will be extremely close.
The results in Ohio between McCain and Democrat Barack Obama could be decided by 1 percent or 2 percent, Kevin DeWine, deputy chairman, said during a Tuesday interview at The Vindicator.
“It’s still a difficult year for Republicans” because of “a negative Republican climate” in Ohio dating to the 2006 election that saw Democrats take control of most of the state’s executive office positions, DeWine said.
DeWine — a state representative and a second cousin of ex-U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, a close friend of McCain — becomes the party’s chairman in January when Chairman Robert Bennett retires.
DeWine said his primary focus is helping McCain win Ohio, an important battleground state in the presidential election.
He’s also concentrating on down-ticket races, including the attorney general, Congress and the Ohio Supreme Court, and maintaining a majority in the Ohio House.
That last one’s going to be a “big challenge,” DeWine said, acknowledging that his party is going to lose seats to Democrats.
Republicans control the House 53-46.
“It’s a difficult task to hold onto the majority,” DeWine said. “Whoever’s in charge [after the election] will be by the slimmest margin, probably by one vote.”
Making it even more difficult for Republicans, DeWine said, is that voters supporting McCain won’t necessarily help other Republicans on the ballot.
“I’m not sure either party can claim coattails,” he said. “People will vote for John McCain, but can I count on them to vote for Republicans down-ticket? No.”
In recent days, Democrats have said race — Obama had a black father — is playing a factor in the decision of some independents, undecided voters and Democrats to support McCain.
State Rep. Thomas Letson of Warren, D-64th, last week said race “is the only reason basically that anyone in this Valley can speak of as to why they would not vote for Senator Obama.”
Also, state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, said last week that race is the only reason he’s heard from undecided voters about why they won’t support Obama.
“We’re not trying to make [race] an issue,” DeWine said Tuesday. “It’s there ... Race is going to play into this. To what extent, I don’t know. Is there a way to get around it? I don’t know. I wish there was one. As a party, it’s not a campaign strategy.”
DeWine added that the legislators’ comments “were insulting to those undecided voters.”
In a Tuesday conference call, The Vindicator asked Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, about race as an issue.
“Because this is a brand new experience for us ... some people may not be as comfortable because they’ve never had the opportunity to vote for a minority person for president of the United States of America,” he said.
“It does deserve a recognition on the part of all of us that it’s something new for the American electorate,” he added. “I think this election can confirm the fact that we have grown as Americans and how far we have come. Are there some independents who have prejudices and biases? Perhaps.”
If Hillary Rodham Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for president, were on the Nov. 4 presidential ballot, there would be “some people hesitant to vote for a woman,” Strickland said.
“A vast majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents will make their choice on the candidate they most perceive will provide the leadership our nation needs now,” he said.
skolnick@vindy.com