Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland trying to rally public support for his education funding plan

COLUMBUS (AP) — With his education proposal and political strength hanging in the balance in the Legislature, Gov. Ted Strickland is trying to enlist the power of the people.

Strickland visited South Point, Cheshire, Minster and Dayton at the end of last week in an ongoing effort to sell his education funding proposal.

The Democratic governor has been traveling around the state selling his plan since February. The pitch has taken on a new urgency as budget negotiations enter their final weeks.

Baldwin-Wallace College political science professor Tom Sutton says polling that shows a lack of public awareness of Strickland’s plan has given the GOP-controlled Senate political cover to gut the proposal from the budget.

Sutton says Strickland’s travels are an effort to pressure the Senate.