Strickland sees the economy as his biggest challenge

Gov. Ted Strickland doesn’t see John Kasich, his Republican challenger, as his biggest opponent — at least not at this moment.

“Right now, I’m running against the economy,” Strickland, a Democrat seeking a second four-year term as governor in the November general election, told me during his visit to Youngstown earlier this week.

And so far the economy has proven to be a formidable opponent.

The state’s unemployment rate is in double-digits. If it wasn’t for money from the federal stimulus package and a delay in eliminating a 4.2-percent income-tax cut, Ohio would be facing a deficit of well over $1 billion.

There’s been some welcomed news about the economy recently such as V&M Star Steel’s announcement that it would invest $650 million in a new plant to be located in Youngstown near its current operations.

But Strickland acknowledged that without the federal stimulus package, which provided about $19 million to improve land V&M needs, the expansion wouldn’t have happened.

Kasich and his supporters are quick to point out that the state’s economy has suffered under Strickland’s watch.

Of course the nation has been in a major economic downturn for the past two years. But somehow Strickland was supposed to turn it around. That was his platform when he successfully ran for governor in 2006, and critics mock him as “Turnaround Ted.”

Polls show Kasich ahead of Strickland, but still within the margin of error. For example, an Ohio Newspaper Poll three weeks ago had Kasich winning 51-45 percent with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent.

My thought on Strickland’s quote about “running against the economy” is the economy better improve quickly or his chance of fending off Kasich is going to be remote.

“Soon I will be running against John Kasich and I look forward to that,” Strickland said.

The governor said he is eager to debate Kasich.

Strickland isn’t a particularly strong public speaker so some might find his excitement in debating Kasich, known for his oratory skills, to be odd.

But Strickland more than held his own against J. Kenneth Blackwell, the 2006 failed Republican gubernatorial candidate who had a reputation for being a brilliant public speaker.

Actually Strickland wiped the floor with Blackwell in their debates.

During the debates, Blackwell would respond to a question with a vague answer and then smile. It wasn’t a regular smile. It was one of the creepiest smiles I’ve ever seen.

When I mentioned that to Strickland, he laughed and acknowledged Blackwell’s creepy smile.

I doubt Kasich will use the same creepy-smile strategy, but he shouldn’t take Strickland lightly in their debates.

Strickland said he enjoys campaigning and while this one’s going to be tough, the governor is eager to take on the Republican.

I asked Strickland what would he do once he’s no longer governor — either after this year or if he is re-elected, after a second four-year term ends. [State law doesn’t permit governors to run for three straight terms.]

Strickland said he has no plans for a quiet retirement. After leaving elected office, Strickland said he’d like to volunteer for a service organization, specifically mentioning the Peace Corps.

“Am I too old to join?” No, there’s no maximum age.

I’m sure his critics would like to see him join as soon as possible.

During our conversation, Strickland brought up ex-Gov. Bob Taft, a Republican who served eight years prior to Strickland. When Taft left office, his approval rating was one of the worst in the country.

Strickland said he keeps in touch with Taft and the two are friends.

Also, the governor said his wife, Frances, is very close with Taft’s spouse, Hope, who visits the governor’s mansion to attend to the gardens.