Will Ohio Urban Voter Apathy Propel John Kasich Toward Bigger Things?

[votesparks]

While Democrats were celebrating victory over several friends of John Kasich this week, one number they failed to mention in any of their celebration press releases was the very poor turnout for urban elections across the state. Reports from Toledo estimate the official turnout at around 20 percent, while in Dayton, the number of voters dropped from 29,750 in the last mayoral election, to just 16,120 in this week's election.

Will low voter turnout in cities like Dayton, Cincinnati and Toledo, coupled with the new "compassionate conservative" theme that John Kasich has rolled out with his decision to expand Medicaid in the state, lead to bigger political ambitions for Kasich?

[gopiscrap]

1. Let's hope not!

[votesparks]

2. I hope I am wrong, I really do

But Democrats can't seem to run candidates who can get out the vote, past the party choir.

Kasich got elected when Dayton stayed home, and Dayton is staying home even more so now than before. For the money that Whaley spent, which was astronomical considering the position, the actual number of voters who came out was pathetic and embarrassing.

Daytonians and Toledoans it seems are by and large done with voting in the current paradigm. I read that Cincinnati turnout was also very low.

My thought: Corporatist dems can't bring out the vote, or inspire the masses. Obama did it once, but people are now smart to it.

[No Vested Interest]

3. You have a good point.

Today's Cincinnati Enquirer quotes eleven non-voters from Cincinnati, most of whom did not find anything on the ballot compelling enough to get to the polls.

Some, a few, simply did not have the time after working a long day or shift and then having a commitment at the end of the day - family, appointment, etc. Here's where making voting by mail easier would help. It is fairly easy at present, I believe, but takes a little planning ahead, and apparently, some or many cannot or so not do that re voting.
One woman expressed that "blacks", her words, did not see gains and so, apparently, she did not see the value in voting. I would have pointed out to that woman that City council members represent both black and white citizens and that black council members went from five to four as a result of this election, so more black voters might have influenced that number.

We all know that older white voters will come out, and in SW Ohio, the majority are Republican. So Dems need to work harder to get out the vote in non-presidential years.