Thoughts on Ohio and VP

[TruthWins]

I already posted basically this message in an Evan Bayh thread, but I think it's worthwhile to bring up on its own, as many people see Ohio playing a role similar to Florda this year.

I live in Northeast Ohio, actually Dennis Kucinich's district (but didn't vote for him, sorry). No one here even knows who Bayh is, except maybe on the West side of the state which is the heavily Republican area. It would not influence one vote in my opinion.

Gephardt is not popular in Ohio. Unions are not nearly as big of a deal in this state as the rest of the country seems to think and Gephardt is a failed presidential candidate twice over. Ohio couldn't care less about him.

Who would Ohio like?

Edwards or Clark would be equally good in this state. People like Edwards optimism, and they like Clark's military credentials and "outsider" status. I'm a Kerry delegate and there were a ton of Clarkies at the delegate caucus. There was also a strong volunteer organization here who contacted the Kerry people the very day that Clark quit saying they were ready for their "marching orders."

No one else is going to have an impact here, especially a relatively unknown from a neighboring state. The only one that would even be close is Rendell I think his name is from Pennsylvania. Not because anyone knows him, but many Ohioans who are Democrats or swing voters see Pennsylvania as the closest thing we have to a kin state. I can't speak for the whole state but the people who voted Bush last time after voting for Clinton twice came largely from the East part of Ohio, much of which borders PA.

[slor]

1. This Ohioan says...

it had better be Dean, Clark or Edwards!

[ludwigb]

2. Regional identity

I know from experience that some (very few, but enough to be significant) here in the South vote based on regional identification (someone from "the South" or "from Texas). So regional identity is significant here. And for Democrats, it's an important tactic in winning over Republicans.

But what the Midwest, particularly Ohio? Having never been there, I haven't the slightest clue. But we need to pick up some of the red-leaning voters. Is it safe to say that regional identity is significant for significant number of Ohioans? Regardless of whether people feel they are from the "Midwest" or "Heartland" or "Lakes Region"--is it possible for a candidate to appeal to all of these various and competing Ohioan identities at the same time? If so, could it make a difference?