Ohio

Campaign Photo

Businessman David Krikorian

MADEIRA -- Businessman David Krikorian (I-Madeira) is feeling good about his chances as a first-time candidate, vying for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District. Krikorian predicted that he would pull the highest percentage of votes for any independent candidate in any race throughout the country.

He sees his race as a competition mostly between himself and U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland). Also challenging Schmidt is Dr. Victoria Wulsin (D-Indian Hill). Krikorian said that his biggest challenge in the race is convincing voters who are unenthused about Schmidt, and scared of a Democrat like Wulsin winning, to vote for him.

Krikorian makes the case that some voters might opt for Schmidt as the safest way to ensure that Wulsin will not win the election, even if their preference is for Krikorian. The businessman and entrepreneur Krikorian wants them to reject what he calls this flawed logic, and vote for him.

"We are seeing, all over the district, a huge influx of supporters to our campaign," Krikorian said. "I was out in West Union, which is out in Adams County yesterday, and out name recognition was just sky high. And post people that we talked to said they were either voting for us, or had voted for us."

CINCINNATI - U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) will be campaigning with "Joe the Plumber" over the last weekend of the campaign for Ohio's 1st Congressional District.

Joe Wurzelbacher, made famous by Republican presidential nominee John McCain as "Joe the Plumber," will be on the West side of Cincinnati Saturday for a series of campaign events with Chabot. 

Chabot and Wurzelbacher will kick off appearances with a rally for volunteers at Chabot's campaign headquarters. The central event will be a get out the vote rally at Price Hill Chili.

Finally, Chabot and Wurzelbacher will be in front of the Pit before Elder takes on Centerville Saturday night.

The campaign of attorney Sharen Neuhardt (D-Yellow Springs) is saying that opponent state Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) has thrown family values out the door in the race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. David Hobson (R-Springfield).

The Nuehardt campaign is saying they've exposed Austria for taking thousands of dollars from a conservative PAC they call notorious for its annual fundraisers at Las Vegas strip clubs. 

"So much for family values, Steve Austria," said Neuhardt spokesperson Jessica Kershaw. "The voters of the 7th District deserve much better than someone who is willing to take thousands of dollars from a PAC that solicits money from professional gamblers. This is an act of desperation. You should be ashamed, Steve Austria." 

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is leading Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) by four points among likely voters in Ohio in the race for president, a poll by SurveyUSA shows.

The poll also showed state Treasurer Richard Cordray (D-Pleasant Twp.) leading in the race for Attorney General, and voters leaning toward voting down Issues 5 and 6.

Obama recieved 49 percent support among likely voters in the poll, compared to 45 percent for McCain. Respondents choosing "other" came in at 4 percent, with 3 percent undecided.

SurveyUSA identified 648 likely voters in the poll, with a margin of error of +/- 3.9 percentage points.

The campaign of Dr. Victoria Wulsin (D-Indian Hill) got a boost this past week from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the form of $141,525 media buy in her race against U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland).

The DCCC Independent Expenditure also disclosed spending $3,784 for media production to the Federal Election Commission, bringing total expenses for the Democratic campaign organization to above $145,000 over the past week in the race for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District.

The National Republican Congressional Committee also put some resources into the race, reporting $40,971 to the FEC, spent on printing and postage for mail targeting Wulsin.

Former New York City Mayor and Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani (R-N.Y.) is coming back to Ohio to campaign for Republican Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Giuliani has been in Ohio for McCain once already, blasting the change offered by presidential opponent Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) as "phony."

The McCain campaign announced that Giuliani will campaign for McCain and running mate Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) at rallies in Boardman and Warren, Ohio.

The campaign of state Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Jackson Township) is criticizing its opponent, state Sen. John Boccieri (D-Alliance), for receiving help from outside organizations spending money on advertising in the district.

The Schuring camp says groups like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Patriot Majority Midwest are attempting "to buy the seat for Youngstown Senator John Boccieri."

Schuring campaign manager PJ Wenzel is pointing to Federal Elections Commission reports, which they say shows "more than $1.6 million has been spent on negative advertising in the district, most on television ads and direct-mail pieces" aimed at "life-long district resident" Schuring.

U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) is joining U.S. Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-West Chester) in calling for the complete de-funding of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

Schmidt is also calling for a full Justice Department investigation "to determine if ACORN's repeated illegal attempts to influence U.S. elections can be prosecuted" under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, also known as the RICO Act.

ACORN describes itself as "a community organization which aims to win power for low and moderate families."

The organization has seen Republican criticism of voter registration efforts in several states, including Ohio, and is being investigated by the Cuyahoga County Elections Board on 50 suspicious registrations.

Former President Bill Clinton is coming to Ohio this week for a grassroots fundraiser to rally Ohio Democrats.

Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern sent an e-mail inviting supporters to join Clinton, Gov. Ted Strickland and the Ohio Democratic Party for the event at the Renaissance Hotel in Columbus on Thursday.

The pitch to supporters says that they "can make a difference by joining President Bill Clinton and Governor Ted Strickland at our last grassroots fundraiser to rally Ohio Democrats before Election Day."

U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) will have to undergo further treatment and rehabilitation after being struck by a car last Wednesday, but for now Schmidt has been able to return home.

Schmidt had initially been released and back to work after being hit while jogging Wednesday morning.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that Schmidt had been jogging while wearing a reflective vest with a light when a car close to the edge struck the Congresswoman on her right hip and threw her into a ditch.

Schmidt spokesperson Bruce Pfaff said that Schmidt had been on her way to Afghanistan, and had just landed at a U.S. Air Force base in Germany when she "experienced a great deal of pain and was temporarily uncounscious."