Ohio breakfast

DEVNER - Is it going to be better than 2004? "Yes it is," said Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner while addressing the Ohio delegation this morning at the Democratic National Convention.

Brunner concerned her speech with a brief history of women's suffrage, and promised that the 2008 election would not have the problems seen in Ohio during 2004.

Brunner touted early voting, which she said would be available in Ohio 30 days before the election, by mail or in person.

Brunner also said she believed that the turnout in Ohio for the election will be near 80 percent.

 "Participation is the greatest measure of the health of Democracy," Brunner said.

She said she wanted to make voters of Ohio confident in the voting system.

"We will do a good job this year," she said. "We will make our people and our country proud."

FOR COMPLETE CONVENTION COVERAGE from PolitickerOH.com, click here. 

DENVER -- Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, the daughter of former Ohio Gov. John Gilligan, spoke to the Ohio delegation during breakfast Tuesday about the upcoming "battle" election and how Democratic governors like herself and Ohio's Gov. Ted Strickland need an ally in the White House. Sebelius encouraged efforts in not only urban, but suburban and rural areas saying that the campaign was truly a 50-state effort and that this is the first election she has ever seen Democratic campaign offices opened in the state of Kansas.

DENVER - Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean made a surprise appearance at the Ohio delegation's breakfast Tuesday morning to talk about the upcoming election.

Dean said Ohio has "really really come a long way" over the past couple of years.

"I am so proud of what you did in 2006 with electing Ted Strickland Governor and Jennifer Brunner as Secretary of State, which we actually invested some money in," Dean said.

Dean praised Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern for doing a "terrific job" in Ohio.

"The thing I love about Chris Redfern is that Democrats are going to be everywhere in Ohio," Dean said, before going on to reiterate the importance of getting out the vote in rural areas.