2008 Election

Ohio Democratic Party superdelegate and committee member Enid Goubeaux was shocked at the news of Sarah Palin becoming John McCain's vice presidential choice when reached by PolitickerOH.com.

"Did he really do this? I heard the rumor," she said. "I'm very surprised at the choice. In the first place, what I know about Governor Palin is that she has very extreme views. I see hardly the person I would have selected if i were a 72-year-old candidate to succeed me as president of the United States."

Goubeaux said she didn't think Hillary Clinton primary voters would be swayed to the Republicans with Palin on the ticket.

"Any Hillary voters that are going to be swayed are going to be swayed to McCain until they really finds out wha this record is," she said. "Mrs. Palin is savagely anti-choice."

One of only two female Republican U.S. representatives in Ohio, Columbus' Deb Pryce said she couldn't me more happy with the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) as John McCain's vice presidential nominee.

"This was a wonderful surprise to me and the whole country. I don't know her well but from what I just saw in her first speech I'm ecstatic," Pryce said.

Pryce had high marks for Palin's speech.

"What I liked about it was her poise and her confidence. I think that's where everybody was waiting if she was the next Dan Quayle and clearly after seeing that, she's not," Pryce said, adding that the Palin pick is a "game changer."

Rob Portman said he is not John McCain's vice presidential pick.

Portman, former U.S. representative, trade ambassador, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and perennel VP dark horse, told the Cincinnati Enquirer he's not it.

No doubt though that prominent buzz and constant mentions as a possible No. 2 has raised Portman's profile among Ohio's Republicans and chattering classes in recent months. 

The Ohio Republican Party struck out against Barack Obama's speech, portraying the Democratic nominee as more extreme on the economy than Gov. Ted Strickland. Chair Bill Bennett specifically called out Obama on mandatory paid sick days, which Strickland has opposed.

"Barack Obama's disastrous economic judgment was on full display tonight when he advocated for the same type of paid sick day policy that Ted Strickland recently called 'unworkable, unwieldy' and 'detrimental to Ohio's economy.'  When it comes to keeping and creating jobs here in Ohio, even Ted Strickland can't convince Barack Obama to abandon his failed plans that would put more Ohioans out of work and limit opportunity in this state.  At the end of the day, Obama's grand performance cannot mask his lack of experience and judgment to be president," Bennett said.

Gov. Ted Strickland said in a statment Barack Obama cleared the bar with Ohio voters tonight in his speech.

“Barack Obama showed Ohio and the nation tonight why he is the best choice to be America’s next president. His plan to grow the economy and create new jobs is exactly the approach we need for Ohio. Sen. Obama will be a president who stands up for Ohioans and puts our families first. Tonight, we saw that Ohio’s future lies with Barack Obama—not four more years of the same failed Bush policies under John McCain.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told members of his political action committee tonight that he will not be John McCain's vice presidential candidate and will not be in Dayton for the rally tomorrow, contrary to news reports Thursday. In an e-mail from Hucakbee to supporters obtained by PolitickerOH.com, the governor said he was never invited to Dayton. "There are reports that I’m on my way to Dayton tonight. Not true. Wasn’t invited to be there and any reports that I’m going to be there are a big surprise to me," Huckabee said.

This ad will play in Ohio and other battleground states tonight.

John McCain will speak directly to Barack Obama on a television ad airing in battleground states around the time Obama speaks tonight, the campaign announced today.

McCain communications director Jill Hazelbaker said, "Senator McCain is going to speak direct to camera to Barack Obama." 

This is part of a larger effort by McCain to "bracket" Obama one-on-one. Tonight he'll fly into Dayton before Obama speaks and tomorrow morning he'll have a rally in Dayton with his vice presidential candidate to cut into morning news coverage of Obama's speech. 

State Sen. Steve Stivers (R-Columbus) is being criticized for giving $7 million in "taxypayer giveaways" and loans to a payday lender by the Franklin County Democratic Party.

The party said this handout to Buckeye Check Cashing was one of Stivers' first acts as a member of the State Controlling Board. The party cites an AP story saying the company had already been given millions in state incentives to cut its federal tax burden. "Stivers now states he is against the industry," the party's press release said.

Franklin Co. Democratic Party chair William Anthony said this shows Stivers doesn't care about voters.

COLUMBUS - City council president Mike Mentel hasn't been this excited for a presidential campaign since wore out tennis shoes working Columbus for Ted Kennedy's 1980 presidential campaign.

That's saying something for Mentel who said he heard more about "Jack" and "Bobby" in his Irish-Catholic Democratic family as anyone did growing up. Those shared roots with Joe Biden lent themselves to Mentel's affinity for the senator, whom he supported for president last year who helped get Biden on the Ohio ballot. Mentel's presidential preferences have come full circle now that Biden is on Barack Obama's presidential ticket.

Mentel was one of about 25 Democrats milling about a projection screen and dart boards at Byrne's Pub last night for the "Irish-Americans for Obama" watch party.