economy

Democratic Catholic activists who've worked in Ohio are thrilled to have one of their own on a national ticket again.

U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) has received rave reviews from two people who work to get Democrats' message out to Catholic voters.

Mara Vanderslice worked for Gov. Ted Strickland's 2006 campaign and currently heads the Matthew 25 political action committee. Vanderslice said Biden can make the case to voters less from specific issues in a speech and more from the fact that he can vouch for Obama as a member of the same community as voters in areas like Youngstown, Toledo and Steubenville.

"For me he brings a working-class cultural background, growing up in Scranton and working-class areas in Delaware. I feel like he takes his Catholic faith very seriously. I think that he will culturally connect to the kinds of voters Obama needs to win," she said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As Democrats dominate national media coverage this week, John McCain's campaign is counterprogramming the opposition in Ohio with McCain supporter and possible vice presidential nominee, Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.). Pawlenty started his day-long tour of Ohio speaking about the economy to state business leaders at the Plaskolite acrylics manufacturing plant, where he focused on McCain's message, while contrasting and digging at Barack Obama.

A new TV ad from the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) hits opponent Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on the economic issue.

The ad, called, "Book," is slated to begin airing Thursday in sixteen states including Ohio.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has released a new ad in the Granite State focused on economic issues.

Obama's ad is airing in battleground states throughout the country and claims his rival, U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has supported President George Bush "95 percent of the time."

Rep. Dave Reichert's campaign has created another web video advertisement, adding to the two they created last week that will cater to specific internet traffic areas of 8th Congressional District voters. This new video focuses on the economy, and echoes a letter he wrote to the editor of the Puget Sound Business Journal this past Friday calling for more free market solutions to economic problems.

"We're excited to continue rolling out these web ads to spread Dave's message," said Amanda Halligan on behalf of the Reichert campaign. "It's an innovative, targeted tool to educate and inform the tech-savvy voters of the Eighth District."

The web ad will link to a page on Reichert's campaign website that talks about his economic plan which highlights lower taxes, greater health care choice, alternative and nuclear energy plans and science education.

The woman who put Wilmington on the national political map wants Barack Obama's campaign to pull the radio ad it's airing today blaming John McCain for 8,000 potential layoffs in the city as a result of the UPS-DHL merger.

On a conference call with reporters hosted by the McCain campaign, Mary Houghtaling denounced the ad and Obama for painting Wilmington residents as victims of McCain and campaign manager Rick Davis, who was a lobbyist for DHL's German owner three years ago.

"It's shameful, horrible thing for him to do to use us to promote him," Houghtaling said.

State Rep. Ted Celeste: Ohio House of RepresentativesUPPER ARLINGTON - State Rep. Ted Celeste (D-Grandview Heights) did something rare for a politician yesterday: he did more listening than talking in front of his constituents.

Celeste held his 16th "District Dialogue" town hall meeting at the Upper Arlington Library with about 30 people in attendance to discuss the economy, which quickly moved into other related topics.

Celeste said he holds these dialogues across the district to stay aware of peoples' concerns and to foster a sense of community.

"I really started this as part of the process of what I see as the responsibility of a representative is being in touch with constituents, listening to what the concerns are, but also beginning to build community for dealing with some of the issues," Celeste said.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain) accused President Bush of "betraying the middle class" and U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for ignoring the plight of Ohio workers in a conference call today, countering Bush's visit to Cleveland this afternoon.

Brown said Bush should visit areas like Wilmington where DHL will likely cut more than 6,000 jobs.

"If the president really wants to learn about Ohio, and our economic concerns, and our energy concerns, he should go on a little tour around the state. He should go to Wilmington," Brown said, adding that Bush and McCain should also go to the closing Norwalk Furniture Company.

However, neither McCain nor U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) have been to Wilmington or Norwalk recently. Brown said there are differences between on Obama and McCain when it comes to Ohio's troubles.

State Sen. John Boccieri (D-Alliance) launched a planned series of economic discussions with a backyard event in Canton on Wednesday. Boccieri plans on holding numerous sessions meant to address the economic concerns of voters across Ohio's 16th Congressional district.

Boccieri is running against state Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) to replace U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre) in the seat.

Event attendees focused on concerns about health care and pension struggles.

Continuing a week of polls, a UNH poll shows Gov. John Lynch (D-Hopkinton) with an overwhelming lead over his Republican opponent.

Lynch is beating state Sen. Joe Kenney (R-Wakefield) 67 percent to 16 percent. The Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, shows Lynch gaining 45 percent of Republican voters against Kenney.