Inside the 50 Strategy: O - H! I - O!

The Buckeye State receives no shortage of attention each election cycle, and 2006 is no different. While DNC organizers are working in states like Utah and, Kansas, and Oklahoma -- states like Ohio still receive a tremendous amount of attention -- and rightly so.

No state has more statewide elections taking place in 2006 than Ohio. There's a heated campaign between Democrat Ted Strickland and Republicans Ken Blackwell and Jim Petro to replace term-limited and criminally convicted Republican Governor Bob Taft. Congressman Sherrod Brown's campaign is trucking along in his bid to unseat incumbent Senator Mike DeWine. Down the ballot, Democrats have a number of tremendous candidates including Jennifer Brunner (for SoS), Marc Dann and Subodh Chandra (for AG), Barbara Sykes (for Auditor), and Hugh Quill and Richard Cordray (for Treasurer).

The difference between the two state parties in the run-up to November couldn't be more clear either. The Republican side of the aisle resembles the worst scenes of Lord of the Flies. The GOP state party chair is more of a referee between feuding Republicans in the Governor's race than a leader of the party. Congressman Bob Ney and the Chair have thrown very public barbs at eachother. The FBI has found a second home in Republican Attorney General Jim Petro's office. And of course there is Tom Noe and Coingate. For the Democrats, recently elected State Party Chair Chris Redfern has the party pointed in the right direction since taking his seat earlier this year. DNC-paid organizers are on the ground throughout the state. The party's bench is growing with up-and-coming superstars like Statehouse Minority Leader Joyce Beatty. A thriving online community provides a consistent vehicle for two-way communication between the grassroots, candidates, and elected officials across the state. A recent generic ballot poll conducted by Akron's Bliss Institue found that fifty-nine percent of Ohioans would like to see the Democratic Party regain control of the Republican controlled state government. Polls in the race for governor, U.S. Senate, and various polls on Congressional races paint a picture that reflects the the Bliss institute's findings. The DNC organizers are prepared and well-positioned to build a massive grassroots organization that unites the parties leadership with those on-the-ground who do the daily dirty work of democracy.

In addition to maintaining and updating a statewide voter file, organizing and GOTV efforts, and traditional field operations, the DNC-organizers are building solid organizations at the county level in the form of "victory squads." One of the massive undertakings by the organizers is to recruit county coordinators, grassroots outrach coordinators, volunteer coordinators, canvassing coordinators, phone bank coordinators, minority outreach coordinators, early voting coordinators, and media coordinators for each and every one of Ohio's 88 counties. These are volunteer positions, and the organizers are doing a fantastic job filling these roles across the state. In addition to creating the infrastructure to compete in blue counties like Cuyahoga and Athens, purple like Stark, and red like Clermont, the DNC-organizers will work in conjunction with newly hired Ohio coordinated campaign manager Richard Dickerson this year as well. Instead of outsourcing a field plan in 2006, the Democratic Party is doing what it hasn't done in quite some time -- taking our destiny in our own hands and building the organization necessary to win in 2006, but also carries over into 2008, 2010, and beyond! In closing, here's an example of what the "victory squads" hope to accomplish at the county level over the course of the next few months:

County Coordinator Organize meetings of Coordinating team Organize larger meetings of volunteers Make sure that each coordinator has what they need to accomplish goals Ensure that ODP is informed on local events

Grassroots Outreach Coordinator
Serve as liaison between ODP and grassroots activities
Develop a plan to involve local grassroots organizations with ODP
Identify and network with all local progressive grassroots organizations.

Volunteer Coordinator
Ensure that there is a presence at all key events within the county
Organize parade entries, walkers, etc.
Recruit and retain volunteers for the party

Canvassing Coordinator
Coordinate volunteers in conducting canvassing activity
Ensure that local efforts are consistent with the campaign’s targeting
Prepare maps for canvassing activity

Phone Bank Coordinator
Develop plan for phone activity into targeted areas
Identify offices, union halls, etc. with phones that could be utilized
Coordinate volunteers in conducting phone activity

Minority Outreach Coordinator
Develop plan for county minority outreach
Reach out to minority groups
Recruit volunteers from the minority community

Early Voting Coordinator
Coordinate with local Boards of Elections on absentee voting requests
Phone bank to those requesting absentee ballots to ensure they actually vote

Media Coordinator
Coordinate letter to the editor campaigns
Monitor local TV and radio after the event and tape any coverage we receive

Times they are a changin' in Ohio. To get involved at the local level, be sure to contact the Ohio Democratic Party for more information, and to get pointed to the right direction.

Comments (7) «

Thanks Tim, great post.

SUPREME COURT DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST GOVERNOR OVER ETHICS VIOLATIONS

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel for the Ohio Supreme Court filed a complaint today alleging attorney misconduct on the part of Gov. Bob Taft as a result of ethics reporting law violations in 2005. Counsel Jonathan Coughlan requested in the filing with the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Mr. Taft be disciplined under court rules governing lawyer conduct. Details in today’s Ohio Report.

© 2006, Gongwer News Service, Inc.

1

jen on April 10, 2006 at 12:14 PM

This is the latest candidate to throw her hat in the ring. Cross-posted from Howard-Empowered People:

Marian Harris for State Representative

I am running for the 19 House District in Ohio against a 2 term Republican incumbent. I have been active in politics "behind the scenes" for almost 30 years, working for Senator Metzenbaun and Gov. Celeste among others. I could not let any R go unchallenged this year so I became a candidate. I cannot believe how Ohio has deteriorated in the last 12 years - education funding declared unconstitutional 4 times by our Supreme Court and the R legislature does nothing; first in foreclosures and bankruptcies; young people leaving Ohio for greener pastures elsewhere - it's not the Ohio I want my grandchildren to grow up in. So I'm running. Fundraising is the biggest challenge, but it's coming along. I've been endorsed by the Franklin County Democratic Party, the Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio and Democracy for America (one of 2 central Ohioans so far on their "A" List).

Marian Harris
Candidate for State Representative, 19th HD
www.marianforohio.com
Democracy for Ohio
Democracy for America--Central Ohio

2

Corinne on April 10, 2006 at 12:29 PM

It seems to me there are alot of Ohioans on the open thread most of the time so my guess is this post will be productive.

And even this New Yorker has sent along some money from time to time.

3

gregg on April 10, 2006 at 02:08 PM

And speaking of New York (My Beloved Hometown) Dean is here tonight to attend a DNC dinner and to make a presentation of the 50 state strategy.

Things are looking up and very promising my friends.

4

ap215 on April 10, 2006 at 05:03 PM

Thank you, Tim!

I read the ODP site regularly. (bet you couldn't figure that out) I love the listing of volunteer positions. We on the Z TEAM all have our own area of expertise and have made our plans accordingly.

Campaigns are very time consuming as well as costly. With all the the 18th congressional district candidates alone, there will probably be close to $750,000 spent on the primary race.

The behind the scenes is so exciting. I wish everyone could be this involved!

And gregg, send some of that NY money to my candidate!!! ;p

Zack Space for Congress

The only candidate that can and will beat bob ney in the General Election!!!

5

Butters on April 10, 2006 at 05:28 PM

District 18 is lucky to have someone not a lawyer running to replace NEY. Jennifer Stewart is Vice President Ohio Bd. of Education and is a former teacher in the Zanesville schools. Don't you think she would know not to pass laws for education without the funding. Jennifer knows how important a good education is for all students. Bringing jobs to the 18th district is directly connected to education, not like it was in the past, we need technical trained students.
check out www.jenniferstewartforcongress.com

6

maryanna on April 11, 2006 at 10:22 AM

We must never allow the majority of either party get rid of our 527's? It is the only voice we the common folks have. We can sign a patition and send in a contribution and it is like having a Lobbyist to speak for us. They are the only Lobbyist that the poor, common working class has!
Take them away and you lose your voice. It is the only time in History where the rich has helped the working class have free speech. Do you know anyone else that has agreed to speak for us?

7

freeforall on April 11, 2006 at 12:19 PM

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