Surprise! No Republican wants to run against Kasich

Kasich probably won't face
a primary challenger.

According to various reports and information I've received, it looks like there won't be a primary challenge against Gov. John Kasich.

Despite intense anger from many conservatives and tea party groups, potential candidates are calling it 'political suicide' to challenge the incumbent. And they're probably right.

"If they want to have a future at the party, they're told not to run," Tom Zawistowski, former president of the Ohio Liberty Coalition who was unsuccessful in his bid for GOP state chairman, recently told Gongwer Ohio.

Mounting a primary challenge would require raising significant amounts of money from many of the same people already committed to Kasich. And it's never easy going up against the party's standard bearer, even when the 'bearer' is short on consistency with cord standards and principles.

Which is not to say that incumbents should not face challenges - just that the ideal candidate to do so has to have considerable resources, reputation and support already in place and not have too much to risk if they lose.

Charlie Earl, the gubernatorial candidate from the Libertarian Party, might prove to be an option in the general election for those who just can't pull the lever (yes, an old reference) for Kasich, but I don't think most Republicans will change party affiliation by pulling a Libertarian ballot in the primary.

Of course, it's still early and, as upset as conservatives are with Kasich, he's still a better choice than the Democrat, Ed FitzGerald.

***Side note: I'm headed to Indianapolis for the weekend to participate in the Smart Girl Summit and will try to blog about some of the sessions, especially the ones focusing on culture. ***

House passes revised congressional map; establishes March 6 for primary

Press Release - the referenced map is viewable here.

House Passes Revised Congressional Map with Strong Bipartisan Support

House Bill 369 reunites Ohio’s primaries to single day in March

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) announced today that a revised congressional map has passed the Ohio House with strong bipartisan support. The new map, found in House Bill 369, was introduced by State Representative Matt Huffman (R-Lima) in early November after working closely with members of the House Minority Caucus.

“This map represents the second fair and legal map passed by the Ohio House of Representatives in recent weeks,” Speaker Batchelder said. “I am pleased that the House Republican Caucus has led the charge in not only passing a competitive congressional map, but also in ensuring that Ohioans have only one state and federal primary in 2012.”

Among other things, the bill reunites Ohio’s primaries to one day on March 6, 2012 and will save the state $15 million by doing so. It also creates a bi-partisan legislative task force to review congressional redistricting and issue a report to the General Assembly next year. The filing deadline for presidential and congressional candidates will be reopened to a December 30, 2011 deadline if passed.

“This bill contains a number of positive provisions, including reuniting Ohio's primaries and saving the taxpayers $15 million,” Rep. Huffman said. “The House Republican Caucus never stopped negotiations with the members of the House Minority Caucus and incorporated a number of their suggestions in this bill. We appreciate their support of House Bill 369.”

House Bill 369 passed with a vote of 77-17 and contains an emergency clause which, if passed by the Ohio Senate, will take effect upon the governor’s signature.

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Lucas County again the focus of presidential campaigns

In 2004, Lucas County saw multiple visits from presidential candidates and their surrogates. In fact, the Seagate Convention center was the site of 3 visits within 7 days, just prior to the election in 2004 - not an easy task, but one they carried out very well.

Again it appears that the county and surrounding areas will get its share of visits from the presidential campaigns as Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain all plan to make stops prior to the March 4 primary.

What remains to be seen is the influence Ohio will have on the presidential race. In 2004, it went to Bush, but 2006 saw a sweep by Democrats for all but one state-wide office. Dems are hoping that momentum will carry forward, while the GOP hopes the state will stay in their column.

Be sure to tune in to Eye On Toledo on Wednesday, March 5th, as Fritz Wenzel, Communication Director for Zogby International, breaks down the results of Ohio's primary and the implications for Toledo and the surrounding area.