Danny O’Connor needs our help in the Ohio District 12 U.S. House of Representative Special Election, and a Democratic win would be huge in this red state. There are approximately 750,000 people in the 12th district, and it’s 85% white. Registered Republicans outnumber Registered Democrats 2 to 1.
Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats 2-1 and yet Danny O’Connor is 1 percentage point behind his opponent!
Despite the fact that Republican Congressional Committee has spent close to $600,000 on this race and increased its spending on Monday by $250,000 for ad space, and “the Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC backed by Paul Ryan has spent $2 million on ads slamming O’Connor” and demonizing Nancy Pelosi, this race is too close to call. (About two weeks ago, the DNCC upped the ante by contributing about $250,000 for a TV ad compaign.)
In an August 1, article in USA Today, Jessie Balmert wrote: How Donald Trump turned a safe Republican seat in Ohio into a toss-up. (I can’t link to it.) Balmert’s supposition is that this race shouldn’t be competitive because there are so many more registered Republicans. Also, “voters gave former GOP Rep. Tiberi “double-digit victories for years and elected Trump by 11 percentage points in 2016.”
And, yet, Danny O’Connor is only down 1 point in the polls. His opponent Republican Troy Balderson, a 57-year-old state senator is getting help from Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Former Governor John Kasich.
After trashing Ohio favorite son LaBron Twitter Friday night, Trump campaigned in Ohio on Saturday night. Trump didn’t mention James, but he bashed Hillary with calls to lock her up, and trashed Maxine Waters as a “low IQ person.”
Mike Pence is campaigning for Balderson on Monday. Gov. John Kasich who hadn’t endorsed anyone suddenly decided to endorse Balderson, which is really infuriating because Balderson is against almost everything Kasich has said he believes in.
A few months ago, I heard Kasich on Brian Williams, and he was waxing poetic about a possible run for president, discussing how he supports universal healthcare, expanded Medicaid, protecting social security...blah, blah, blah, and what does he do? He backs a Republican who believes in none of that.
REPUBLICANS PROVE OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THEIR ONLY ALLEGIANCE IS TO THEIR POLITICAL PARTY. IT’S TIME WE DO THE SAME THING!
Why should we support Danny O’Connor? First, because we need him to win. Second, because even though he may not use the same catch words we do, he’s in favor of issues many of us support. “O’Connor wants to expand health care coverage, protect Medicare and Social security benefits, create more economic opportunities for working families and small business owners in central Ohio, and help end the partisan dysfunction in Washington (We may disagree on this, but he needs to say it).” He’s against Medicare for all, abolishing ICE, and tuition-free college. But, if you carefully read his positions, dependent on your politics, you may find issues you can agree with. And, as Country Recorder, he has created the department’s first paid family leave program for his 54 employees. He also supported recognizing marriage equality, and extending Medicaid coverage.
Vox reporter Dylan Scott, who interviewed a number of Democrats who were further to the left than O’Connor said they supported O’Connor because “They just want to win now,” and they know they can work with O’Connor.
O’Connor’s opponent Troy Balderson voted for Trump’s tax sham bill, for getting rid of Obamacare, and for not expanding Medicaid. Balderson “believes in protecting all life (I believe he’s anti-abortion), Second Amendment rights, and getting government out of the way so Ohio’s job creators can grow without the restraints of government and red tape.”
Jessie Balmert suggests the reason the race is competitive—when Balderson should be winning—is because of Donald Trump. “O’Connor is appealing to frustrated Republican suburbanites concerned about Trump’s tone and enthusiastic progressive activists frightened by Trump’s policies.”
And, the Midwest leader of the state Republican Party Jane Timken is quoted as saying, “This race is about more than just Ohio. It’s about Trump’s popularity in the Midwest.” She asked voters “to send a message to the Democrats and the media pundits across the country that the American people are happy with the direction that Republican leadership is taking us.”
So, why is the traditionally conservative Columbus Dispatch endorsing O’Connor over Balderson? Because they will not recommend a vote for a Trump supporter.
“By all accounts, both O’Connor and Balderson are decent, successful men who would work hard for voters of the 12th District. “But one supports a reasonable, thoughtful approach to addressing the important issues facing Congress and our country, and the other supports a president who uses tactics and pushes policies that this Editorial Board has denounced.”
The fact is that we need to throw our support to Danny O’Connor. He’s doing everything humanly possible to win. And, he’s the better candidate for us. The Dispatch is conservative and they’re endorsing him. But, while they say both men would work hard for Ohio, only one man supports healthcare, Medicaid, paid family leave, Social Security and Medicare, and that’s Danny O’Connor.
Please join me in supporting Danny O’Connor. A win for him is a loss for Trump and his Republican enablers. I’ve already contributed twice in the last two days...small amounts, which were matched to become bigger amounts. Any money we contribute will enable Danny O’Connor to get out the vote and bring the blue wave to Ohio next Tuesday!!!