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Jul
8
I’ve written very little about the Democratic primary for the 2010 open Ohio U.S. Senate seat race (the seat is currently occupied by George Voinovich (R)), but I feel compelled to offer a few thoughts related to this blog entry posted by current Ohio Secretary of State and candidate for the Dem nomination, Jennifer Brunner.
Because, hey – I need to hold onto my over-thinker, yente reputation. What else do I have, you know?
Recall, I didn’t even think Brunner wanted this job, but I was wrong and realized that in February when she was announcing her candidacy.
I have never thought of Brunner as someone who would pull a Palin and say that her presence in the primary is so toxic to the state’s or the Democratic party’s political life that she must save us from that toxicity and exit the race. No way, no how. So the talk about how much pressure is being applied and by whom, while it makes for traffic-spiking writing, and is interesting to wonks and wonkabees, is irrelevant because Brunner is not going to be getting out anytime soon and there’s just never been any basis in the way she’s behaved in the past to suggest that she would get out (Palin, on the other hand, has clearly shown a propensity to leave in mid-stream, for fear of being a dead fish who goes with the flow, as she said in her own words). I didn’t need Brunner’s blog post to know this, even if others might have, and you’d only have to hear her speak in person or read what she’s been doing to know that the one thing she isn’t going to do is go to a remote Western Alaska fishing village owned by her husband’s family.
Want to understand the poll numbers just out that show her in nearly a dead heat with primary opponent, Ohio Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, and with 51% of Ohio Democrats undecided?
Just consider: Since February, more and more situations have transpired around the country, in other states and on the national political landscape that bolster a candidate like Brunner’s: experienced yet not a truly all-political all-the-time career; has wins to show for her efforts and a history in serving the voters; has been recognized multiple times for taking on the SOS office in 2007; and last but not least – gender. There’s just no escaping that. To wit, as many may recall, Ohio was ground-zero for the groundswell of support for Hillary Clinton when she did not become the nominee and voters organized to confront perceived wrongs done by the political parties to women candidates. That simply can’t be ignored in a state-wide race when a primary candidate is a woman. You don’t have to like it, support it or do anything else with it – but it’s in there even if no one were to ever mention it. You can also write and say, “MONEY! MONEY! MONEY!” but you know what? That just is not the defining factor, 10 months from the primary date itself. Not in Ohio, not in 2010, not between these two Democratic candidates.
As I wrote in February, we are faced with two formidable candidates. They both need to show what they’re made of because those undecided numbers continue to be extremely high, and will remain high for the foreseeable future.
But I would never count out Jennifer Brunner or expect her to leave the race. And, I don’t expect Lee Fisher to exit either.
As they say, we’ve got us a race, and frankly, it’s a great one.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:36 pm July 8th, 2009 in Democrats, Jennifer Brunner, Ohio, Politics, Poll, Predictions, Primary, Sarah Palin, Ted Strickland, Voting, Women, lee fisher
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10 Responses to “2010 Ohio Senate race: Brunner v. Fisher update”
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I don’t think either candidate will get out, and I hope to NOT see any pressure from the party to push either one to do so. I hope that ODP maintains neutrality in this race; in fact, I will be withholding any contributions or support to the state party until they pledge to do so. Let the voters decide.
As for me, I’ve decided. I was initially neutral but my feelings have shifted, with a decisive factor being Lee’s attempts to co-opt women and present himself as the voice of women, which (as I’ve said before) strikes me as very patronizing. He could tout his support from various genders/types people without putting the focus exclusively on women. It’s very offputting.
His focus on beating the drum for how much money he’s got is a turnoff too. And I have to say that more and more, I’m thinking his quitting as director of development is not a positive, although initially I wsn’t sure what I thought about it. I’d rather see him rolling up his sleeves and helping pull the state out of its economic misery instead of leaving the department to fester in uncertainty and chaos at a critical time. Lots of people continue to do jobs they were elected to while running for something else.
And then there’s Sarah Palin, of course.
But I expect more of a candidate than that.
You write that you hope to not see any pressure – so, is it fair for me to interpret that as saying that, so far, you don’t feel that any pressure has been exerted by the party or “establishment” as Brunner implies in her post?
Interesting what you say about Fisher and the DOD post. Hard to call.
Thanks for reading and commenting. Frankly, I’m really glad they’re making this so interesting – it’s what pushes the boundaries so that we can change “politics as usual” I think.
Jill, I think we’re on the same page. I’ve found it comical reading national writers (and even some local ones) talking about how Brunner will be pressured to leave the race. She was pretty believable the first four times she said she wasn’t leaving. This one is no different. I think at the end of the day, money will have some bearing, but only in determining how Brunner can deliver her message. Fisher will have the money, but the voters already know the message.
I wrote more here… http://www.ohiodailyblog.com/content/troublemaker-brunner-not-following-orders
Thanks, Anthony – I thought that was a great post and I agree w/what you wrote here.
Everyone loves an underdog, or so they say. I bet if the 51% undecideds read her post, most would gravitate in her direction.
Rich – I bet her campaign is trying to figure out exactly how to do that. As Fisher’s tries to counter. Guess it’s why we refer to this as a game.
As an Oregonian I know squat about Fisher, but I have watched Brunner with great interest. She’s smart, capable, and tough. She was pushed real hard in the Pres election and gave not an inch and constructed a usable and seemingly fair system out of chaos. That’s a lot.
I’ll look to you, Jill, to keep me up on this.
Thanks for still reading and commenting, Chuck. Do you ever go to the Oregon State Fair btw? I know people who are there right now.
I’m trying to get people to articulate exactly why they are for one or the other of the Dem primary candidates. It’s fascinating. This is going to be a very close race.
When Lee Fisher was attorney general, he alienated many, many party insiders across the state. These are people you might not like, but they’re also the ones who raise a lot of money, and get their people to come stuff the envelopes, make the calls, knock on the doors, distribute the signs, etc.
Fisher worked these people over pretty good, and as a result, arguably, he lost his re-election to Betty M, and honestly while I did not follow his activity thereafter, I kind of had it in my mind that he was done after that, so I was surprised to see him re-surface on the Strickland’s ticket.
I guess many have short memories – except if I were to wager, I’d bet that the folks Lee alienated before have forgotten nothing, and if they are told by the party to support Fisher, they’ll go through the motions, but neither their hearts nor money will be in it, so Fisher could likely lose.
Jill, as usual this is a great post. I admit with it being focused on the 2010 Senatorial race, I am even more attracted. First, let me be up-front. I signed up to Jennifer’s campaign as soon as I heard she was running. I would have immediately signed up on the campaign for her re-election to the SOS position. I placed my bets and my trust the first time I heard Jennifer Brunner speak, when she was fresh on her campaign for the SOS seat in 2006. It may be from her judicial experience, but what appeals to me about Jennifer Brunner is she looks at all sides of the issue before she comes out with her conclusion or stand on the issue. I believe Jennifer’s solid conclusions are based on what is better for the majority, rather than catering to any powerful interest group or even the party organization. Yes, Brunner is a Democrat, but I don’t see Brunner blindly following party dictates. I believe that is her appeal and if the voters in Ohio become aware of this, she will be Ohio’s Senator. Brunner will represent Ohio and not a political party or special interest groups. I like and respect Lee Fisher. He’s a “good guy”. He has views I agree with. But Lee Fisher appears attached to the Democratic Party. Whether the Ohio Democratic Party comes out to endorse him or not, he and they are attached. You know it, I know it, and Ohioans know it. Americans and Ohioans, including myself, are turned off by the lack of backbone in our elected officials. I fear our politicians have truly forgotten that they are making decisions that affect real people, you and I and others less fortunate than us. We are bailing out companies who are profiting from our sweat equity. We are paying for a war that we should never have gotten into because too few of our elected officials questioned the motives. We will ultimately NOT receive universal health care because the health insurance and pharmaceutical companies own our elected officials. We are the ones bleeding from our government officials blind and party oriented rulings. America needs independent thinkers in Washington, those who can make decisions based on what is best for the real people in our state and in our country. We need elected officials who are not afraid to express their doubts and who can intelligently influence the votes of their peers to do what is best for the citizens. I see Jennifer Brunner being that kind of representative. I want to help her get elected and pray, with more innovative thinkers in our legislature, we can once again be a government of the people.