Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is expected to move forward with huge television ad outlay in Ohio, according to Medium Buying, just as the Trump campaign canceled its ads for the next week.
Trump is also canceling ads in Iowa.
Ohio Almost Wrongly Purged 40K Voters from Rolls
New York Times: “Around 40,000 people, nearly one in five names on the list, shouldn’t have been on it, the state determined. And it only found out before anyone was actually turned away at a polling place largely because of volunteer sleuthing. Few people had expected a problem at that scale. But the process gave hope to people working on voting rights, who for years had pushed the state to be more transparent in how it was maintaining its voter rolls.”
Ohio Returns to Swing State Status
A new Public Policy Polling survey shows that Ohio is set to return to its traditional status as a battleground state in 2020.
After winning the state by 8 points in 2016, President Trump now trails a generic Democratic 47% to 48% and holds an underwater 47% to 51% favorable rating. Given that state’s swing from 2012 to 2016, it is especially notable that Trump trails a generic Democrat 37% to 51% with independent voters.
Ohioans Could Vote to Bypass Electoral College
“Ohioans could vote this fall on a measure to award the presidency to the candidate who wins the national popular vote — regardless of which candidate wins the Buckeye State,” the Columbus Dispatch reports.
“The proposed constitutional amendment would bypass the electoral college by authorizing Ohio’s membership in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.”
Ohio Voters Disapprove of Trump By Large Margin
A new Baldwin Wallace University poll finds just 39% of Ohio adults approve of President Trump’s job performance, with almost three times more saying that they they “strongly disapprove” of Trump’s handling of the presidency than those who said they “strongly approve.”
Ohio is not currently considered in play on the interactive Electoral Vote Map.
DeWine Will Sign ‘Heartbeat Bill’
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said he will sign the controversial “Heartbeat Bill” when it comes across his desk, WTVG reports.
“That same bill, which makes abortion after six weeks illegal, was vetoed by former Gov. John Kasich (R).”
Ohio Lawmakers Agree on New Redistricting Plan
“Republicans, Democrats and a coalition of redistricting-reform advocates reached a deal to put a proposal on the May ballot aimed at curtailing partisan gerrymandering of Ohio’s congressional map,” the Columbus Dispatch reports.
“The current redistricting process requires no minority-party support and has almost no rules, other than requirements regarding district population and prohibiting conflict with the federal Voting Rights Act. The new proposal would initially require 50 percent of the minority party in each chamber to approve a map for 10 years. It also would limit how often counties can be split into multiple congressional seats, and it would require public hearings and the ability for the public to submit maps.”
Trump Accuser Runs for Office
Rachel Crooks (D), who accused President Trump during the 2016 presidential election of forcibly kissing her, is running for the Ohio state legislature, Cosmopolitan reports.
Said Crooks: “I think my voice should have been heard then, and I’ll still fight for it to be heard now.”
Trump’s Pick Named Chair of Ohio GOP
“John Kasich’s hand-picked chairman of the Ohio GOP will step into an emeritus role, ceding leadership of the party to a Donald Trump-backed challenger, under a deal reached Friday at the state party’s meeting,” the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
“The deal marks a victory for the president-elect over the Ohio governor, former primary rivals who have feuded for months.”
Democrats Hope Trump’s Tax Avoidance Will Help In Ohio
“Hillary Clinton’s supporters in Ohio say new revelations about Donald Trump’s tax avoidance can resuscitate her campaign in this longtime bellwether state, where she is trailing her Republican rival,” Politico reports.
“Ohio is a state in which Democrats have long seen the issue of taxes as a vote driver. In 2012, President Barack Obama’s campaign ran an ad here dinging Mitt Romney for releasing just one year of tax returns — and paying just 14.1 percent of taxes in 2011.”
Clinton Pulls Back In Ohio
CNN reports that Hillary Clinton’s campaign “is pulling back on its Ohio focus. The emphasis will now be on securing the states Obama won in 2012.”
Of course, Obama won Ohio in 2012.
Kasich Sees Trump Victory In Ohio Unlikely
Gov. John Kasich told CNN he doesn’t think Donald Trump can win Ohio.
Said Kasich: “He’s going to win parts of Ohio where people are really hurting and where people of both parties have failed to fix our education system. But I still think it’s difficult if you are dividing to be able to win in Ohio. I think it’s really, really difficult.”
Trump’s Feud with Kasich Backfires In Ohio
BuzzFeed: “Despite months of public tension between the Trump and Kasich camps, the governor’s loyalists in Ohio had been making plans for the state party to unify and coordinate with the Trump campaign, according to two sources with knowledge of the effort. One of the governor’s key strategists had been tapped to coordinate get-out-the-vote efforts with Trump, and other Kasich allies were expected to follow suit.”
“But on Monday, Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort took the unexpected, and unprecedented, step of blasting Kasich to reporters in his own home state, calling him ‘petulant’ and ’embarrassing’ for his refusal to endorse Trump. Since then, ‘all the top political talent in the state has been called to the sidelines,’ said one Republican close to Kasich.”
Dead Heat In Ohio
A new Suffolk University poll in Ohio finds Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump tied in Ohio at 44% each with 11% still undecided.
In a four-way scenario, with Green Party nominee Jill Stein and Libertarian Gary Johnson added into the mix, Clinton edges Trump 43% to 39%, with Johnson getting 5%, Stein 1% and 12% undecided.
Trump and Kasich Deadlocked In Ohio
A new Quinnipiac poll in Ohio finds Donald Trump and John Kasich tied in the GOP presidential race at 38%, followed by Ted Cruz at 16% and Marco Rubio at 3%.
In the Democratic race, Hillary Clinton edges Bernie Sanders 51% to 46%.
A new Monmouth poll finds Kasich leading with 40%, followed by Trump at 35%, Cruz at 15% and Rubio at 5%.
Ohio’s Recovery Not Quite as Kasich Describes
New York Times: “Ohio has indeed gained several hundred thousand jobs since Mr. Kasich took office, and he turned an imposing budget gap into a surplus while also cutting income taxes, all accomplishments that back up his boasts.”
“But a closer review of his record shows the reality is more complicated. Other states recovered from the recession more quickly than Ohio did. He closed the budget shortfall in part by cutting aid to local governments, forcing some of them to raise their own taxes or cut services. And increasing sales taxes helped make the income tax cuts possible.”
Romney Will Campaign with Kasich
“Mitt Romney will campaign with John Kasich Monday at two stops in Ohio,” NBC News reports.
“Romney is not expected to endorse the Ohio governor during the campaign swing, the source said, but it will be the first time Romney has campaigned on behalf of a Republican candidate this cycle.”
For members: The Best Way to Lose a Republican Primary
