Senate Bill 5 repeal sets table for Democrats and President Barack Obama in 2012: Analysis

[jefferson_dem]

Senate Bill 5 repeal sets table for Democrats and President Barack Obama in 2012: Analysis
Published: Tuesday, November 08, 2011, 10:12 PM Updated: Tuesday, November 08, 2011, 10:43 PM

By Henry J. Gomez, The Plain Dealer


President Barack Obama visits Columbus in September to tout his American Jobs Act. Tuesday's repeal of Senate Bill 5, a Republican-backed overhaul of labor rules for public employees, is likely to energize Democrats and Obama as he seeks re-election in 2012.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Even in an off year, Ohio couldn't escape the burning spotlight from national media hungry for a juicy election story.

And Tuesday's repeal of Senate Bill 5 was merely an appetizer.

By resoundingly rejecting the Republican-backed push to rewrite labor rules for public employees, Buckeye State voters helped set the table for the 2012 presidential election.

Without question the results will be viewed as a momentum-builder for Democrats nationwide and should encourage President Barack Obama. He carried Ohio by four points in his 2008 Electoral College landslide, but the GOP won control of every state office and the legislature last fall.

Understandably, before Tuesday, Obama likely saw easier paths to victory in other swing states he won three years ago -- notably Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada and New Mexico.

Now, despite his low approval ratings, Obama can compete for Ohio's 18 electoral votes by taking advantage of a grass-roots organization that has had months to gel. As appealing as the other states might appear on paper, none offers the head start Democrats have here.

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http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/11/senate_bill_5_repeal_sets_tabl.html

[msongs]

1. so Ohio unions did all the work and obama wants to coast in? he better lead not follow nt

[jefferson_dem]

2. Another attempt at wet-blanketry, eh?

Take a deep breath... Lighten up. Smile. :). It'll be ok.

Besides, your unbridled hatred of the President has blinded you to reality.

The election in Ohio provided an opportunity for the president’s network of supporters, Obama for America, to test its organizational ability and revive its enthusiasm after a bleak year for Democratic activists. Volunteers for the president’s re-election campaign fanned out across the state for weeks, urging voters to stand against the new law limiting collective bargaining.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/us/politics/ohio-turns-back-a-law-limiting-unions-rights.html

Former Ohio Gov Ted Strickland just told me, "I think this is a good night for Barack Obama" http://twitter.com/#!/jamiedupree

[Historic NY]

4. [phone]

Obama put boots and money on the ground.

[Xipe Totec]

5. Ad hominem? Tsk, tsk

I think he has a point; we need to see more leadership from our leader.

[jefferson_dem]

6. No ad hominem.

I merely tried to set the poster straight with some actual facts ... and tossed in a few friendly words of encouragement to join us in celebrating tonight's great victory.

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. And "we need to see more" evidence that you have any idea WTF you're talking about.

You don't think OFA put huge resources into the state? What else was Obama supposed to do? Red meat speeches? :shrug:

[Xipe Totec]

8. Red meat speeches. Precisely that

And thanks for keeping the discourse civil :sarcasm:

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. You thought the post you were defending was "civil"?

:rofl:

[JoePhilly]

14. +1

[OhioBlue]

3. Ohio Unions did a lot of work but not all the work

OFA knocked on doors and made calls to a lot of voters. This was solidarity. Dems, Unions, OFA vols, etc. all worked to defeat his crap bill. I think a lot of firefighters and police officers will remember who had their back.

[Itchinjim]

10. 10....

[MjolnirTime]

11. Bottom line, it is a win for Obama and all of us. Join the Party!

[AtomicKitten]

12. Tonight's results are very encouraging.

[CakeGrrl]

13. Rec!

[great white snark]

15. Good day for Obama! Great day for Democrats! A giant shit sandwich for some DUers?!

This should be a win for us all.