DeWine: GOP will rebound
By PAUL GIANNAMORE Business editorArticle Photos
STEUBENVILLE - Buyers' remorse is setting in among the nation's electorate regarding President Obama, and that bodes well for the chances for Republicans in the 2010 mid-term elections, according to Kevin DeWine, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party.
DeWine attended Tuesday's Oktoberfest event held by the Jefferson County Republican Party at Froehlich's Classic Corner, Fifth and Washington streets downtown.
In an interview before the event, DeWine said his appearance was part fundraiser and part to keep building on the optimism among Republicans for the elections next year.
"Barack Obama is not on the ballot next year and many of those who supported him now are experiencing a bit of buyers' remorse," DeWine said.
"My job is to get good ideas and candidates and provide state-of-the-art information delivery that gets our message across in the way that voters want to receive it," he said.
DeWine said there are three elements to an election: Good candidates, a solid environment that can bring victory and a well-funded infrastructure.
"Tonight is about the well-funded infrastructure, to be sure we're hitting on all cylinders, and tonight is to make people feel good about what we're doing," he said.
DeWine said in Ohio and nationally, independents who were with the Democrats in the election of 2008 are walking away from what they now see as a radical agenda. That situation will come into play in Ohio, DeWine said, and will be accelerated by the failures of the administration of Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland to provide leadership for the budget and the economy.
"The competence and leadership of state government right now is pathetic," he said. DeWine cited Strickland leaving the top post at the Ohio Department of Development vacant for eight months during a down economy when a leader is needed.
"There is a leadership vacuum in the governor's office," he said. "We see that in a state that has lost 330,000 jobs." DeWine said he couldn't think of an issue that would work in Strickland's favor.
"I don't know what he has to run on," he said.
There are Republican challengers emerging to seek a bid for nomination to run against U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-St. Clairsville, next year. At least two of them, Donald K. Allen of Youngstown and Dick Stobbs of Dillonvale were in attendance Tuesday evening.
Asked if there is an opportunity to ride a Republican tide into taking the seat for the GOP, DeWine said, "The 6th will always be a challenge for us. There is a handful of candidates for us already trying to prove their mettle. We'll give it our best shot. There are other seats in the state that are providing a tremendous opportunity, and we will look at those as well."
DeWine said decisions on how much assistance the national and state party would provide in any district refers back to his statement about a solid environment that can assure victory.
"In politics, as in anything, you have to have the opportunity for a return on your investment. Whether or not to invest depends on the value of the work that the candidates do," he said. "You have to decide if they have put themselves in a place to win."
(Giannamore can be contacted at pgiannamore@heraldstaronline.com.)
