The Book Closes On Defeating Mean Jean Schmidt In 2010-- Ohio Is A Festering Mess

OH-02 voters saved from this hideous choice- Book & Schmidt

Ohio state Rep. Todd Book, an unattractive candidate of the reactionary Strickland-Redfern machine, would have been the least inspiring candidate Democrats could have possibly put up against Mean Jean Schmidt. It almost seems like Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is determined to deliver Ohio back into the hands of the GOP. After some investigation, the area's Tri-State Building and Construction Trades Council withdrew its endorsement of Book last week. Book, who had raised almost no money in the race, withdrew entirely from it.

This leaves, by default, David Krikorian, an independent "spoiler" from the 2008 race, as the Democratic candidate. Independent candidate Surya Yalamanchili, who was on Donald Trump's reality TV show The Apprentice, is also running.

There's probably a better chance that Democrats will lose Boccieri's seat-- after the confused conservative-leaning freshman voted against healthcare reform and for the anti-choice Stupak Amendment-- than there is that they will pick up Mean Jean's much-targeted seat.

Matt Patten (D-OH) Resists The Dark Side-- Todd Book, On The Other Hand...

Last week we introduced you to Ohio's Sarah Palin. The unsavory character is Jennifer Garrison, an-anti-choice, homophobic, anti-union reactionary who is running for Secretary of State with the support-- tragically-- of the Columbus Democratic Establishment. And not only are Gov. Ted Strickland and odious Democratic Party boss Chris Redfern, pushing this extremely right wing and ambitious political time-bomb, they helped pressure 35 state legislators into endorsing her yesterday. One is Scioto County Rep. Todd Book, who probably doesn't realize how many progressives, grassroots and netroots Democrats he discouraged from supporting him in a race for the Democratic nomination to run against Mean Jean Schmidt next year. Who wants another Zack Space in Congress?

But if that's the bad news, there is one bright side. Blue America doesn't usually get too involved with local legislative races but last year we ran across one candidate, Matt Patten, who was so outstanding that we endorsed and supported him. He won and he's been a great freshman state Rep. So it should surprise no one that Matt resisted the pressure to endorse this anti-progressive monstrosity. We all owe Matt for standing up and representin'!

It's shameful that the Ohio Democratic Establishment would stoop so low as to embrace the embarrassing candidacy of someone who stands for everything the Democratic Party has been fighting against since FDR was elected. It's hard to figure out how people like Jennifer Garrison even call themselves Democrats. Racists and bigots left the Democratic Party and joined the GOP with Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms and Phil Gramm. What is Garrison waiting for?