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Thursday, October 20, 2005

OH-Gov: Greatest Campaign Poster... Ever

Posted by Tim Tagaris

I just saw this poster created by the campaign of Ohio gubernatorial candidate Mayor Michael Coleman of Columbus. Click on it for a larger version.

Posted at 05:52 PM in Ohio | Technorati

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This poster looks as if it might have been put together by some guy who was pulled over for drunk driving, and then fell over during the field sobriety test, only to have it caught on tape by the dash-mounted camera in the cruiser... Oh wait, it actually was! Apparently this kind of poster is what you get when you cross a drunk driver, the aforementioned Greg Haas, Coleman's political director, who is 6'4" by the way, so God knows how much he must have drank to manage to fall over during his sobriety test, and another campaign staffer who is apparently a loyal follower of the GREAT Rod Parsley. To those of you who are unfamiliar with Parsley, he is the deviant running one of the biggest megachurches in the country, World Harvest, just south of Columbus. Coleman was apparently so impressed with Parsley, he not only called him to seek his counsel prior to announcing for GOV, but also planned to grant him a commendation from the city of Columbus for his efforts to register 400,000 "values voters" in Ohio. But I digress... back to the fact at hand, the "who cares" factor of this poster. Mike Coleman must first win the Dem. Primary correct? Mike Coleman is sagging in the polls, correct? Mike Coleman is considered "undefined" by many Ohioans, Mike Coleman is beind in fundraising, Mike Coleman has problems with his Central Ohio base, Mike Coleman is even cozy with a guy who is trying to register 400,000 people who would like nothing more than to see him go down in flames. Get the picture? Does anyone think there is not a Dem. Primary voter out there who is not at least vaguely familiar with the culture of corruption the Ohio GOP exudes? Wow, I bet they're all sure glad to see Mike Coleman isn't for that, becuase it was really up in the air as to whether or not Democrats had a problem with what has been going on the last 16 years.

Maybe it's not Coleman's fault though. Maybe he truly has no story to tell,no ideas to offer, no base to energize, and no one to give him sound advice. That poster is a stunt, the content of which I am not questioning, the timing of which is laughable.

Posted by: andre2006 at October 20, 2005 10:16 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Where to begin... (I'll skip the gratuitous Haas-bashing cuz it's just silly)

1. Strickland is still tied with Coleman in every major poll -- despite Strickland's non-stop campaigning and Coleman's break to focus on the city budget.

2. Name one new idea Strickland has put forward, go ahead, I dare you -- and, no, a chickenshack for every Ohioan doesn't count.

3. Coleman never courted Parsley or offered to back his partisan movement -- in fact, he blasted it.

4. Coleman has the guts to do what Strickland only talks about during safe speechs to friendly crowds -- take on the corrupt GOP and offer real solutions to end the culture of corruption.

5. Until Strickland does something more than corner the support of the near-dead Ohio Democratic Party, don't pretend he's some heir apparent -- he's just another chapter in a 16 year losing streak.

Posted by: ohiopol at October 20, 2005 10:40 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

p.s., Andre2006, you see kinda angry. You aren't in this poster are ya?

Posted by: ohiopol at October 20, 2005 10:43 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

OhioPol -

1.) Hasn't Coleman been running several months longer than Strickland?

2.) A bipartisan ethics commission for Coingate and future scandals, to name one.

3.) Was that why Coleman was going to give him a proclamation, and why a key staffer was under the impression that Coleman was giving Parsley the key to the city?

4.) ...Through posters!

5.) Until Coleman can string together two successive events without a massive public relations screwup, let's hold off on crowning anyone the savior in Ohio.

Posted by: StraightRippin at October 21, 2005 12:17 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

It's amateur hour and Greg Haas is buying! I'm just wondering what kind oif kool-aid Ohiopol is drinking, because I would absolutely love to get some for the next campaign I work on. Interesting how Ohiopol mentions Strickland as the next chapter in the 16 year drought for Dems. It is funny how he was begged, not just by Dems., but by R's too, and everyone in between to run. Why would they do that? And if you think it didn't happen, go down to Mitchell's Steakhouse, Lindy's, or Tony's and ask around the bar, they'll tell you what happened.

Posted by: andre2006 at October 21, 2005 09:34 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Great poster! It made me laugh. It's very entertaining and eye-catching. As far as the bickering, I think both Strickland and Coleman have some great positives that would make them excellent choices for governor and strong on the campaign trail once they introduce themselves to votes, which they haven't yet, making any polls or discussion of who has name recognition moot. Of all the candidates of both parties, I'm guessing the only one with serious name recognition is Blackwell which is probably why one poll showed him leading when squared off against the Dems. Whether he would keep that lead once people got to know more about Strickland/Coleman/whoever and realized WHY they recognize Blackwell's name and what other negatives he's got is questionable.

Personally, I am looking forward to hearing more from both Coleman and Strickland. I am a little disturbed about the Parsley contretemps — this is a dangerous man who needs to be firmly handled and put in his place. But I'm not willing to set such rigidly high and unattainable standards of perfection (my main beef against progressives) that I have now permanently wiped him from my book without hearing his side or seeing what he's going to do in the future. Even the primary is a long way off.

Posted by: Ansatasia P at October 21, 2005 11:03 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Crikies, Mrs. C blew .271 on a breathalyzer last night.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/12957293.htm

Posted by: Buckeye at October 21, 2005 12:02 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Buckeye-

I'm a Strickland supporer, and I don't think a candidate's wife should be an election issue.

I'm glad that nobody was seriously hurt, and I realized this must be a painful time from the Colemans. I pray that they be blessed with God's grace and healing as they deal with this personal matter.

Posted by: modernesquire at October 21, 2005 04:20 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Ohiopol-

I don't know how many times we have to cover this, nobody is buying that the race is tied. Nobody. Three polls all show Strickland polling higher than Coleman. It's a tight race, but that's because so few people are paying attention to it. When you're ahead, you're not "still tied" with someone.

If you don't think the groundwork that Strickland is laying (and Coleman isn't) isn't important, then you're going to be sorely disappointed during the primary. Strickland isn't just merely going around the state, he's securing endorsements from county parties, unions, and elected officials. That's not just fodder for press releases, that's troops for a good ground game.

What's Coleman done this summer and fall as mayor? You keep talking about his focus on the city budget. Since I'm not in Columbus, tell me, what has Coleman achieved that justifies his complete absence from the campaign trail?

And why won't these be issues during the election? If he can't govern and campaign at the same time now, how is going to be an effective campaigner if he can't campaign?

Posted by: modernesquire at October 21, 2005 04:29 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Maybe I'm just too cynical. I simply don't see how going to the same old Dems who haven't delivered statewide in 16 years is "troops for a good ground game."

Granted, Strickland has out-travelled Coleman on the campaign. No arguments there.

But I stand by the fact that Strickland's numbers aren't moving. Neither Strickland nor Coleman's support in recent polls has moved beyong the baseline name ID numbers from the summer.

Posted by: ohiopol at October 21, 2005 09:21 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Well I have to admit that I had an aversion to the moderate/southern/whatever Strickland is and had an open mind towards Coleman... but what in the hell is going on with his campaign??? His wife gets Blasted..BAC .271, his political director gets hit up with a Dui, and he's layin in bed with the devil preacher??? geez, talk about tankin.... Although I have not seen ANY of these so-called polls showing Strickland up over Coleman...Montgomery released her numbers earlier this week that showed them basically even...where you guys getting your (wishful)polls?

Posted by: OH-09Dem at October 21, 2005 11:09 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

You can't be "basically" even, you either are or are not.

Who said these are the same Dems, Ohiopol? Besides, might I remind you that Coleman has been part of that team that hasn't delivered for the party in the last 16 years. He's ran statewide before and lost. Strickland hasn't.

The polls I've been referring to have been the Montgomery, Coleman, and Columbus Dispatch polls. All have shown Strickland with a slight lead.

Honestly, there isn't going to be any movement in the polls as people just aren't paying attention to the race yet. My point is though with Strickland ahead in fundraising, polls, and endorsements, he is going to have an organization capable of capturing the support throughout the State far more efficiently and effectively than Coleman who apparently has decided to campaign out of Columbus and issue the occasional press release.

Which strategy will work? I don't know, but I'm betting it's Strickland's.

Posted by: modernesquire at October 24, 2005 09:08 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

You presuppose that Coleman isn't campaigning -- and you're wrong. In fact, I've heard he's running the an extremely aggressive ground game, albeit under the radar.

I still see no evidence of ground troops for Strickland. I do see endorsements from the county parties he's represented -- none from county parties where Dem primary voters actually swing the election.

More importantly, Strickland looks more and more like the establishment candidate -- and that's spelled the kiss of death for 16 years.

Yes, Coleman has been on the statewide ticket once, as a Lt. Gov. Candidate with Lee Fisher. That's the closest Dems have come to winning since Celeste. And that's his only statewide run.

Strickland has NEVER run outside a rural/semi-rural district.

My bottom line is that the whole electability, Strickland is ahead stuff is baseless. This race is, indeed, wide open.

Posted by: ohiopol at October 25, 2005 01:33 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

oh yea, and hey modernesquire,
Just because you're a partisan Strickland supporter here doesn't mean that you need to get pugilistic. When I said that Coleman and Strickland were running "basically" even, that was based on the Montgomery numbers which did not have Coleman and Strickland running head to head.... so when Montgomery v. Coleman is within 1 point of Montgomery v. Strickland... that equals "basically" even to me.

Posted by: OH-09Dem at October 25, 2005 01:50 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

You presuppose that Coleman isn't campaigning -- and you're wrong. In fact, I've heard he's running the an extremely aggressive ground game, albeit under the radar.

I still see no evidence of ground troops for Strickland. I do see endorsements from the county parties he's represented -- none from county parties where Dem primary voters actually swing the election.

You haven't seen ground troops for Coleman. You haven't seen ground troops for Strickland. Ergo, Coleman wins? You've "heard", "under the radar"...next up, "hypothetically" and "I could see where"...

so when Montgomery v. Coleman is within 1 point of Montgomery v. Strickland... that equals "basically" even to me.

...But both of them won't be running against Montgomery, or any Republican - they'll be running against each other. Therefore, the important numbers will be head-to-head.

Posted by: StraightRippin at October 25, 2005 03:41 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Nice try, StraighRippin. Coleman does have ground troops out there right now, based on what I've seen and heard. Period.

And I disagree regarding the Montgomery poll. It was done by the Tarrance Group, partner with Lake, et al, for the Battleground States poll. It shows Coleman and Strickland neck-and-neck with every paired head-to-head match -- that makes it a tied, wide open race.

The only other numbers out there are the Dispatch, where they're within the margin of error; the Coleman poll, which was from the summer; and the Strickland poll, which was apparently a push poll against Coleman.

Now, if Strickland wants make mountains out of molehills, be my guest (i.e., calling it a clear lead with a 2 point "lead" in a poll with 4.5% margin of error; never mind the other polls that show him tied or behind Coleman). Just don't expect me to fall for it.

Posted by: ohiopol at October 25, 2005 04:05 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

What Strickland poll?

Either he does or he doesn't. There's no "he might be based on my tea leaves". It doesn't matter either way, but you're going based on your perceptions, not facts.

You can't base a race between A and B based off how A and B would do against C, D and E. It just doesn't make sense.

Posted by: StraightRippin at October 25, 2005 04:34 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment