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Friday, November 25, 2005

OH-02: Primary Challengers for Schmidt?

Posted by DavidNYC

Man. You win a much tougher-than-expected special election in a heavily Republican district and you figure, finally, I've got it made. I'm sure that was exactly the sigh of relief that Jean Schmidt breathed when she narrowly defeat Paul Hackett in August. Her seat should be safe for as long as she likes, right?

Not so fast. It's not just Democrats who are piling on Schmidt for her odious slander of Rep. John Murtha. Republicans are getting in the act, too - and some are not content to let her keep that OH-02 seat all to herself.

But one of Schmidt's fellow Republicans, state Rep. Tom Brinkman, suggested she was out of line.

"I think there is a certain decorum that people are supposed to use on the House floor, just like we do in Columbus," said Brinkman, who lost the Republican primary to Schmidt in June and is considering a rematch against her next year. (Emphasis added.)

According to Josh Marshall, a second potential challenger has been mooting a primary run as well. I think there's every chance in the world that Schmidt will lose.

But you know, I rather like having Mean Jean around. As the publisher of The Hill noted:

"We have said innumerable times that she would go to Washington and open her mouth and create an embarrassment," said Jim Schifrin, the newsletter's publisher. "She will say things that turn people off like nothing you've ever seen."

Anyone who gets Harold Ford, Jr.'s blood up is actually good for our side. No matter how burned she feels right now, and no matter how cautious Schmidt thinks she'll be in the future, I doubt she's capable of changing. I mean, she had the bad sense (or compulsion) to slander the very senior Rep. Murtha, a Marine, in barely her third month in office. I think she's gonna be the gift that keeps on giving.

Posted at 04:21 PM in 2006 Elections - House, Ohio | Technorati

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Comments

Brinkman and Bob McEwen are the main Republican candidates. My big fear is that they both run and split the opposition vote. My money is on McEwen. Brinkman damaged himself by sponsoring stay home against against Schmidt in the special election.

On the Democrat front Victoria Wulsin has the best chance of those who've already run. David Pepper, who just lost out in a very close Cincinnati mayor's race is a name I'm hearing alot. He would make a good candidate and could draw a lot of Republican votes.

Posted by: Ohio 2nd at November 25, 2005 05:08 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I recall hearing that Pepper may be in the 1st district.

But Schmidt winning with under 40% wouldn't be horrible. For one thing, she would be a wounded candidate. Although I'll have to know the fundraising numbers to know which side to take here. The weaker candidate there is, the better. And McEwen has some skeletons too.

Posted by: RBH at November 25, 2005 07:14 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

There can be no doubt that Schmidt is going to be challenged in the primary. For every supporter she has, there are at least two Republicans that can't stand her.

This latest flap literally killed her chances next May. Channel 9 ran a poll that says 81% of the people in the district now have a lower opinion of her than before. Something like 250 people had a better opinion, while 3100 or so thought less of her.

These are the spiraling numbers of a politician who can't get campaign contributions either in DC or in Cincinnati. She is doomed.

Worse still, she is just as guilty as Bob Taft of ethics violations. Her crime is virtually the same thing he plead guilty to: failure to report a gift from a lobbyist.

Chances are, she WILL be indicted come next spring, either before or after the primary.

She is going to be the PERFECT campaign poster for us in November. Here's hoping McEwen and Brinkman both run and knock each other off. If that happens, she will help us sweep the GOP out of power in Ohio, and that's just the beginning...

Posted by: Equivocator at November 25, 2005 11:41 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

If Schmidt somehow survives the primary (say, she gets challenged by 8 Republicans and wins with 25% of the vote), then we might have a chance next November. If a sane Republican gets in, forget it. Plus, everytime she gets in front of a microphone is another self-inflicted kamikaze attack on the national Republican Party.

Posted by: HellofaSandwich at November 26, 2005 12:02 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

One scenario would have Democrats running negative ads throughout the Republican primaries. Against everyone. Just keep piling on negative ads against all the Republicans.

Posted by: chuckles at November 26, 2005 07:44 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

KGO Radio reported that she's been a crack user. Is that really possible? She seems like the most uptight, self-righteous Stepford creature I've ever seen so I can't imagine her ever trying crack, let alone getting addicted to it. Does anyone in the 2nd know anything about this-- or was it just hyperbole? I've been referring to her as a "crack whore" on my own blog and I noticed someone else also called her a "crack ho." I don't know... "Mean Jean" just seems so predestrian these days. Some did come up with "Piece of Schmidt" though.

By the way, what role did Blackwell (and his Diebold buds) have in counting the votes in the special election? Is there even a remote chance that Ohio ballots will be counted fairly next time with Blackwell himself running for governor?

Posted by: DownWithTyranny at November 26, 2005 11:33 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

This may sound stupid, but why doesn't Hackett run for the 2nd in 06? Since he has already plowed the ground so to speak with the special in 05, it would be a natural for him.

Especially since she slandered a fellow Marine, a decorated combat veteran Marine, on the floor of the house. This would make more sense than taking on Sherrod in a state wide primary in May 06, which is only xxx shopping days away.

Hackett could defeat any of the GOP wannabes, McEwen or the other guy, with fellow Marine and Congressman John Murtha standing by his side and I am sure that he would make time to do it, since he has carried his district by over 70% consistantly.

In politics it is all in taking advantage of opportunity, this is one.

Posted by: Truebeliever at November 26, 2005 06:10 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Hackett running now, after spending months running for the Senate, after talking about how Sherrod Brown was too indecisive in choosing to run, just wouldn't make much sense.

Posted by: RBH at November 26, 2005 06:41 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

First, Schmidt is anything BUT a "Stepford Wife." She's more like a conservative feminist.

As for the "crack user" bit, I seriously doubt it. Her lifestyle simply wouldn't put her in close enough proximity to crack, even as a kid. Crack is a drug for poor people, and that's something she's never really been.

What is actually true are the rumors swirling about a possible indictment on ethics charges stemming from her use of Bengals tickets from a lobbyist. There are three others in addition to her that are under investigation, and it's the exact same thing Taft plead guilty to. It's only a matter of time before this story starts showing up elsewhere.

Finally, as for Hackett, he will NEVER, EVER win in OH-02 unless all the planets are aligned as they were last August: a weak opponent, a special election in the middle of vacation season, and a charged up Democratic base with something to prove.

In a full-blown mid-term election, the redneck Republicans start coming out of the woodwork in this district, and Hackett knows that. A blowout loss would knock the luster off his image right now. He's much better off in the Senate race - if he loses to Brown, he can blame the establishment Democrats, and if he wins, he'll be our next Senator.

Posted by: Equivocator at November 26, 2005 08:41 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I have been sitting on the sidelines in Southern Ohio and watching this circus long enough...

I believe I have the answer to who is going to be the next US Representative from Southern Ohio...

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2005/11/26/9734/1744/107#107

http://www.jimparker4ad.blogspot.com/

May God protect the lives of every American soldier and keep them free from harm. Spread the word my friends... This is the beginning of a new era in American politics. Thank you.

Jim Parker
Democratic Candidate for US Congress
Southern Ohio - 2nd District - 2006

(The Only Person in America who is Currently Running Against Jean Schmidt)

Posted by: JimParker4SouthernOhio at November 26, 2005 08:42 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Hackett is pot committed to the Senate race. It's not going to happen. Surely he isn't the only good candidate in the district.

I do like Victoria Wulsin. I little training and I think that she could be a very good candidate.

Posted by: Ohio 2nd at November 26, 2005 09:50 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

On checking Brinkman's Wikipedia entry.. a Brinkman v. Schmidt race would go as follows

Brinkman: "100% Pro-Life" (opposes legal abortion and the death penalty), disliked by the Ohio GOP establishment, opposes spending

Schmidt: "Pro-Life" (in her point of view), disliked by the Ohio GOP 'grassroots', criticized for her role in some Taft-related dealings.

Tom Brinkman on Wikipedia

Brinkman v. Schmidt would be great entertainment.

Posted by: RBH at November 27, 2005 08:28 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment