23rd
Ohio Dems build up energy
© Michelle Bollman
Published Summer 2008, Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS — Ohio Democrats were upbeat Saturday night, looking forward to the Nov. 4 election while raking in more than $370,000 at an annual fundraising party at the State Fairgrounds.
“This is a family reunion, and I’m family,” said the Cincinnati native and Kansas gov. Kathleen Sebelius daughter of former Ohio Gov. John Gilligan, in the keynote speech.
“In my family, public service was an honorable profession and honored profession.”
Sebelius often is mentioned as a possible vice presidential running mate of Barack Obama, the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee for president.
She said Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland “needs a partner” in the White House to turn Ohio around.
“There’s still a missing piece … Barack Obama understands the plight of working families (and) we need jobs back in great states like Ohio.”
During her speech to about 2,250 Ohio Democrats, Sebelius recalled working on her father’s political campaigns ever since she was five years old.
Strickland, who introduced Sebelius, sounded as upbeat as ever at a public event since his election in 2006, calling for an end to the war in Iraq while jabbing John McCain, the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee.
“Aren’t you excited to be a Democrat tonight?” Stickland asked. “Aren’t you really, really angry at George Bush and John McCain?”
“I will work my heart out for Barack Obama,” Strickland said, prompting a standing ovation. “We are going to be so proud, because Ohio, Ohio is going to do it. And we will do it together.”
State Rep. Tyrone K. Yates, D-Evanston/East Walnut Hills, said it feels like a very good year.
“We stand at the crest of Democratic success in November,” he said. “We’re seeing a resurgence in the growth of the party, just as we did when John Gilligan was elected (governor) in 1970.”
Sebelius and Strickland also spoke Saturday night at a Human Rights Campaign dinner across town. HRC is the largest national gay, lesbian and bisexual political organization.
Gay rights issues, such as Ohio’s ban on same-sex marriage in 2004 have been pivotal in recent election years.
Kansas Republicans, meanwhile, blasted Sebelius for making her third trip to Ohio in four months.
“The governor was elected to serve the people of Kansas,” said Christian Morgan, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
