Democrats Should Remember How Obama Won Ohio

[brooklynite]

New York Times

Democrats are arguing over whether the key to winning the presidential contest next year will be moving to the left to energize our base or to the right to persuade those Obama-Trump voters. This is a false choice. What matters is making voters feel heard and respected — not overpromising or compromising on our values.

Democrats like Mr. Obama and Senator Sherrod Brown have been successful in Ohio not because voters agree with them on everything, but because they made voters feel that they were on their side. The key to success in Ohio — and in communities across the Midwest that feel overlooked and left behind — is empathetic leadership that is honest about the struggles we face.

As Democratic presidential candidates gather in Westerville, Ohio, on Tuesday for a primary debate, I hope they will take the time to learn from places like my city. We have a lot to teach Democrats and the country after our recent months of seeing critical national issues play out locally.

I hope that rather than look at Ohio and the entire industrial Midwest as some relic of the past, the candidates will see the immense opportunity for innovation and change in the face of struggle.

Nan Whaley is the mayor of Dayton, Ohio.

[KPN]

1. Sounds like common sense advice. nt

[House of Roberts]

2. I thought Obama won Ohio, at least in 2012,

by Anonymous thwarting Karl Rove's attempt to cheat.

[True Blue American]

3. When President Obama ran the whole area up and down the Ohio River voted

For President Obama. Ohio put him over the top. I am from that area. It had been Republican for over 100 years.

But do not forget Ripley, Ohio was the founding of the Underground Railroad. Slaves were notified when it was safe to cross the river with a light in the window.

We visited there a few years ago.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripley,_Ohio

[Garrett78]

4. There is also the reality of changing demographics to consider.

Our candidate is probably more likely to win North Carolina, Arizona and even Georgia than she/he is to win Ohio.