Will Ohio Urban Voter Apathy Propel John Kasich Toward Bigger Things?

[votesparks]

While Democrats were celebrating victory over several friends of John Kasich this week, one number they failed to mention in any of their celebration press releases was the very poor turnout for urban elections across the state. Reports from Toledo estimate the official turnout at around 20 percent, while in Dayton, the number of voters dropped from 29,750 in the last mayoral election, to just 16,120 in this week's election.

Will low voter turnout in cities like Dayton, Cincinnati and Toledo, coupled with the new "compassionate conservative" theme that John Kasich has rolled out with his decision to expand Medicaid in the state, lead to bigger political ambitions for Kasich?

[daybranch]

1. you confuse defeat with victory

Dayton mayor election was won handily by my friend Nan Whaley, the candidate endorsed by the democratic party. It was never much in doubt after her performance in the primary. Many correctly assumed her success and lack of a good republican competitor held down the numbers. It hardly portends defeat in 2014 when elections are across Congressional districts .
The major obstacle to democrats taking back the seats held by Ohio teaparty representatives to Congress is the Gerrymandering which many of us are fighting now.
Kasich h as fought ObamaCare earlier and refused to set up a state exchange. This will not be forgotten. so expanding medicaid at this juncture only reminds us of the damage already done in terms of people's health. Now he and the republicans want to use State money to fix our unsafe bridgres but we again are reminded how Kasich and other republicans fought the idea of Obama fixing infrastructure asa way to create jobs and many many more are incensed still at his refusal to support high speed rail. we know kasich and his Teaparty and Corporatist allies well here in Ohio. Actually he is so well known due to his SB 5 assault on the working man that he has no prayer unless his cousin rigs the machines. When it comes to Kasich , he rallies his opponents far better than Obama rallied his own supporters.
Me thinks a bridge too far for Kasich and an unsupportable conclusion for the writer.

[votesparks]

2. So horrendous turnout

Last edited Thu Nov 7, 2013, 12:27 PM - Edit history (1)

numbers aren't a concern? And Whaley was running against another Democrat. The primary numbers were also horribly low.

Being a long time resident of Dayton, and the Dayton area, Whaley inspires within' the monied sections of the party, but there is no cry from the public in support of Nan Whaley, or any other local politician for that matter. Daytonians said Tuesday, as they have before, that they are largely done with the act of voting. Democrats are going to have to get much more populist candidates to inspire the urban voting block.

Remember, Kasich got elected because Dayton didn't really care who won, and stayed home.

The citizens are fleeing from this form of corporate, monied democracy (Whaley won with huge bucks from all over, and was the corporatist Dem). Both candidates were actually.