Ohio 2012 Congressional Races

[Governor Scott]

The Cleveland Plain Dealer endorses Kaptur over Kucinich. The walls may be closing in on Dennis here. I don't think he's going to survive this one.

I'm skeptical.  How much are newspaper/news site endorsements worth these days?

[TJ in Wisco]

The Cleveland Plain Dealer endorses Kaptur over Kucinich. The walls may be closing in on Dennis here. I don't think he's going to survive this one.

I'm skeptical.  How much are newspaper/news site endorsements worth these days?

In general I don't think they're worth very much but if there's one endorsement you would want in this town it would be the Plain Dealer's, especially in a primary. The other notable issue here is that this district is split between the Toledo and Cleveland metro areas, such that most people assume Kaptur will sweep Toledo, Kucinich will sweep Cleveland, and the areas in between will determine the outcome of the election. Cleveland's paper endorsing the woman from Toledo means a lot. Kucinich did manage to get the endorsement of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, while Kaptur unsurprisingly has the Lucas County endorsement. Though at the Cuyahoga County meeting, a large number of people stormed out in protest and most of the delegates from Lakewood dissented. Kucinich will beat Kaptur in the Cuyahoga part of the district but the issue is by how much. If it's even remotely close, Kaptur will win comfortably. I doubt Kucinich will even win Lakewood, so he'll need to really run up a huge margin in Cleveland/Parma/Brooklyn.

From these types of endorsements, it always seems like Kucinich is a heavy favorite—among everyone who doesn't live in Ohio.

[Senator Napoleon]

Kaptur is an embarrassment.

[Senator MaxQue]

I don't see why people like Kucinich.

He looks like the Democrat version of Trump (i.e. a troll).

[Senator X]

I don't see why people like Kucinich.

He looks like the Democrat version of Trump (i.e. a troll).

I think Kucinich is actually extremely unpopular among most Democrats (including liberals) and especially among Ohio Democrats. 

[Stranger in a strange land]

I don't see why people like Kucinich.

He looks like the Democrat version of Trump (i.e. a troll).

I think Kucinich is actually extremely unpopular among most Democrats (including liberals) and especially among Ohio Democrats. 

Basically only very liberal high school and college-age Democrats like Kucinich. Others generally see him as a troll.

[Badger]

I don't see why people like Kucinich.

He looks like the Democrat version of Trump (i.e. a troll).

I think Kucinich is actually extremely unpopular among most Democrats (including liberals) and especially among Ohio Democrats. 

(Raises hand)

[TJ in Wisco]

Updated:

OH-1:
-Steve Chabot (R)
-Jeff Sinnard (D)
-Malcom Kantzler (D)

OH-2:
-Jean Schmidt(R)
-Brad Wenstrup (R)
-Frederick Kundrata (R)
-Tony Bruch (R)
-Joe Green (R)
-David Krikorian (D)
-William Smith (D)

OH-3:
-Mary Jo Kilroy (D)
-Ted Celeste( D)
-Priscilla Tyson(D)
-Joyce Beatty (D)
-Chris Long (R)
-John Adams (R)

OH-4:
-Jim Jordan(R)
-Jim Sloan (D)

OH-5:
-Bob Latta (R)
-Robert Wallis (R)
-Angela Kay Zimmerman(D)

OH-6:
-Bill Johnson (R)
-Victor Smith (R)
-Charlie Wilson (D)
-Cas Adulewicz (D)

OH-7:
-Bob Gibbs (R)
-Hombre Liggett (R)
-Joyce Abrams-Healy (D)

OH-8:
-John Boehner (R)
-John Lewis(R)

OH-9:
-Marcy Kaptur (D)
-Dennis Kucinich (D)
-Graham Veysey(D)
-Samuel Wurzelbacher(R)
-Steven Kraus(R)

OH-10:
-Mike Turner (R)
-John D. Anderson (R)
-Ed Breen (R)
-Olivia Freeman(D)
-David Esrati(D)
-Thomas McMasters(D)
-Sharen Swartz Neuhardt(D)
-L. Mack Van Allen(D)
-Ryan Steele (D)

OH-11:
-Marcia Fudge (D)
-Gerald Carver Henley (D)
-Isaac Powell (D)

OH-12:
-Pat Tiberi (R)
-William Yarbrough(R)
-James Reese(D)
-Doug Litt(D)

OH-13:
-Tim Ryan (D)
-Marisha Agana(R)

OH-14:
-Steve LaTourette (R)
-Dale Virgil Blanchard (D)

OH-15:
-Steve Stivers (R)
-Charles Chope (R)
-Scott Wharton (D)
-Pat Lang (D)

OH-16:
-Jim Renacci (R)
-Betty Sutton (D)

[TJ in Wisco]

I doubt it matters much, but Kaptur was endorsed by Bob Dole (and a few actors).

[Governor Scott]

I don't see why people like Kucinich.

He looks like the Democrat version of Trump (i.e. a troll).

I think Kucinich is actually extremely unpopular among most Democrats (including liberals) and especially among Ohio Democrats. 

I don't understand why Democrats are so obsessed with compromising on their values that they need to vote out Kucinich.

[asexual trans victimologist]

I don't see why people like Kucinich.

He looks like the Democrat version of Trump (i.e. a troll).

I think Kucinich is actually extremely unpopular among most Democrats (including liberals) and especially among Ohio Democrats. 

I don't understand why Democrats are so obsessed with compromising on their values that they need to vote out Kucinich.

Normally I'd agree but in this case he's through no fault of any Democrat's found himself running in a primary against somebody who's probably more representative of the values of Ohio Democrats than he is and who also seems to be more able to work well with others.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Kucinch should attack Kaptur for accepting an endorsement from Bob Dole.

[asexual trans victimologist]

I don't think anybody actually minds Bob Dole very much, though.

[Senator X]

I don't see why people like Kucinich.

He looks like the Democrat version of Trump (i.e. a troll).

I think Kucinich is actually extremely unpopular among most Democrats (including liberals) and especially among Ohio Democrats. 

I don't understand why Democrats are so obsessed with compromising on their values that they need to vote out Kucinich.

Kucinich doesn't represent Democratic values, he represents Dennis Kucinich and that's about it, also he has the Alan Grayson problem (he's an attention-craving demagogue who tea-partiers can use for false equivalency whenever someone calls out Bachmann, King, Broun, etc on their extremism).  Plus, in all honesty, Kaptur can do far more for the district (even if one removes Norm Dicks retirement from the equation) than Kucinich ever will be able to (ideology isn't the only thing that matters). 

[Governor Scott]

But Kaptur is just another member of the establishment, it seems.  Kucinich is much better at representing the Progressive movement as a whole and, unlike Kaptur, is willing to stand against his own party leadership when those values are compromised.  As for working with the other side, he's done plenty of work with Ron Paul.  But if the Democrats want their party to have any legitimacy at all, it needs to nominate less Marcy Kapturs' and more Dennis Kucinichs' and Alan Graysons'.  The Republicans nominate theirs all the time.

Hell, if Kaptur wins the primary, I'll just support the Green Party candidate.  Kucinich can carry out the rest of his work in WA.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

I'm conflicted on this race because Kaptur voted against the DREAM Act, which is completely unacceptable to me and shows a lack of moral character. Dennis has consistently displayed this trait through his egomania but at least he votes the right way. Kucinich is a useless troll but on national issues, he's far superior to Kaptur.

[Governor Scott]

Kaptur in a nutshell.

[TJ in Wisco]

I think Kucinich will lose and this article shows why. Kaptur is seen as more powerful in DC and Kucinich is seen as having lost any connection to Cleveland. He even refused to rule out running in Washington State if he loses the primary. That ought to be a softball question right there. Look at the comments on the bottom for an idea of the local sentiment. I don't see how Kucinich can win this. I just don't.

Also, this is NE Ohio. No one cares about illegal immigration.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

I think Kucinich will lose and this article shows why. Kaptur is seen as more powerful in DC and Kucinich is seen as having lost any connection to Cleveland. He even refused to rule out running in Washington State if he loses the primary. That ought to be a softball question right there. Look at the comments on the bottom for an idea of the local sentiment. I don't see how Kucinich can win this. I just don't.

Also, this is NE Ohio. No one cares about illegal immigration.

From what I've read, there is far more enthusiasm for Kucinich (tons of yard signs for Kucinich in Cleveland). Most of the negative feedback towards Kucinich is coming from Republicans and conservative-leaning independents (I scrolled through news stories and found this out). Democrats/progressives tended to side with Kucinich. Kaptur's ads strike me as general election ads and they parrot Republican talking points plus blatantly lie to the voters. She's received lots of flak because of them.

All the more reason for Kaptur to have the moral conscience to vote for the DREAM Act...

[redcommander]

If Kucinich loses to Kaptur, can he still run for one of Washington's open congressional seats?

[Governor Scott]

If Kucinich loses to Kaptur, can he still run for one of Washington's open congressional seats?

He will.

[Senator X]

If Kucinich loses to Kaptur, can he still run for one of Washington's open congressional seats?

He will.

And fortunately he will get destroyed should he attempt to run in Washington. 

[Senator X]

But Kaptur is just another member of the establishment, it seems.  Kucinich is much better at representing the Progressive movement as a whole and, unlike Kaptur, is willing to stand against his own party leadership when those values are compromised.  As for working with the other side, he's done plenty of work with Ron Paul.  But if the Democrats want their party to have any legitimacy at all, it needs to nominate less Marcy Kapturs' and more Dennis Kucinichs' and Alan Graysons'.  The Republicans nominate theirs all the time.

Hell, if Kaptur wins the primary, I'll just support the Green Party candidate.  Kucinich can carry out the rest of his work in WA.

Except that he doesn't represent the progressive movement well, if anything he hurts and discredits it.  The progressive/liberal-wing of the democratic party is/has been best represented by people like Russ Feingold, Sherrod Brown, Tom Perriello, Paul Wellstone, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, etc.  People like Kucinich and Alan Grayson are self-promoting demagogues who increase polarization, demonize anyone who disagrees with them (rather than acknowledging that good people sometimes disagree on political issues), and alienate voters.  If the Democratic party ever becomes a party of Alan Grayson-types than I would want no part in it.  Additionally, saying "I'm going to be so ideologically puritanical that the candidates I support will never be in a position to actually do anything" is taking the easy way out.  It's like saying "society is so beneath my moral standards that I am not going to participate in it in a meaningful way."  Although this allows one to feel superior, it doesn't fix anything, in fact all it really does is ensure that there will be one less person trying to change society or policy for the better.   

[Seattle]

If Kucinich loses to Kaptur, can he still run for one of Washington's open congressional seats?

He will.

uhhm, no thank you.

[Governor Scott]

But Kaptur is just another member of the establishment, it seems.  Kucinich is much better at representing the Progressive movement as a whole and, unlike Kaptur, is willing to stand against his own party leadership when those values are compromised.  As for working with the other side, he's done plenty of work with Ron Paul.  But if the Democrats want their party to have any legitimacy at all, it needs to nominate less Marcy Kapturs' and more Dennis Kucinichs' and Alan Graysons'.  The Republicans nominate theirs all the time.

Hell, if Kaptur wins the primary, I'll just support the Green Party candidate.  Kucinich can carry out the rest of his work in WA.

Except that he doesn't represent the progressive movement well, if anything he hurts and discredits it.  The progressive/liberal-wing of the democratic party is/has been best represented by people like Russ Feingold, Sherrod Brown, Tom Perriello, Paul Wellstone, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, etc.  People like Kucinich and Alan Grayson are self-promoting demagogues who increase polarization, demonize anyone who disagrees with them (rather than acknowledging that good people sometimes disagree on political issues), and alienate voters.  If the Democratic party ever becomes a party of Alan Grayson-types than I would want no part in it.  Additionally, saying "I'm going to be so ideologically puritanical that the candidates I support will never be in a position to actually do anything" is taking the easy way out.  It's like saying "society is so beneath my moral standards that I am not going to participate in it in a meaningful way."  Although this allows one to feel superior, it doesn't fix anything, in fact all it really does is ensure that there will be one less person trying to change society or policy for the better.   

Kucinich and Grayson only add to that group.  Increasing polarization?  Demonizing their opponents?  Have you seen the Republican primaries this year?  If the party does change in the way that they both want it to, that will only be for the better.  The modern Progressive movement, as far as I've seen, has become nothing but another pro-establishment movement.  That's what weakens the base.  If we lose the spine of the progressive wing, the Democratic Party as a whole will only look weaker.  We already lost one of those heroes in the last midterm.