OH-Gov, Quinnipiac: Kasich in the lead

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I wish we were running a real candidate in this race. Kasich is definitely beatable.

We are. Ed FitzGerald is a high quality candidate and is campaigning much harder than Schauer or Burke have with more direct, and even personal messages. However, I do agree that this race would be a lot closer and much more favorable to Democrats if someone like Cordray, Coleman or Sutton decided to run, but that wasn't the case and when you compare Ed FitzGerald who has the backing of the Ohio Democrats, several labor unions, women, African Americans and Cuyahoga County behind him, I knew from day one of Todd Portune, the moderate Hamilton County Democrat who had trouble campaigning because of his health issues, hogging the media spotlight that FitzGerald would stand a much, much better chance at beating Kasich than Portune. It's a tossup with Fitzy and would have leaned R with Portune.

As for Kasich's State of the State speech, the overview of it is disturbing and FitzGerald should go right after him on his key points. Kasich wants to cut taxes even more so much as to either get the income tax below 5% or potentially abolish it which the legislature would love to do and while cutting taxes still wants to find ways to increase veterans' benefits when we have more pressing issues to deal with in the state first. As for education, Kasich will also cut state aid to any public colleges/universities which don't meet the state's requirements for graduation rates. Kasich also made a hint at a potential 2016 run if he wins re-election noting how the nation is focusing on Ohio as it's "coming back." He's literally taking a play out of Snyder's playbook and if he signs that right-to-work law, they'll be brothers heading for defeat.

I'm sorry, but calling Ed FitzGerarld a grade A candidate who has been working harder than Schauer is objectively false.  Also Michael Coleman would be a spectacularly weak candidate (he *still* hasn't endorsed FitzGerald, plus remember how badly he crashed and burned in 2006).  Sutton isn't too good a candidate either for a statewide race.  Cordray, Ryan, or Strickland could definitely have won (Cordray would be the best candidate).