October Energy
Submitted by staff on Wed, 05/17/2006 - 9:41pm.
Tonight I dropped by an event in Columbus put together by the Central Ohio Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations and they did a terrific job.
The most striking thing about the event was the energy level in the room. We are talking about a mid week event on a rainy evening in May just after a primary election and it felt like early October. Not only were the activists and attendees fired up but the speakers brought the A game and a lot of entertainment too.
I have audio and pics of the event I'll post up tomorrow, so I don't want to delve too much into the candidates tonight.
The guest speaker was John Glenn - he always makes you feel proud to be an Ohioan. Chris Refern, Marc Dann, Jennifer Brunner, Frances Strickland, Connie Shultz, Bob Shamansky, and Stephanie Studebaker were all there.
Stephanie was the only one who didn't get to speak - not being a candidate running in Central Ohio. I did get a chance to talk to her briefly as folks were arriving though. I don't know what it is about her but she always makes you feel happy. It's like sunshine follows her around. She was very excited to have won her primary and ready to take it to Mike Turner.
The folks who did speak were great - and entertaining and the packed room responded with applause and laughter and some good old whooping too.
Bottom line I thought it was one of the more enjoyable political events I have been to in a long time and I think you will all really enjoy the audio - Especially Brunner and Frances Strickland doing an acoustic duet !
Pic of the crowd gathering before the event
Lots of Central Ohio grass roots groups in attendance signing people up for the coming campaign too
That you sensed October
Submitted by redhorse on Thu, 05/18/2006 - 8:59am.
like energy in May is nothing but good news.
Marc Dann was excellent --
Submitted by Lucie on Thu, 05/18/2006 - 9:52am.
and I agree that his appeal to Chandra supporters was sincere, and effective. I am convinced that he will be the courageous, strong AG we need. He spoke positively of the campaigns he and Subodh ran -- and they were good campaigns, with the winner strengthened and tempered by the ecperience. I think Sen. Dann really heard what Subodh Chandra said, and is campaigning in the spirit of a shared vision.
There was real energy and commitment in the room, and I find it everywhere these days. One good thing about last night's meeting was that it struck the right note with a progressive, activist audience. It made us proud to have candidates worthy of our support, and gave everyone in the room, candidate or volunteer, a sense of unity and purpose that goes beyond talking points.
Sen. Glenn spoke about the Democratic party's accomplishments in his lifetime -- there's a lot to be proud of (and I would like us to keep it, if we can stop this administration from dismantling it), but I certainly didn't have a sense of anyone looking backward.
I was impressed by Jennifer Brunner's detailed thoughts about how to make elections better. She wants split shifts for poll workers, and better training for them. She is passionate about every citizen's right to vote. If the legislature mandates photo ID's (which she opposes), she wants to make sure people can get them easily. She's already thinking about ways to work with county boards of election more effectively. Seeing a candidate who is prepared to do the job properly, and who cares deeply about it, further emphasizes the woeful failure of Ken Blackwell, the nightmare quality of the Republican administration that Chandra spoke of so eloquently.
I agree with 'horse
Submitted by Decker on Thu, 05/18/2006 - 10:17am.
Sorry I couldn't be there. Glad to hear your impressions and the good news about Dann.
I wasn't expecting a musical number
Not likely to get anything else written tonight, but I uploaded Frances Strickland's talk/musical number with special guest Secretary of State candidate Jennifer Brunner. Audio here.