OH-Gov: More evidence Kasich isn't running; Coughlin announces
Submitted by modernesquire on Tue, 01/13/2009 - 5:03pm.
When a term-limited State Senator with no statewide name recognition and whose last campaign finance report indicated he had a whopping $8,000 is publically calling you out to "put up or shut up," then word is getting around that you're probably not going to run for Governor after all. Right, John Kasich?
From today's Akron Beacon Journal (HT: Ben Keeler at the Keeler Report):
State Sen. Kevin Coughlin plans to run for governor next year.
Coughlin, R-Cuyahoga Falls, said this afternoon he will spend this year organizing his campaign and laying the ground work for ''the chance to lead this state.'' He said he recently shared his plans with incoming state Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine and ''got a warm and encouraging reception.''
Coughlin, who will be term limited out of his Senate seat next year, previously had said he might consider running for governor. He said he is aware other prominent Republicans, including former Congressman John Kasich, also are rumored to be considering throwing in their hats for the gubernatorial race.
''The Republican family needs to get the players on the field,'' Coughlin said. ''We've got to get organized — to get the people, the money and resources in place to run for 2010.''
From the moment Strickland took office, Coughlin attempted to make a name for himself blasting statewide press releases attacking Strickland for the token conservative faux outrage of the moment until Kevin DeWine took over those responsibilities.
Coughlin is naked ambition. Even at the time, he didn't shy away that he had gubernatorial ambitions in four years.
He's had a website up for quite awhile now as a placeholder for this campaign. It even has a .pdf document for you to know what Coughlin's "vision" is for Ohio. Reading his visionary document, Coughlin essentially promises all the tenets of the Taft Administration: broad, deep cuts in revenue, token commitment to biotechnologies, and tort reform.
Coughlin apparently believes that Ohio can simple "free trade" itself out of this mess. One wonders why it hasn't yet.
The only policy achievement Coughlin explicitly takes credit for is:
Kevin helped craft Ohio's current budget that keeps state spending to its lowest increase in more than 40 years.
He's talking about Governor Strickland's first biannium budget. Which already did that before Coughlin did a thing.
He's running against an incumbent while claiming the incumbent's achievements as his own!
HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Sniff, sniff...... HA!
Kevin Coughlin: If you like Ted Strickland, vote for me! (or you could just vote for Strickland).
Time until that bumper sticker is released in 5 .... 4 ..... 3 ..... 2 ...... 1 .....
Rob
Submitted by Himself on Tue, 01/13/2009 - 5:42pm.
From the other side of the spectrum -- memories of Rob Burch -- just as nuts and the results will be the same for the incumbent. I'll pay his filing fee if that's who they want.
Wow.... I'm impressed
Submitted by modernesquire on Tue, 01/13/2009 - 5:48pm.
Anyone who remembers the 1994 Gubernatorial campaign of Rob Burch, beyond the catastrophic result, is my test of who is and isn't a long-time Democratic candidate. Back when Joel Hyatt was our best bet for the U.S. Senate. Good times, good times.
The Dickster
Submitted by Himself on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 1:07pm.
I worked for Dick Celeste's Lt. Gov campaign. I remember 'em all. And those were good times. We had everything in '82 - 2 Senate seats, the entire Supeme Ct. , House and Senate majorities, all 5 Statewides. The scary part was that there was no where to go but down and we did.
A Republican Rob
Submitted by calebfaux on Tue, 01/13/2009 - 7:03pm.
Burch was exactly what I was going to say - we can only hope. Would be poetic justice for more than a few of us.
FYI, it's not Cuyahoga Falls
Submitted by kJk on Tue, 01/13/2009 - 10:49pm.
FYI, it's not Cuyahoga Falls, it's Caucasian Falls. Ask anyone in Summit County.
Hilarious
Submitted by BuckeyeNation on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 3:49pm.
That's what my brother in Akron always calls it, and he's been up there since the early 70s.
Next Senator
Submitted by Erin on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 11:09am.
Erin Clearly Kevin Coughlin has delusions of grandeur. John Kasich will be the GOP gubernatorial candidate. But how about the U.S. Senate? Portman is still dull no matter how much you increase his name recognition up north but then again, so was Mike DeWine. Mary Taylor isn't ready to win statewide on accomplishment and issues of importance no matter how much they try pushing her. Steve LaTourette stands the best chance of winning, given his track record of accomplishment and close relationship with labor. As for the Democrats, Jennifer Brunner should stay right where she is - not only is she needed but she is really, really good at what she does. Lee Fisher should also stay put - Gov. Strickland could use his fundraising prowess. Marcy Kaptur is interesting but too liberal? Tim Ryan, while young and seemingly anointed, has absolutely no record of accomplishment on which to run but then again, neither did Obama.
Agreed...
Submitted by modernesquire on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 11:29am.
I'm starting to think Kaptur's stock is rising though.
Don't You Mean
Hey Modern, don't you mean
BWWWWAHAHAHAHAHAH!?
It's interesting to note that all three of the House districts that make up the 27th Senate district are now represented by Democrats. I'll bet that Coughlin wouldn't get re-elected even if he could run for re-election. He's a pompous ass and everyone knows it.