Ohio Supports Zack Space, But Does He Support Ohio?

On Tuesday I started asking what Ohio's leadership - Chris Redfern, Marcy Kaptur, Sherrod Brown, Zack Space, and everyone else - are going to do to help the only Ohio Democrat running for office in December, Robin Weirauch. As everyone knows, Weirauch is up for election to Congress on December 11th against convicted liar, Bob Latta. The race is in Ohio's 5th Congressional District, a steep climb by any means. But certainly not insurmountable, especially after the dog eat dog, scorched earth primary that Republicans Bob Latta and Steve Buehrer ran against one another.

I think most Ohio Democrats and officeholders will tell you they support the 50 state strategy. Hell, most of them will probably even tell you they support the 'Fern's Ohio version, the 88 county strategy.

Folks in the grassroots, like David Potts, have worked their asses off for Space...either in getting his message out, campaigning for him, or helping raise funds online. Potts, like me, believe in the new generation of Ohio's Democratic leadership. But that belief is not unwavering.

The price of leadership in Ohio these days is not simply representing your district, and representing it well. Rather, Democrats need to make a concerted effort look out for the future of Ohio. Afterall, as the Ohio Democratic Party started to slide into decline in the early 90's, an "everyman for themself" attitude was part of the problem. And folks like Zack Space are certainly "sitting pretty" going into '08.

CANDIDATE NAME DIST NET REC. NET DISB CASH DEBT THROUGH
SPACE, ZACHARY T 18 $817,209 $252,762 $591,905 $11,106 9/30/2007

Zack Space has a contentious re-election coming up. He's going to need every dime he can get to fend off whatever empty suit the NRCC puts up against him. I understand that, I respect them, and by god, I'm ready to fight like hell to keep in OH-18.

But I cannot support a candidate - donate to them, drive to southeast Ohio to volunteer for them, and really work my ass off for them - if in good conscious I don't think they're doing everything they can to support Ohio. I respect the job Zack Space has done in Congress thus far. However, if he goes this entire special election without lifting a finger to help his fellow Democrats in Ohio, fighting to make Ohio even more blue, I'll have serious questions about his dedication to the big picture - as I'm sure others will question too.

I think it's reasonable to ask Space to make a contribution to Robin Weirauch's campaign for Congress. With nearly $600,000 on-hand 12 months out from re-election, he has the funds to occasionally support important causes to further our state and our party. Certainly, every campaign that comes down the path doesn't fit into this category, but a special election in this district - where we're likely not to get another shot for 20+ years - definitely meets the exceptional bar. Like Space, Robin is in a district that's traditionally gone red. Zack really should connect with this fight, and he should make every effort to push Ohio even farther blue.

And to boot, Congressman Tim Ryan has already sent a staffer to the district to fight for Robin (god bless that guy). With leadership like that already fighting for Robin, it'd be disappointing to see Space sit things out. Sherrod Brown took this sort of leadership for Paul Hackett in 2005, as did other Ohio Democrats. It's high time for Space to prove he's going to be a leader of this party.

I think a donation of $2,000 to Weirauch's campaign would make that statement. What do others think?