The truth about Ohio, and why it’s so hard to call

I’ve lived in Ohio almost 20 years; I moved to the state in 1990.  That means I’ve gone through five presidential elections as a Buckeye, even though I’m not a native. On thing has had me scratching my head. How did Ohio get to be a swing state?

When I look at the state’s 88 counties, I see a red state with blue spots.

The Plain Dealer had a great graphic on its front page. It illustrates my point.

The urban centers, like Cleveland, are predominately African American and Democrat. Those are the blue spots. The rural and suburban areas, especially in the central and southwestern portions of the state, are predominately White and Republican. That’s where the red is concentrated.

In the past, that difference meant that an African American candidate could carry the cities, but not do well in a state-wide election. The most recent example was our own gubernatorial race, where the Republican candidate, Kenneth Blackwell, crashed and burned. Some blamed it on his politics. I blame race; the African Americans who were running at the top of the Democratic ticket lost as well.

That history is why I, an Obama supporter, believed until say three weeks ago, that he would not take Ohio. Now, I believe he might pull it off in a squeaker because the economic collapse has worked in Obama’s favor.

Ohio has never recovered from the 2001 recession. This current economic downturn makes our future look even more bleak.

I’ve been following coverage out of Columbus, where voters tend to be conservative, and I’ve been impressed by Obama’s climb in the polls. That’s why I’ve concluded this: the fact  Ohio is up for grabs shows how successful Obama’s efforts are.

In 2004, Kerry had the cities, but Bush had a tight grip on the rest of the state.

One more point: if Obama does take Ohio, he will have done more than won a red state. He will have, in my opinion, toppled the obstacle to kept African American politicians out of the governor’s office. If, and it’s an if, Obama wins or barely loses Ohio, expect to the state will elect its first African American governor within a few more of years.

The thing about change

“Change never waits its turn. It does not ask permission. It needs no electoral votes to prevail.”

This observation came from Keith Woods, who writes for poynter.org. The Poynter Institute is a school for journalists.

Lord knows the profession put the “c” and the “s,” in changes.  Journalists aren’t alone. Magazines have been watching advertisers cut back and that industry is laying off, too.

It’s almost a cliche to say we should be pro-active. But I’m ready to push through. Change isn’t coming. It’s been here for at least two years. Maybe we just didn’t see the forest for the trees. But the forest is deep and I’m standing in the middle admiring the view.

The astonishing developments of this electoral season have given me a new outlook on life. I’m not just talking about Barack Obama’s candidacy. I’m talking about John McCain’s tenacity. Both men were come-from-behind candidates who have refused to give up.

But both have been incredible teachers in my life, and in their ways, inspirations. Obama has shown me not to give in to the idea that race is limiting. McCain is showing me not to give in to the idea that age is limiting.

No, I haven’t forgotten about Hillary Clinton. She’s shown me how to push, push, push past those who would limit women.

What a wonderful year to be an American. I salute all three.

It’s time for a roll call

Taken by Steve Rhodes

The delegates at the Democratic Convention ended their roll call when they agreed to nominate Barack Obama as the party’s presidential candidate by acclamation. But they left some unfinished business.

Some names need to be spoken.

In his seminal book on African religion and cosmology, the great scholar John Mbiti explained that the ancestors are not completely dead until their names are forgotten. So I’m taking this moment to call the names of our ancestors on the day that Barack Obama became the first African-American to win a major party nomination.

Call it a libation.

Aaron Henry, Fannie Lou Hamer, Victoria Gray Adams, Ed King, and Annie Devine, and other the delegates of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party who insisted that the convention unseat the all-white state delegation at the convention in 1964.
Medgar Evers, the fearless NAACP field secretary who was assassinated in his driveway in front of his family.
Herbert Lee, who was murdered because he chauffeured civil rights workers around Amite County, Mississippi during Freedom Summer, 1964.
James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, who were murdered during Freedom Summer, 1964 for daring to register African Americans.

We will never forget you. You taught us that the race is not given to the swift, but to those who continue. And we vow to run on, and see what the end will be.

Update: Two of my readers have added names of their own to this list.  Therefore, I’m asking others to add to the libation: Call the names of  ancestors – whether in blood, example, or spirit – who should be remembered and honored.