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The Ohio Democratic party proclaims "The economy is the top concern of Ohio families and the number one issue on their minds as they consider the presidential race."
Ohio Democratic party leadership points that under the Bush administration:
- Ohio lost Over 200,000 manufacturing jobs
- Ohio’s median household income decreased By 6.6%
- Health Care Premiums Increased by Over 40% in Ohio
- 1.2 million Ohio residents, 10.7% of the state population, have no health insurance
- Rising energy costs burden Ohio’s families, including a 12.1% rise in home heating costs in 2008 over 2007
U.S. Free Trade Policies
During the 2008 Democratic primary in Ohio, free trade was an important and contentious issue among voters. At the time, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton vaguely claimed to be unsupportive of NAFTA, as is.
The New York times concluded during the primary season, "There is no doubt that trade has hurt many people in Ohio."
For more, see Pros & Cons of Free Trade Agreements.
Ohio and Presidential elections
Ohio has voted for the winner of every presidential election since 1960, and thus, is the quintessential bellweather state.
With a higher than average U.S. state rate of blue-collar workers and of veterans, and a lower than average state rate of residents under 25 and non-white residents, Ohio presents a unique challenge to Barack Obama and John McCain.
The '08 presidential candidate who wins Ohio will need to connect personably with voters, as well as:
- offer a solid, sensible plan to fix the ailing economy,
- provide tax relief for middle-class workers and their families,
- not signiicantly alter Social Security benefits for middle-class workers
- propose fair and balanced trade policies.