Dems unite behide Obama

With victory he still must contend with Clinton

By Michael Edwards
Contributing Writer
Columbus Post

What a week it's been. Five grueling months after scoring an upset victory over Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Iowa caucus, Sen. Barack Obama has all but secured the Democratic presidential nomination. Democratic Party Leaders and super delegates are now flocking to Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton has decided to end her presidential campaign and to endorse Obama.
"Tonight we mark the end of one historic journey and the beginning of another - a journey that will bring a new and better day to America," Sen. Obama told a wildly cheering victory crowd gathered in St. Paul, Minn. Sen. Obama also offered an olive branch to Sen. Clinton and her impassioned supporters, praising her rival for achieving "what no woman has done before" and lauding "her strength, her courage, and her commitment."
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, who aggressively campaigned for Sen. Clinton has thrown his support behind Sen. Obama. "I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically support Barack Obama for President of the United States. Ohioans have suffered as a result of the failed policies of the Bush Administration, including job loss as a result of rising fuel prices. Ohioans desperately want real, meaningful change. And I believe Barack Obama will bring that change," said Strickland.
House Minority Leader Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus) while acknowledging that she has long admired Sen. Hillary Clinton, said she also supports Sen. Obama.
"I think we had two great candidates to choose from," Beatty said. But she said voter motivation and the issues put her in Obama's camp. "The cross section, the energy ... I believe it's going to take all of that for us to have a Democratic president," added Beatty.
Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown called Sen. Obama the leader to help rebuild the middle class. "I have long been impressed by his commitment to working families and our nation's underserved communities. He is a visionary leader and fierce advocate for change." In Congress, Brown and Obama worked together on legislation that established a Patriot Corporations Act, to reward companies that create jobs in the U.S as well as the Forewarn Act, which would strengthen worker protections during layoffs.
Ohio Rep. Zack Space of Dover, Rep. Betty Sutton of Copley Township, who were uncommitted super delegates and earlier had indicated support for Clinton, also joined the Obama bandwagon.
"This is a pivotal time in our nation, and I strongly believe that Senator Barack Obama is prepared and passionately committed to leading America toward a better future," said Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman. "Senator Obama's primary victory is a proud statement by the millions of people who support his candidacy that we are ready for real change in 2008. I believe in this mission and look forward to the debates and campaigning ahead. I will do everything possible to make sure that Senator Obama is our next President."
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern followed Strickland and Coleman's lead and has pledged his support to Obama. "The Ohio Democratic Party is organized, energized and strong. As we unify behind Barack Obama, there is no doubt in my mind that his message of change will carry the Buckeye State in November."
Not so fast said Ohio Republican Party (ORP) Chairman Bob Bennett: "Barack Obama doesn't understand what's important to the people of Ohio, and that showed when he won only 5 of 88 counties in the primary. (NOTE: With the exception of the greater-Cleveland area, Obama won in all of Ohio's larger urban areas, while Clinton scored victories in Ohio's rural areas). Mr. Strickland, for instance, had been quoted in an Ohio newspaper as saying that while Mr. Obama was "hugely talented" and an "exceptional person," the race for the presidency was not about selecting the "next American idol."
ORP spokesman John McClelland added: "The governor's recent endorsement proves that he is now more interested in weak, empty rhetoric than a real, bipartisan record on change, but one question remains: did he text or phone-in his vote?"
ORP officials maintain that Republican nominee John McCain has led the last four credible polls conducted in the state, and that Obama faces a fractured Democrat party unwilling to unite.
"Untrue," said Strickland who pledged to work alongside Clinton to unify the party and to make sure that Barack Obama wins the presidency. In addition, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones of Cleveland, another big Clinton booster who has heeded the call to support Obama, said she is also confidant Clinton supporters will eventually come around and vote for Obama. Tubbs also said that Obama should seriously consider choosing Clinton as a running mate.
While not saying so directly, at least not yet, Clinton has made it clear she is "open" to being Obama's vice presidential running mate.
"A Clinton/Obama partnership might have been a dream ticket at one time - I would love to see a woman president or vice president," said Margaret Tate, 54, a south-Linden-area resident. Cited how Clinton initially being "the best-known, best-financed, and most thoroughly informed candidate in the field" made Clinton overconfident. "It was as if she felt victory was inevitable - until she was caught off guard by an Obama insurgency she didn't expect," said Tate who added that Bill Cllinton changed her vote in the March Ohio primary.

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