Ohio GOP Votes for Deputy Chair, Endorse Legislative Candidates
The Cleveland PD reports today that the Ohio Republican Party has voted to choose from one of three candidates to be Deputy Chairman. But even more significant for 2008, the Party has voted to endorse legislative candidates in open House and Senate seats.
Such a plan will be a big boost for efforts by Speaker Jon Husted and Party Chairman Designate Kevin DeWine to pick the next Speaker, or at least GOP leader in the Ohio House. 2008, like the year 2000, will feature an unprecedented number of open GOP House seats. By endorsing, candidates pledged to Speaker Candidate Dolan (Husted and DeWine's likely choice) will have a huge financial advantage over candidates pledged to Speaker Candidate Batchelder (Ohio Conservative's choice).
In 2000, Larry Householder utilized soft money and other innovative fundraising techniques to outspend candidates that were pledged to Bill Harris for Speaker. Householder became Speaker and Harris moved to the Senate.
What no one is talking about is that the winner of the intra-party contest may not end up as Speaker of the Ohio House after all. With Jon Husted expected to leave the speakership with a big bankroll saved for a future statewide run, and the newly won ability of House Democrats to raise funds on par with Republicans, the winner of this battle may likely end up the Minority Leader in the Ohio House.
Scott A. Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
Such a plan will be a big boost for efforts by Speaker Jon Husted and Party Chairman Designate Kevin DeWine to pick the next Speaker, or at least GOP leader in the Ohio House. 2008, like the year 2000, will feature an unprecedented number of open GOP House seats. By endorsing, candidates pledged to Speaker Candidate Dolan (Husted and DeWine's likely choice) will have a huge financial advantage over candidates pledged to Speaker Candidate Batchelder (Ohio Conservative's choice).
In 2000, Larry Householder utilized soft money and other innovative fundraising techniques to outspend candidates that were pledged to Bill Harris for Speaker. Householder became Speaker and Harris moved to the Senate.
What no one is talking about is that the winner of the intra-party contest may not end up as Speaker of the Ohio House after all. With Jon Husted expected to leave the speakership with a big bankroll saved for a future statewide run, and the newly won ability of House Democrats to raise funds on par with Republicans, the winner of this battle may likely end up the Minority Leader in the Ohio House.
Scott A. Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
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