Ohio GOP Hopes Local Turmoil Won't Hurt Bush

Thanks to a tip from my buddy Bill

Ohio is close and the Ohio Republican party is in turmoil. Ohio voters are not happy campers and the Republicans have been in control of the state since 1990. This is an ill wind for Bush in a state he must carry to win.
Two Ohio Republican power brokers, Brett Buerck and Kyle Sisk, have been in the headlines for several months.

Some Ohio Republicans worry that Buerck's and Sisk's influence on the 2004 election may be more consequential. Ordinarily, this state's GOP, which has held a virtual lock on power since 1990, would be a clear asset for the president. He could take advantage of the party's grass-roots organization, official surrogates and goodwill with the electorate. But a host of local controversies have scuffed the Republican brand name in Ohio. The most malodorous of these involves allegations of improper fundraising and self-dealing by the two consultants to Republican state House Speaker Larry Householder.

The accusations erupted onto Ohio front pages in the spring, and federal and state criminal investigations are underway. Ohioans have been treated to regular servings of leaked strategy memos and e-mails written by Buerck, Sisk and others in Householder's camp. With a swaggering tone, the documents suggest an approach to politics that borrows equally from H.R. Haldeman and Barney Fife.

In addition, Gov. Bob Taft is not winning any popularity contests.

The state's general mood of discontent has affected Bush's Ohio chairman, Gov. Bob Taft. He has seen his approval rating droop because of the state's lagging economy and a sales tax increase he signed to offset a budget shortfall. Introducing Bush at an event in Cincinnati a few months ago, Taft drew a murmuring of catcalls and boos from the conservative audience. Although Taft has remained active raising money for Republicans, his low standing has limited his ability to be a prominent public surrogate for Bush, the way popular governors often are.

If Bush does not win in November he may have the Ohio Republican party to thank.