(adapted from AkronNewsNow.com Letters From the Editor blog; please link to the original for audio)
What a nice opportunity this morning to talk politics with an Akron treasure; Dr. John Green at the University of Akron, and the "party" was getting an hour with him on the air. Jody Miller and I are sitting in for the vacationing Ray Horner this week and while we don't normally agree on politics we do agree it's fun to sit down with a national expert and get his perspective. Dr. John Green fits the bill.
We talked national, with post-revelation of the John Edwards affair to remember (now that he admits it) and the strong likelihood the former North Carolina Senator's political aspirations are now as cold as yesterday's toast, but it is interesting to hear Dr. Green's take on never say never...as well as how this might impact the Obama campaign's wishes of expanding on what Gore and Kerry hoped for but never saw materialize in northeast Ohio during 2000 and 2004.
Also food for thought the one big congressional race to watch in Ohio, and it too may help send a big message to the rest of the nation. While State Rep. John Boccieri and State Senator Kirk Schuring duke it out to fill the seat being left open by the retiring 16th District legend Ralph Regula, it may mean more than just who sits in Washington on behalf of Canton and the region.
This race has some national significance, says Dr. Green, noting he wouldn't be surprised to see both Obama and McCain spend time and resources in the Hall of Fame City heading into November. It could mean the difference between a major shift of real power in Congress -- to the Democrats and veto-proof majorities -- as well as a sea change of the landscape in what used to be automatic for the GOP.
That sound you hear from the overlook is William McKinley spinning...
That 16th race is going to be one to watch. A huge race for both sides.
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