First up, let me say I like George Voinovich. The Job he did with Cleveland's and the State's budget was Phenominal. Compromises aside, he's a fiscal conservative and a centrist otherwise. I would have no problem with the man as president.
It's going to be an interseting race, no doubt. The debate won't be civil, but I'm not looking for Springer to throw the first chair, as it were. He knows it would be suicide to his campaign. It's all going to come down to who frames the debate and gets out front in the media. So far, Springer's tack has been to concede the point - the show is tasteless, manipulative and stupid and everone knows it - including the "guests" - that's entertainment - this is government, let's discuss the issues. If he can successfully blunt those criticismns and focus on issues, he's got a shot. If his opposition keeps harping on the show, he's got a 'running from the issues' charge to throw at them - I'm wondering how Fingerhut will come at him during the primary.
As for Kucinich, I am truly split. I have great respect for him as a politician , having watched his political arc from a local vantge point. I don't think he's ready for prime time, and may never be. He's a hard core populist, and a tenacious fighter. Once he gets his claws into an issue, he does not give in. The default issue has been dealt with -
( Quick history digression for those unaware- Cleveland's Default: Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. (CEI) wanted to buy theCleveland Municipal Light Plant (MUNY) and made an offer to the city. MUNY had not generated power for years, and had been acting as an electical broker, buying on the market and supplying city customers with a cheap alternative to CEI. Their wired area was small, and they were not a significant threat to CEI's market. Kucinich, fearing a monopoly, refused. CEI went to the banks and threatend to pull their bussiness unless they called in Cleveland's Loans, left from the previous Administration (Ralph Perk, R, who Kucinich campainged for) The banks complied, telling the city to sell or go into default. Dennis refused, the city defaulted. He survived a recall and served out his term, defeated by Voinovich in the next election. MUNY is still owned by the city, their wired area continues to expand. CEI has merged with other power companies to become a multi-state behemoth. Voinovich and the Plain Dealer admitted that he was right to keep MUNY against the Bank's & CEI's collusion.)
What he's going to be hit with is his avowed pacifisimn, and the Shirley McLain/new age stuff. No One local thinks he has a chance - most of his support has come from out of state far left groups, and the consensus is they don't have the traction to go much farther - tilting at windmills, etc. Most think he's doing it for the wider name recognition, laying groundwork for the future. If he can pull the debate to the left and focus the media on some of his core issues, he'll have succeeded.
