Sunday Papers – Dispatch Poll: McCain Ahead (barely), Tubbs-Jones, Paying fines with Pennies, Voting Machines, Frank Russo, First Solar, Biden Pick, GM Lordstown, Economy, New Poll, Al Qaeda

Ohio News

• So far, voters in Ohio like McCain a bit more (Dispatch Poll) – Columbus Dispatch
• Obama needs to use this week to unite his party – Columbus Dispatch
• Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Loss of Tubbs-Jones felt on both sides of aisle – Columbus Dispatch
• Man tries to pay fine with pennies – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Dropped, then caught – Columbus Dispatch
• Communities rethink benefits of drilling for gas – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Russo’s son closes business – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Strickland works while legislators sleep – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Strickland must lead sustained campaign against sick leave initiative – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Patients suffer as care, coverage limits collide – Toledo Blade
• Editorial: Sunny news for a change – Toledo Blade
• Local Ds and Rs like Biden for different reasons – Dayton Daily News
• New stars for Ohio Dems at convention – Dayton Daily News
• Local delegates see convention as time to unite – Dayton Daily News
• Editorial: Only Obama can make the case for Obama – Dayton Daily News
• Local Dems cheer Biden – Cincinnati Enquirer
• Editorial: News is good at GM Lordstown – Warren Tribune Chronicle
• Editorial: Ohio plays crucial role in GM Lordstown – Youngstown Vindicator

National/World

• In Obama’s choice a ‘very personal decision’ – New York Times
• Obama’s pick adds foreign policy expertise – New York Times
• A senate stalwart who bounced back – New York Times
• U.S. and global economies slip in unison – New York Times
• A teacher on front line as faith and science clash – New York Times
• A courteous call and a quick strike from McCain – New York Times
• Fear keeps Iraqis out of their Baghdad homes – New York Times
• At conference on risks to earth, few are optimistic – New York Times
• Poll: Support for each candidate holds steady – Washington Post
• Obama calls pick a statesman and fighter – Washington Post
• Al Qaeda masters terrorism on the cheap – Washington Post

Friday Clips – Gov. Ted Strickland, Keno, Education, Marc Dann

Strickland education forums coverage

• Editorial: Setting tone for reform – Wheeling Intelligencer
• Editorial: Answers to school funding needed soon – Newark Advocate
• Governor quizzes Akron – Akron Beacon Journal
• Local residents to attend education forum with Strickland – Urbana Daily Herald

KENO!

• Mansfield pastors voice opposition – Mansfield News Journal
• Op-Ed, Ben Mutti – Ohio citizens bound to lose if state bets on Keno – Mansfield News Journal
• Op-Ed, Joe Blundo – O’ how low can we go to raise more dough? – Columbus Dispatch

Other Ohio News

• Op-Ed, David W. Jones – O’Neill, LaTourette: Follow the $$$ – News Herald
• Op-Ed, Bertram de Souza, – Marc Dann’s selective cronyism – Youngstown Vindicator

More later …

Schwartz to ref Ohio AG office steel cage match

Veteran mediator to referree harassment cases – Columbus Dispatch

Ohio GOP: Worst Day May Have Been Today

If the terminal patient - Ohio’s Republican Party - could take a turn for the worse it happened today.

First, amidst very little fanfare, Gongwer Ohio and the Columbus Dispatch reported around lunchtime that the elephants finally got themselves a candidate for Ohio Attorney General, D. Michael Crites. Crites, a former U.S. Attorney for Presidents Reagan and Bush 41 has not been heard from since about the early 1990s. His claim to fame is taking down Charlie Hustle on tax evasion charges.

That was his claim to fame until Plunderbund unearthed Crites’ own cronyism tinged with adultery scandal earlier this evening. You can read all about it here.

State Republican leaders would not confirm Crites’ appointment nor did he return calls from the Associated Press today. I’m wondering if this doesn’t go swirling down the drain with every other potential GOP candidacy. Tonight, given the revelations unearthed by Plunderbund, the GOP may be wishing they would’ve vetted this guy.

Crites wasn’t the only bad news for the GOP today. Governor Ted Strickland single-handedly won two Ohio House races today. If this wasn’t enough to fire up the Democratic faithful, then I don’t know what else Uncle Ted can do. He certainly proved that there is still some adult supervision of our beloved party. The last thing we heard from Boy Wonder was that we had a House Speaker before we had the House. I don’t believe Vernal G. Riffe (may peace be upon him) ever pulled one of those.

Read more

Monday a.m. – Obama, McCain, Foreclosures, Fannie/Freddie, Oil prices

I called it last night …

• Oil rises on tropical storm, other news – Bloomberg

Look here.

• Obama arrives in Basra - New York Times
• Obama lands in Iraq amid troop pullout talk - The Times
• Minor parties a November wild card – Columbus Dispatch
• Some help on way for foreclosure crisis – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: To the Rescue – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Taxpayer financed cars for members of Congress – Columbus Dispatch

If they were to make the switch to more economical cars, they could do what Ohio’s state government did and declare the Ford Focus the default car choice.

• Ohio’s unemployment fund on edge of crisis - Cleveland Plain Dealer
• After 2000 McCain learned to work the levers of power – New York Times
• Mideast faces choice between crops, water - New York Times
• Black, female, accomplished, attacked – Washington Post

Sunday morning – Obama in Afghanistan

• Obama meets with Karzai – BBC
• Ohio’s Medicaid system broken for the disabled – Columbus Dispatch
• Jonathan Riskind: Health insurance industry wants to show reform minded – Columbus Dispatch
• Joe Hallet: Picking next president shouldn’t be a black and white issue – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Ohio’s next K-12 leader – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Get tough with Pakistan – Columbus Dispatch
• Egg-o-nomics – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Voinovich vs. Gore – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed: Passenger rail in Ohio – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Thomas Suddes: Bit of a rush by some Dems to name next speaker – Cleveland Plain Dealer