E-mail a friendGov. Ted Strickland
airdate August 26, 2008
Ted Strickland is in his first term as governor of Ohio. He previously served six terms in the U.S. House and proved to be a strong advocate of education and job creation in Appalachia. Stickland decided to pursue public service after holding numerous positions in the private sector. The son of a steelworker, he's the first in his family to attend college. He holds a master of divinity and a doctorate in counseling psychology, is an ordained Methodist minister and also taught psychology courses.
Ohio governor discusses Barack Obama's chances in his state. (3:58)
Full Interview (6:20)
Gov. Ted Strickland
[Clip]
Tavis: So I'm certain the Republican war room is working overtime right now, going after you for that comment.
Gov. Ted Strickland: (Laughs) That's okay.
Tavis: Good to see you, Governor.
Strickland: I'm up to the fight.
Tavis: Glad to have you on.
Strickland: It's good to be with you, Tavis.
Tavis: What do you make of this night, first of all? I want to talk about your (unintelligible). What do you make of this entire evening?
Strickland: A great night. Hillary Clinton did what I expected her to do, and that was speak to the hearts of her supporters. And we had two really good human beings running for president here. They're good, decent people, they share common values. Barack Obama came out on top of this contest.
Hillary Clinton did what I think she needed to do tonight, and that was lay out the reasons for all of us - all of us, her supporters and Barack's supporters - to come together in common purpose for the common good of the country. And I think she did that effectively, and I think we will leave here a united party.
Tavis: She won your state of Ohio, and she won it in part, as everybody now knows, because you got behind her early on, campaigned rather aggressively for her because of the respect that exists for you inside the Buckeye State. She pulled that state off. A close competitive contest, but she wins Ohio. What was it about her that got you to support her early on in this process?
Strickland: Well, Tavis, I've known her for more than a decade. She has been very helpful to me in the past in my congressional campaigns. I just know her, and I was loyal to her. My support for Hillary Clinton was in no way a reflection upon my feelings about Barack Obama, and I as I said, that primary contest is over and I am willing to do everything for Barack Obama that I tried to do for Hillary Clinton, and we've got a good thing going in Ohio right now.
I spoke to 900 young people on the campus of Ohio State University from all over Ohio. I did that last Saturday, a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and these kids were so energized and excited. And I said to them, "You are the key to an Obama win in Ohio." Because both candidates will have money for TV and radio and mailings and so on and so forth, but Barack Obama has in Ohio something that John McCain will never be able to have, and that's an army - a literal army - across and throughout our state, supporting him.
Tavis: Is that enough to make the difference? And I ask that because it's pretty much accepted as part of presidential politics 101 that if you are going to win the White House, you must win Ohio. How is he going to fare in your state?
Strickland: Well, the polls that came out yesterday have him up one point. Now, I think that's good news for Barack Obama, because it was I think 51 to 52 - Barack Obama ahead - 41 to 42. Now, people in Ohio know John McCain, he's been around a long time. I don't know what he can tell them about himself that's going to capture that undecided vote.
Barack Obama is newer to the political scene, and I believe he has great opportunity for growth in Ohio. It'll be a competitive race, but I'm going to work my heart out. There is nothing more important for me over the next few months than to make sure that Barack Obama is elected the next president of our country, and I will go throughout Ohio with him.
I hope Hillary comes back to Ohio and campaigns for Barack. I think she will, and I would love to go with her into those southern and southeastern counties, those rural counties, and campaign for Barack Obama. I think it would be very effective.
Tavis: I was just reading a story the other day that there's almost no state - like I'm telling you something you don't know already - almost no state that's been hit as hard by this economy as Ohio. Why is that?
Strickland: Well, in Ohio and Michigan are two states that are suffering most severely, and part of it's because the history of our economies. Both states have relied heavily upon the manufacturing base - heavy manufacturing, the auto industry especially. Ohio is the second producer of automobiles, second only to Michigan, but we are first in the production of auto parts.
And as the auto industry in this country has suffered and there have been layoffs and plant closings and so on, both Michigan and Ohio have suffered very, very severely. Now, we're trying to reverse that; we're trying to invest in renewable and advanced energy technologies, and we're trying to emphasize our superiority in Ohio in terms of biomedical issues and research. But it is very tough in Ohio.
I need a partner in the White House. I need Barack Obama to be there, because I think he will understand the struggle of a state like Ohio. John McCain, quite frankly, even when it comes, Tavis, to caring for veterans, John McCain's record in supporting veterans is pathetic. And you would think with his history that he would be sympathetic to the veteran community.
But if you look at his voting record, John McCain has turned his back on America's veterans, and so there are so many reasons why we've got to win this election and why Barack Obama must be the next president.
Tavis: It is going to be a competitive race, I'm certain. They're already tight in Ohio, to your earlier point - just one point at the moment dividing them. We'll see if he gets a bounce - Mr. Obama, that is - after his speech Thursday night. But all the eyes of the nation, I am certain, on election night will be on Ohio to see what happens there. And Governor, it's an honor to have you on the program.
Strickland: Tavis, come back to Ohio and visit us.
Tavis: I'll do that, I'll do that. I'll come back to the mansion and have some more of those cookies.
Strickland: I'd love for you to do that.
Tavis: I'll do that. (Laughs)
Strickland: Thank you.
Tavis: Glad to have you on the program.
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