Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is putting money into television ads in Ohio, but don’t read too much into it.
The Democratic presidential nominee has been ordering airtime in the Toledo and Youngstown media markets, according to stations’ disclosures with the Federal Communications Commission. She appears to be skipping Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati; major stations in those markets haven’t disclosed any Harris buys.
Broadcasters in Toledo and Youngstown offer something that those in the three Cs don’t. Their signals cross state lines into Michigan and Pennsylvania, which are key stones on the path to an Electoral College victory. The Harris campaign is spending $370 million on advertising this fall nationally and across swing states.
The Buckeye State, which has voted for Donald Trump twice, isn’t on pollsters’ short lists of electoral votes that are up for grabs this year. As our Frank Lewis explains, Ohio is kind of a red state – until it’s time to vote on ballot issues.
Ohio may not be the heart of it all in this presidential race. But thanks to its proximity to 2024’s battleground states, it’s at least heart-adjacent.
Ohio Democrats party and posture at the DNC
This week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago gave Cleveland politicians an occasion for sightseeing, image-boosting and political pot-stirring.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval may have been the one chosen to soak up the main stage spotlight, but Cleveland electeds saw plenty of political action outside the United Center arena.
U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown sparked a viral social media moment when she joined hands with rival and former state Sen. Nina Turner. The two faced off in a pair of fierce Congressional races that divided local Democrats. But at an Ohio delegation breakfast one morning, Brown extended an olive branch.
“I want to thank someone today,” Brown said in remarks that her campaign streamed on Facebook. “I want to thank Sen. Nina Turner for her competitiveness…”
It’s hard to hear the rest over the applause. Turner joined Brown on stage and embraced her former adversary. (State Sen. Kent Smith, whose post about the encounter rocketed around X this week, later clarified that Turner had not officially endorsed Kamala Harris, despite the post’s implication.)
Turner made news back home when she told Cleveland.com that she’s been approached about challenging Mayor Justin Bibb in 2025. Rumors of a potential Turner candidacy had already reached Bibb’s circle, but this was the first time she addressed the idea in the media.
Council President Blaine Griffin also reiterated that he isn’t closing the door on a mayoral run next year. The Bibb campaign used the hubbub as cause for another fundraising email, this one taking a swipe at his two potential opponents.
“Two career politicians are considering challenging Mayor Bibb in the 2025 election,” the email read. “Can you rush a $5 contribution right now to support Mayor Bibb’s campaign?”
For his part, Bibb expanded his audience with a breakfast speech to the Florida delegation. The mayor has a connection to the Sunshine State; his former campaign media rep, Eden Giagnorio, is now communications director for the Florida Democratic Party.
Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne stayed clear of the drama. Instead, the Chicago native played tourist in the town of his birth. He turned his X feed into a travelogue, posting photos of The Bean, the Chicago Architecture Center and, of course, trays of ketchup-free Chicago hot dogs.
Rustling up Cuyahoga County voters
As Cleveland Democrats partied in Cook County, Illinois, someone had to mind the home front. The Cuyahoga County Democratic Party sent a text message blast this week to 59,000 infrequent voters, according to party chair David Brock. The message encouraged recipients to check their registrations and put in requests for absentee ballots. “The only vote that doesn’t count is the one you don’t cast,” the message read.
