COLUMBUS - Democratic frontrunner John Kerry launched his campaign for Ohio's primary votes here yesterday, rallying union workers and assailing President Bush's economic record.
The one person who deserves to be laid off in this country is George W. Bush
Kerry said to supporters at the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 189 union hall.
Eight Ohio University students from OU Students for Kerry traveled here from Athens to hear the speech.
We want him to come to OU but if this is as close as it gets we'll come said Lindsey Maus, a freshman education major.
Athens City Councilwoman Carol Patterson, D-1st Ward, also came to hear the speech. She said she was excited to see the senator, whom she supported throughout the campaign.
I was interested in Kerry when he first came out and everybody but me was running
she said.
The Massachusetts senator is coming off a closer-than-expected victory in Wisconsin's primary Tuesday and shifted his focus to Ohio. The state factors prominently in his campaign for the 10 states that vote on Super Tuesday, including New York and California.
With Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's exit from the race yesterday, the battle for the Democratic nomination is now a two-man race between Kerry and Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.
Kerry is out-polling Edwards in Ohio, but 58 percent of Kerry supporters and 60 percent of Edwards supporters said they might change their minds before the vote on March 2, according to The Ohio Poll, which was released last week by The University of Cincinnati.
Forty-five percent of respondents said they would vote for Kerry, 13 percent said they would vote for Edwards and 12 percent went for Dean.
Edwards saw his support in Wisconsin surge late and finished within six points of John Kerry, putting on hold the prospect of a Kerry victory lap on Super Tuesday.
Among the throng of Kerry supporters last night were several who said they were still undecided between the two remaining candidates.
One undecided voter was Deborah Carnevale from Columbus. She initially supported Gen. Wesley Clark, but because he dropped out of the race she has yet to decide whom to support.
Either one is perfectly satisfactory
she said. I want to see their faces before deciding.
Ohio likely will play a vital role not just in the primary but also in November. No Republican ever has won the presidency without the Buckeye State's vote.
Kerry focused on the state's loss of manufacturing jobs to hone his attacks on Bush's economic record, blaming the president for costing Ohio 150,000 manufacturing jobs.
I don't have to tell you
you're living it
Kerry told the union members. The president has cut the heart out of the heartland of America.
He also attacked Bush's policies on Iraq, healthcare and education.
We need to go to the moon right here on Earth by caring for our kids
Kerry said.
Bush also has focused much attention on Ohio, visiting the state 14 times since he took office, including his most recent visit immediately following his State of the Union speech.
A spokesman for Bush's campaign said the president would base his reelection effort on his performance during the past four years and a push to make the tax cuts permanent.
The president is committed to making sure that everyone who is looking for a job can find one
said Kevin Madden, a campaign spokesman.
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