The candidate says support from GOP-leaning counties will help him win.
YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, expects an easy victory in his party's May primary.
He also expects to beat J. Kenneth Blackwell, one of two Republican gubernatorial candidates, but says it will be a close general election race in November.
During a Tuesday meeting with The Vindicator, Strickland, of Lisbon, said he doesn't have the perfect résumé to run for governor, but is the most electable Democrat for the position.
"I haven't managed a big bureaucracy; I haven't held a government administration job," he said. "I think I've got a good résumé and the right résumé for this position at this time."
A six-term congressman, Strickland said his advantage over all other Democrats for the seat is his ability to get elected in southeastern and south-central Ohio, largely Republican strongholds.
Strickland acknowledges his name recognition isn't strong in the western portion of the state, and he needs to do well there and in the big cities such as Cleveland to win in November.
"I'm viewed as the guy from Appalachia, and I have to overcome that," said Strickland, born and reared in Lucasville in southern Ohio.
Strickland said he believes he could get 51 percent to 52 percent of the vote in November if the big cities support his candidacy.
Expects Blackwell to win
Strickland expects Blackwell, the secretary of state, to defeat Attorney General Jim Petro in the Republican primary.
He said that a Strickland-Blackwell race "will be one hellish experience, and I'm fully prepared to defend myself."
Should Blackwell win his party's primary, Strickland said some moderate Republicans and business owners, who are Republicans, would vote for him rather than their party's nominee.
Strickland is focusing much of his campaigning in Northeast Ohio, a population center of the state and an area that primarily leans Democratic. But he admits he needs to spend more time in the western part of the state.
Strickland is taking lightly the challenge of former state Rep. Bryan Flannery of Strongsville in the Democratic primary in May.
But Strickland is upset about recent statements Flannery made about the congressman's vote in 1999 to condemn the conclusions of an American Psychological Association study that suggests sexual relationships between adults and children are less harmful than believed.
A former psychologist, Strickland voted "present" on the resolution. Strickland said he agreed with much of the resolution's wording, but disagreed with other provisions, resulting in the "present" vote.
Not significant
"Bryan Flannery is not a significant person to me," Strickland said. "One thing Bryan Flannery would like to achieve is significance in this race, and one way to do so would be for me to consider him significant. I don't."
Anthony Fossacera, Flannery's spokesman, said the fact that Strickland is talking about his Democratic primary opponent shows "we are significant."
The vote was an issue in Strickland's 2002 congressional race. Strickland said that his campaign staff was approached by members of another political campaign asking for $20,000 to not publicize the "present" vote. Strickland refused to do so. Strickland wouldn't say what campaign wanted the money, but said it was not Flannery's.
Fossacera said the story of a $20,000 shakedown "seems pretty bizarre to me because this was already out there."
In response to questions about Ohio's decreasing job numbers, Strickland said he expects the national economy to decline because of the over-reliance on foreign products and the Bush administration's focus on problems in Iraq and Afghanistan. When the next recession occurs, Strickland expects Ohio to be hit hard. The state's unemployment rate is higher than the national rate, and is struggling to recover from the previous recession.
If elected governor, Strickland wants to retain, create and attract jobs by focusing on industry sectors in which Ohio companies are growing.
The state also needs to emphasize education and make it less expensive to go to colleges and universities, he said.