{SHAW HS Band playing}
From Shaw High School's full volume marching band as a warmup, to his lingering to shake nearly every hand in the Tri-C recreation center afterward - the rally was pure Bill Clinton charisma...
The 42nd President was charming and relaxed, yet forceful in his message, and in his command of the most minute facts.... pressing to prove his case that Ted Strickland deserves another four years in Columbus.
PRESIDENT CLINTON:
"You got a governor with one of the best job training programs in the country, and the other party wants to cut back on spending for education - and everything else... I don't think this is rocket science..."
Often interrupted by raucous applause, Mr. Clinton was easily able to energize the partisan crowd, and - for the sake of the governor - likely stirred some of the attendees to work harder for the elections of statewide Democratic candidates.
Clinton never mentioned John Kasich by name, but he decried some of the tactics that `he says' the GOP has brought into the race.
PRESIDENT CLINTON:
"This is a contest of ideas, not people. They can say whatever mean things they want about all of our individual candidates.... I find in politics most people are honest, good people, they do what they think is right. `Their' ideas are based on their ideology ... They already got the answers, so they're impervious to evidence."
President Clinton repeatedly compared the American economy, and Ohio's, to a hole that wasn't dug by current administrations - while he says voters are angry that leaders in office just the past 21 months, haven't been able to solve long-standing economic problems. That issue he says - clouds the bigger picture.
PRESIDENT CLINTON:
"The thing that really bothers me about this election is hardly anybody talks about all that really matters.. which is 'What are we gonna do now?' And who is more likely to do it. Now, everybody knows what we need, we need more good jobs, and we need to fill em with people who don't have jobs."
Which he said Governor Strickland will continue to do, given time. Included in the roughly 500 people at the rally were regional politicans, party leaders, and candidates; volunteers from the Strickland campaign; and Tri-C Metro students...
Some, like Summit County's Semanthie Brooks - felt the Presidential visit will provide a thoughtful morale boost.
SEMANTHIE BROOKS:
"He gave us a lot that we can think about, and evaluate, assess - who we need to vote for, who's gonna do the most for Ohio, who has already done the most for Ohio, and what we have to look for in the future if they become an elected official in our state."
Besides the Strickland/Brown ticket, the rally also offered brief support to attending Democratic candidates for Treasurer, Attorney General, and state Auditor.
