President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden made an appearance in Cleveland last Sunday in an attempt at a final push to convince Democrats to get out and vote in the 2010 midterm elections.† The Democratic National Committee’s Moving America Forward Rally took place in Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center, a venue that can hold 13,000 people.† After a very successful rally of 35,000 people in Columbus, Ohio at The Ohio State University earlier in October, organizers were a bit surprised when only 8,000 attendees showed up to this event.
The rally in Cleveland was one of many last-minute Ohio campaigns geared towards Democrats.† According to The New York Times, Obama is trying to bridge the enthusiasm-gap that many Democrats are experiencing. Unfortunately, planning an event that falls on Halloween and scheduled at the same time as Sunday football games and church services did not draw as many supporters as were anticipated.† Recent polls suggest that although Republican leaders have lacked new ideas on policy reform, the public is still favoring a switch to Republican leadership.† The Republican support is said to be attributed to the resistance from Republicans and swing voters who are impatient with allowing Obama’s reforms to fully take effect.
Despite the recent poll results, Obama and Biden’s primary goal is simply get people to the polls. The leaders spoke in favor of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland who is up for re-election. Biden stated, “If John Kasich were to win this, I promise you the governor’s mansion is going to be a very different place and this momentum that Ted has got going is going to come to a screeching halt,” according to the Columbus Dispatch Obama also gave a pitch for Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, who is a candidate for Democratic Senate, but is trailing behind his opponent.†† The Columbus Dispatch reported that Obama said, “In two days, you will have the chance to set the direction of this country and this state.” Obama and Biden made it clear that Democrats have made a lot of† positive progress and if Republicans are elected into office, the country will return to failed policies that led to the recession.
Obama and Biden also spoke about health care reforms and other national controversial issues that have sprung up since they took office including education and advanced energy. Earlier in the weekend, a group of protesters heckled former President Clinton at a Democratic rally in Columbus.† Of course, this rally did not go without disruption; during Obama’s 33 minute speech, about five protesters began to chant “You’re a Liar.” However, support for Obama at the rally was overwhelming and the handful of hecklers were quieted by the chant “Yes, we can,” the motto used in Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign.
The midterm election is said to determine if the Democrats or Republicans will run the United States. The elections will have 37 Senate seats up for grabs along with another 37 governor positions and each and every one of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives.
The Moving America Forward Rally was Obama’s second visit to Ohio in the past two weeks, and 12th visit to the state since he took office in 2009. The New York Times reported that President Obama exclaimed at the rally, “We’ve got to get Cleveland out to vote! We’ve got to get everybody in Ohio out to vote!” Obama ended his speech with a hopeful notion; “There is early voting just a few blocks from here, so you can go right after this rally if you haven’t voted.† Because if everyone who fought for change in 2008 shows up to vote in 2010, we will win this election, I’m confident that we will.”