Governor candidates trade jabs

From the Wall Street Journal

Strickland, Kasich Trade Jabs at Ohio Debate

By Douglas Belkin

In an hour-long debate that never veered far from the topic of jobs, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland told voters tonight that his middle-of-the-road approach to weathering the recession built the foundation for a strong state recovery. His Republican opponent, John Kasich, said the time had come for more drastic measures.

The debate in this important swing state turned heated at times with Strickland attacking Kasich at virtually every opportunity, calling him reckless, impulsive and the product of Wall Street values that placed a premium on “a fast buck over the common good.”

Ohio voters have been angry about job losses, and polls show they are taking it out on Democrats. Kasich is leading in recent polls, and Real Clear Politics’ polling average has him up nearly 11 percentage points.

During the debate, Kasich was less aggressive, saying he would not engage in the “politics of distraction.” He only occasionally criticizing Strickland, once “for not getting it,” when the governor touted government spending as an important tool toward future growth. Kasich’s plan: Cut taxes to attract employers.

“We’re the seventh highest tax state in America, we have a great deal of difficulty attracting jobs,” Kasich said. “So, No. 1: Shrink government. Get the lobbyists and the special interests snouts out of the trough.”

Ohio has lost nearly 400,000 jobs since Strickland took office three-and-a-half years ago and has an unemployment rate of 10.3%, above the 9.6% national average. It also faces that projected $8 billion budget shortfall, and neither candidate offered specific prescriptions to cure that.

Strickland said the economic downturn was not of Ohio’s making and blamed Kasich, who worked at Lehman Brothers, for being part of the problem that drove the nation’s economy over a cliff. He said that Ohio’s economy was showing signs of recovery because of his prudent tax cuts and strategic investment in education and infrastructure.

“Ohio is making progress,” Strickland said. “We do have the sixth fastest growing economy in America. New jobs that can’t be outsourced are being created here in Ohio.”

Kasich, a former congressman and Fox News commentator, said more needs to be done and that his training as a banker would help him lead the state toward a more business friendly climate.

When asked why Lehman Brothers hired a congressman with no experience in investment banking, he said it was because he was an innovator. “Being a banker and figuring out business just takes creativity and ingenuity,” Kasich said. “It wasn’t easy, I had to prove myself, but what did I do? Helped create jobs.”