The State of Ohio is a weekly news program spotlighting the latest happenings at the Statehouse, in the Governor’s office, at the Ohio Supreme Court and throughout the Buckeye State. Award-winning host Karen Kasler presents viewers with unique analysis and thoughtful perspective on important issues of statewide interest through interviews with political leaders, newsmakers, experts and Ohio citizens. The State of Ohio is the only TV show to bring to Ohioans the latest news about taxes, voting, education and other critical matters from where it all happens -- Capitol Square.

Friday, February 29, 2008

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Ohio has been a central focus for the candidates for president, just a few days before the March 4th primary. Nearly all the candidates have been in Ohio in the last few days, some spending every day in the Buckeye State. This week, videographer Ron Corby went to two campaign events – a rally for Barack Obama, whose campaign is gaining energy, and an appearance by Mike Huckabee, who is battling to stay relevant.

As for the other candidates, Hillary Clinton spent much of this week in Ohio, as did former president Bill Clinton and their daughter Chelsea. In between their tours of Ohio, Clinton and Obama faced off in their 20th debate at Cleveland State University – a face off that’s expected to be their last. John McCain was in Ohio as well – the talk show host who introduced him in Cincinnati sparked a national firestorm with his comments blasting Obama, for which McCain apologized.

For some voters, all this won’t matter. More than 150,000 in Ohio’s six largest counties have taken advantage of early voting and cast their ballots, and the final count of early voters could break the record of more than 700,000 who cast ballots before election day in 2006. Discussing the primary are Republican Mark Weaver, who been a campaign consultant to former attorney general and auditor Betty Montgomery, several members of Congress and Ohio Supreme Court Justices, and Dale Butland, former press secretary for U.S. Senator John Glenn, and briefly worked with Jerry Springer on his speculative political campaign. Weaver is now working on the energy bill with the Ohio Electric Utility Institute, a lobbying group representing investor-owned utilities in Ohio. And Butland is speaking for Ohioans for Healthy Families, which is pushing for a law to require companies to provide their workers with paid sick time.

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