IRONTON -- As history has shown, no Republican can become president without winning Ohio. That's one reason John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, will hold a town hall meeting at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Portsmouth High School.
Ray T. "Moose" Dutey, chairman of the Lawrence County Republican executive committee, convinced George Bush of the need to campaign in rural Ohio to offset Democratic votes in Ohio's metropolitan areas. Bush twice won Ohio and made a stop in Ironton four years ago.
Dutey, the Lawrence County auditor, said Ohio will once again be a pivotal state in the upcoming presidential battle between McCain and Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee. Obama is also aware of the importance of Ohio, making two campaign policy announcements in the Buckeye State in recent weeks.
"Right now, the race is close in Ohio," Dutey said Monday at the Lawrence County Courthouse. "Fifty-seven rural counties in Ohio will be the key. Southeastern Ohio is important. The campaign realizes the importance of Southeastern Ohio, just like President Bush did. He lost the big cities, but won in the rural areas and carried Ohio."
Former President Bill Clinton also twice carried Ohio, Dutey said.
Lawrence County Recorder Sharon Gossett Hager agrees it's not too soon to be talking presidential politics. But while Dutey will head over to Portsmouth to see McCain on Wednesday, Hager will spend her time in Lawrence County. This is fair week and any politician knows this is the time to get out and start talking to voters.
"I have another commitment," Hager said. "This is fair week and I'm short-staffed. A lot of election talk kicks off at the fair."
She agreed with Dutey about the importance of rural Ohio in the upcoming election. "Southeastern Ohio will be a deciding factor," Hager said.
Dutey said the campaign stop by McCain this week likely won't be his last during the campaign.
"There are real contrasts between the two candidates," Dutey said. "People will have a choice. Obama's never been to Iraq. McCain has. Obama wants to pull the troops out. McCain wants to see the country stabilized. I agree with McCain. There have been a lot of mistakes in the war, but things are doing better."
McCain has promised to appoint conservative judges, a move that could lead to the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Dutey said.
"I've talked to some Democrats who say they don't know enough about Obama," he said. "I just don't think he's seasoned enough."
The Portsmouth High School gymnasium has seating for 1,800, Dutey said. "They're hoping for a big crowd," he said.
Doors at the gym will be open at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
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