BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ohio's Democratic candidates for statewide office started an eight-city bus tour Friday, calling it the final push of their campaigns. The Republican candidate for governor did the same.
The Democratic bus planned stops in Sidney, Toledo, Lorain, Cleveland, Canton and Youngstown.
Gubernatorial candidate Lee Fisher and U.S. Senate candidate Mary Boyle joined the tour along the way.
Those on board from the start in Dayton included candidates John Donofrio for state treasurer, Charleta Tavares for secretary of state, Louie Strike for state auditor and the three Democratic Supreme Court candidates.
David Leland, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, said the tour was to let people know that a vote for Democrats is a vote for education, health-care reform and tax cuts. And he said it gives voters a chance to see the candidates in person.
"Too many times people only campaign through television," Mr. Leland said. "While television is important, it is important that they get a chance to see the people who are going to serve them in state government."
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Taft began his own three-day, 16-city bus tour on Friday. Mr. Taft's statewide swing included stops in Port Clinton, Bowling Green, Findlay, Lima, Piqua, Yellow Springs, Dayton, Xenia, Wilmington, Lebanon, Cincinnati, Middletown, Parma, Rocky River, Canton and Akron.
About a dozen supporters greeted the Democrats' bus at its first stop, Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton.
Among those on hand was Gary Hill, president of United Auto Workers Local 696. Mr. Hill said he is working to get Mr. Fisher elected. Local 696 represents 3,400 hourly workers at two General Motors Corp. brake plants. Some of the workers were denied unemployment benefits this summer when they were laid off because of a UAW strike at plants in Flint, Mich.
"The governor has the power to take care of that for us," Mr. Hill said. "Lee Fisher has told me personally that if that happens again, we'll get our unemployment. For that reason alone, that's enough for me."
Ruby Sledge, who was waiting for her bus, appeared indifferent to the candidates. She said voting doesn't change things and that she will be too busy to go to the polls.
"All I try to do is go to work, keep my job, put money in my pocket," Ms. Sledge said. "I've got a minimum-wage job. I can't take off." candidate Bob Taft was embarking on a bus tour of other cities.
