By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

U.S. Senate candidate state Sen. Eric Fingerhut (left) meets Jerry Springer Tuesday. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

TROTWOOD - Talk show host Jerry Springer and State Sen. Eric Fingerhut came face-to-face for the first time Tuesday night, kicking off what could be a colorful year-long battle for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

Love him or not - and 71 percent of Ohioans said they don't in a poll released this week - Springer will bring some excitement to the senate race, Montgomery County Democrats said.

"He has brought the argument that George Voinovich needs to be replaced to the headlines long before they would be paying attention," said Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Dennis Lieberman. "He's a good Democrat."

Springer, the former Cincinnati mayor and host of Jerry Springer, used most of his six-minute stump speech to decry a looming war with Iraq.

"This is a war that gropes for justification and finds none," he said "And I say as a Democrat that we as a party have yet to meet our obligation to provide an alternative."

Montgomery County Democrats, meeting at Hara Arena in suburban Trotwood for their annual "Frolic for Funds" event, brought out about 500 people to see the potential senate candidates.

Both Fingerhut, who has formally announced, and Springer, who has not, are beginning to crisscross the state in an effort to build support.

Springer found it in Bob Hunley, a 53-year old millwright. Hunley said he was impressed with Springer's impassioned speech on Iraq, but not with his television show. "If you had asked me this morning, I would not have voted for him. Tonight I would," he said.

But some Democrats said Springer hasn't paid his dues.

"He's been away from the state for so long. Fingerhut is probably closer in touch with the people of Ohio," said Willis Blackshear, 42, an assistant Montgomery County treasurer.

Fingerhut, from the east side of Cleveland, doesn't have Springer's negatives - but doesn't have his name recognition, either.

"I am the candidate who is going to challenge George Voinovich's record all over this state every day for the next 20 months," he said, answering his own question.

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com