Word: hamilton
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...years, the social conservatism of the western part of the county and the fiscal conservatism of the eastern part formed an unbreakable Republican lock in Hamilton. Democrats like Weil focused their efforts on urban neighborhoods and only occasionally picked up support from surrounding townships and cities. But this year the Obama campaign sees a chance to pick the lock. Four years ago, Bush won the county by less than 6 percentage points; in 2006, Democrats took over the county commission for the first time in 44 years. In 2000, the last time both parties had a competitive primary...
Much of that reservoir is African American. While Bush chipped into Ohio's black vote in 2004, the Obama campaign expects to see black support above 90%. In a county like Hamilton, which is one-quarter African American, that enthusiasm could provide the margin of victory. Obama's army has blanketed the county with signs and posters. Capitalizing on Ohio's early-voting law, it has organized van rides to shuttle students, low-income residents and even homeless voters to the early polling station downtown. One Obama aide says the campaign needs socially conservative whites on the East Side...
...strength of Obama's surge in Hamilton is evident in the lift it is giving down-ballot Democrats who otherwise might not stand a chance. On a recent afternoon, congressional candidate Steve Driehaus spent a few hours knocking on doors in Forest Park, a North Side working-class suburb of mostly African-American families that have moved out of the city. It's a neighborhood where nearly every front window sports a yellow ribbon or American-flag decal, and Driehaus barely needs to make his pitch. "Oh, yeah, we're voting for you," says a middle-aged woman...
...changing political landscape in Hamilton County has left the McCain campaign with only one sure bloc of voters--social conservatives--and even they have required convincing. Cincinnati is home to some of the country's most active social-conservative leaders, including antipornography crusader Phil Burress. Many have never forgiven McCain for famously describing religious conservatives as intolerant in 2000. The McCain campaign hired Mike Huckabee's Ohio director to help smooth relations with social conservatives. The candidate himself came to Cincinnati in late June for a private meeting with half a dozen leaders to remind them of his opposition...
...outreach, along with McCain's selection of Palin as his running mate, may have alienated socially moderate swing voters and explains why McCain aides say they are targeting "the Cincinnati media market"--meaning more conservative outer counties like Butler and Warren--instead of the once rock-solid Hamilton...