Strickland makes Toledo stop to pump up volunteers

Gov. Ted Strickland thanks the volunteers outside of the phone bank center Monday.

Governor Ted Strickland pumped up volunteers working the phones for him at a Democratic Party call center in East Toledo Monday, his first stop on a trip that will take him to Cleveland later in the day.

Mr. Strickland told supporters the race will be close, and predicted he would win because of their support. A poll conducted for Ohio's eight largest newspapers last week found Mr. Strickland just behind Republican opponent John Kasich in the Nov. 2 election.

The governor met with about 75 volunteers and local Democratic activists and politicians in the Weber Block Building in East Toledo, at 101 Main St.

He attacked Mr. Kasich for his "Wall Street values," saying Mr. Kasich earned millions of dollars with Lehman Brothers while Ohio lost hundreds of millions of dollars after Lehman Brothers went bankrupt in 2008.

"We are in a position to win and I will be able to say we won because of your efforts," he told supporters.

The governor was buttonholed by Latesha Cooper-Benton, a Toledo mother of a junior high school student, who wanted to know what the governor was doing to increase local jobs.

Gov. Ted Strickland thanks the volunteers outside of the phone bank center Monday.

Mr. Strickland told her of his administration's investments in solar and wind power and the 5 1/2-percent increase in education in the current budget.

"Most educators are supporting me. I have kept faith with education and I have not allowed education to suffer," Mr. Strickland said.

Ms. Benton-Cooper, who is making phone calls on Mr. Strickland's behalf, said, "I just need to know what he is doing for us versus what John Kasich is doing wrong."

Mr. Strickland was to continue on to Elyria and Cleveland for more meetings with volunteers.