Ohio's state capital, Columbus dominates Franklin County, and is the swingiest part of the bellwether and swingy state of Ohio. Frequently, we are national ground zero for presidential politics. This year is no different, witness that two days ago, President Obama gave an education speech at Capital University, near downtown, and on Saturday, the Republican challenger Mitt Romney will do a fund raiser in Powell, Ohio, a northern suburb.
A couple of things caught my eye in today's online version of the Columbus Dispatch, the local Republican newspaper, and the only metropolitan daily in Columbus.
First, Secretary of State, John Husted, who is charged with running clean elections in Ohio, has reinstated the two Democratic Board of Elections members that he suspended last week for daring to propose and vote for . . . horrors! weekend voting in Montgomery County (Dayton). Link.
Then a story about the U of Cincinnati and Quinnipiac polls show no bounce for Romney with the Ryan selection, and Obama still leads.Update 2: No Ryan Bounce.
And perhaps more important, over the fold, it appears that the real estate market in central Ohio has turned around.
Update: Jon Husted 2005 Federal Forum partial roster (2 images)
The fact that this major part of any region's economy is doing very well is an indication that President Obama's housing policies are starting to take hold and this is likely very bad news for the Romney-Ryan campaign which thrives on bad economic news.
Dispatch story: Sales, prices soar as buyers compete for homes
The article goes on to say:
snip
At the end of July, 11,987 homes were for sale on the area’s Multiple Listing Service, 32 percent fewer than a year ago.
In some markets, the declines are steep. In Upper Arlington, 199 homes are for sale, down from 377 a year ago. In Powell, listings have dropped from 142 to 67, and in New Albany, from 156 to 75.
snip
Home sales were up 8 percent from last July in the Columbus area and 13.4 percent statewide. Nationwide, home sales rose 2.3 percent from June and 10.4 percent from July 2011.
Foreclosed properties continue to account for a large part of the market, but far less than a few years ago. Foreclosures and short sales accounted for 24 percent of national home sales and about 26 percent of central Ohio sales.
Emphasis mine.
The foreclosed properties are not good, of course, but they have moved off the market, which works to absorb inventory. The highlighted communities Upper Arlington, Powell and New Albany are considered to be upscale markets, with Powell and New Albany being homes to the nuveau riche, and generally are considered to be Republican areas. It may be difficult, indeed, for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to address a bunch of wealthy supporters in Powell on Saturday, and tell them that things are terrible in Central Ohio, particularly any members of the crowd that may be in the real estate business. This article says that Romney-Ryan will leave for the convention after leaving Central Ohio, just another indication that we in Central Ohio, are once again at political ground zero in 2012.
This graphic shows an improving housing market all over Ohio, which is more bad news for Romney-Ryan, who thrive on failure and despair, like all Republicans.
More good housing news for Central Ohio was announced yesterday. Nationwide Investments announced that 120 new housing units will be built downtown in the Arena District, signifying confidence in the future by big investors. More bad news for Romney-Ryan, who thrive on failure and despair.
And finally, when John Husted was Speaker of the Ohio House, he was a member of ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, which may go a long way toward explaining his dedication to suppressing Democratic voters and votes. Once you're an ALEC, you're ALEC all the way, from your first cigarette, till the cart you away (apologies to the memory of Leonard Bernstein).
And as we know, ALEC is committed to the wide dissemination and passage of anti-voter, particularly anti-Democratic voters from state to state, and coast to coast.
All in all, I don't think it has been a good day for Mitt Romney in Central Ohio.