As we’ve seen in the polls, Strickland’s efforts to delegitimize Kasich in the eyes of the voters hasn’t worked.
In the face of a massive jobs crisis, yelling “outsourcing”, “NAFTA”, “Wall Street”, or “Lehman”, seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
Strickland’s particular focus on trade as of late caught the attention of the Columbus Dispatch.
And what they unveiled once again weakens the messenger in his effort to tear down his opponent.
Although Strickland voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement and against granting China permanent favored trade status in 2000, he supported retaining most-favored-nation treatment for China in House resolutions in 1993 and 1994.
[…]
Although he blames NAFTA for Ohio’s job losses, Strickland last year supported President Barack Obama’s decision not to reopen the agreement with Canada and Mexico, saying at the time that “we have to be very careful about any signals of protectionism.”
Ohio is the seventh-largest exporter among all states. In 2009, Ohio exported more than $34 billion worth of goods and services, including nearly $2 billion to China.
Besides calling Strickland out on his hypocrisy, that last stat is an important one to note. Without NAFTA or trade with the Chinese, there is no question Ohio would be exporting fewer goods. Exporting fewer goods means lesser demand. Lesser demand means lesser production. And lesser production means fewer jobs.
But after the total and complete failure of Turnaround Ohio, does it surprise anyone that Strickland can’t comprehend what’s good for Ohio’s economy?
Of course not.
All that said, let’s hope Strickland continues with his torched earth style of campaigning. I don’t mind the results.
