My Four-Year Term is Over.

Four years ago today (January 20, 2005) this blog launched as a very crude attempt to try and capture some of the creative energy that Ohioans spent trying to defeat George W. Bush.

The blog started on a different software platform and was really designed as a giant blogroll with a weekly column written by yours truly. The first few posts told stories about people and groups I met on the campaign trail as the State Volunteer Director for Eric Fingerhut's U.S. Senate run in 2004.

Eventually, I realized it wasn't working and I put it on the back burner for a few months. After working another campaign, I used the post-race down time to transfer the site to Blogger and tried to fire it up again. I added a few friends and actually made a pretty good run at it. It lasted a couple of months before I took yet another campaign gig.

Finally, in 2008, after the March primary, I decided to take one last run at it. I told myself that despite the overwhelming odds, I'd defend Hillary Clinton until Barack Obama clinched the nomination. I kept my promise...and kept blogging.

Down the stretch, and heading into November, I found myself enjoying blogging more and more. I did the best I could to write creative posts based on experience and instincts. Most of all, I tried to entertain and inform. I appreciated the comments, links, and emails. It all made it worth the effort.

Today, after four years, BlueOhioan goes into the history books. While the blog goes away, I will be moving to a larger stage and assuming ownership of Ohio Daily Blog. Ohio Daily has one of Ohio's larger followings and I'm hoping this will only grow as many of you follow the link. Will I go another four years? Not sure. I do know I've got lots of ideas I want to explore and I'm looking forward to hearing what you think as time goes on.

Join us at Ohio Daily!

Anthony Fossaceca

PS - Thanks to Susan Meara who kept this blog going for extended periods of time while I was running around the state from one race to another. Her work may not have been appreciated by some of our peers (who hated her critical eye and sharp criticism of Barack Obama), but I know of no other person who works so hard for the things we all believe in. Susan's the best campaign volunteer I've ever worked with (and I've worked with some great ones).

PSS - Tip of the hat to Veronica Johnson and Megan Tackett who also contributed to the blog during the four year run. I appreciate the help and you will forever be remembered - or at least until they delete this account.

Mike Wins BlueOhioan Contest!

Now, who the hell is "Mike?"

Sir, come forward and claim your prizes! Contact me at spinfoss[at]blueohioan[dot]com

I'm Still on Vacation, But Mary Jo Kilroy Isn't!

I'll be back Monday. In the mean time, give Mary Jo Kilroy $5 or more as she fights to have every vote counted in the 15th Congressional District. There are tens of thousands of votes left and she's down by fewer than 200. And guess where those uncounted ballots were cast? You got it. Democratic precincts! No wonder the GOP wants to stop counting.

Help today. We need another pro-Obama vote in the U.S. House!

Kilroy Counts Votes Committee (OH-15)	$

We Shall Overcome

Today.

Fox News Calls Ohio for Obama

I'm the superstitious type, but ...

... when Fox News calls Ohio for Obama, it's time to open the first bottle of champagne.

WE'RE MAKING IT HAPPEN!!!

Breaking : Obama wins Dixville Notch

First Democrat since Hoover to win the first in the nation polling
location. Folks, we're going to do it! Fight and volunteer tomorrow.

My Humble Opinions

Alright, I'm wrapping this bad boy up for the moment. I've got to help get the kids fed, then I'm out in the dark to do GOTV for Obama before turning around before the polls open to volunteer for the duration. I'm about sick of scenarios and Electoral College chatter. I'm hoping Obama runs the toss-ups and somehow hits 400, but I'll be shocked if it happens.

Here's my humble opinion. Obama wins the ones you expect, as does McCain. I've got Florida, Indiana, Georgia, Missouri, Montana, Arizona going for McCain. I believe Obama will hold onto Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio as well as Colorado, and Nevada.

I missed Florida and Indiana, but not by too much. Missouri is still counting votes, but it's McCain's.

My count has it Obama 311, McCain 227 (Wrong! Obama got at least 365. Yikes!). I think the race is called at 12:30AM Wednesday morning (It was 11PM Tuesday night) as it will be close to an even race as we hit the Mountain time zone and eventually the Pacific. California will be the state that finishes campaign 2008. McCain will be out of options and will concede at 12:45AM. The national popular vote will be Obama 54% - McCain 45%. (Close. Obama 53-46)

Obama will win Ohio 52-47 with 1% for third party candidates. The overwhelming numbers will come out of Cuyahoga County (duh) where results won't be finished until 1 or 2AM. (Almost got it. Obama 51-47 with close to 2% for third party)

The "Drama State" will be Florida (with similar problems to 2000) as this will be the closest state in the nation again - predicting McCain ahead by 4000 votes by mid-Wednesday morning. There will be a recount in Florida. Bank it. (So I was off by 200,000 votes. So what?!?)

The other close ones will be Montana (McCain will win by a percentage point) (Wrong, McCain by 3), North Carolina (McCain by 1.5%) (It was Obama by 1%) and New Hampshire (McCain by 1.5%) (Yikes! Obama by NINE)

In Ohio, Richard Cordray will win with 56% of the vote. (Got it!) The Democrats will take the Ohio House by a razor thin margin. (True, but maybe a little better than razor thin.) Both GOP Supremes will win. (Got it.)

In our House races, Vic Wulsin (No), Mary Jo Kilroy (Maybe), Marcia Fudge (Yes), John Boccieri (Yes) and Steve Driehaus are all headed to Washington. Sharen Neuhardt will get 47% (She got 41%) (I still hope I'm wrong) in an incredibly stunning performance. She will be back and will win in 2010. Dennis Kucinich will beat Jim Trakas 58-41%. (Close. 56-39) Trakas ran a terrible campaign with no visibility, God-awful yard signs (magenta on grey?), no television (at least none I saw) and no sign of a real effort. The Cuyahoga GOP can stop whining about one-party control. Until they show they can earn their stripes, they can sit down and shut up.

National wins include Al Franken (Maybe), Bruce Lunsford (Nope) in my favorite upset of the night, Kay Hagan (Yes!), Mark Begich (Still counting, but looking good) as the Dems end the night with 57 Senate seats. (Holding true, but trending higher)

That's where I'm at. For what it's worth, a 269-269 would be really interesting, but let's save that for another generation to stress over.

Board of Elections Video : Cuyahoga County

Jill Miller Zimon took her video camera to the Cuyahoga Board of Elections. Look at the lines! Unreal.

Voting 101 : Spread the Word

Lots of first time voters out there. Please pass this video their way.

The 2008 BlueOhioan "Rate the States" Contest

This is it. The final hours are upon us. After two years of talking, running, and predicting, it's finally come down to this Tuesday. Who will win and by how much? Rather than give you a bunch of reasons why I think my numbers will be spot on, I'd like to hear what YOU think. And I'll make it worth your while.

Simply comment below with:
* The final Electoral College numbers for Obama and McCain (270 wins and there are 538 electoral votes)
* (tiebreaker #1) The final percentages for Obama and McCain in OHIO.
* (tiebreaker #2) The final percentages for the national popular vote.
* (tiebreaker #3) The day and time CNN calls the winner.

The winner of the contest will receive a sporty, white, long-sleeve BlueOhioan shirt, an Ohio for Obama-Biden ringer t-shirt, a BlueOhioan mug, and a blue Ohio map oval sticker for the car.

So, add it up and send it in.