GOP exodus makes inner suburbs key this fall, analysts say

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/115908689079311.xml&coll=2

Sunday, September 24, 2006
Sabrina Eaton
Plain Dealer Washington Bureau

Cincinnati - The battle for control of Congress is being fought this year in inner-ring suburbs like Cincinnati's Westwood, where neighboring lawns display rival campaign yard signs and savvy politicos avoid ringing doorbells when football is on television.

Church festivals and football games socially unite Republican Rep. Steve Chabot's congressional district on fall weekends, although it remains politically divided. In 2004, President Bush narrowly won the area, while Chabot got 60 percent of the vote against an underfunded challenger.

Yet Chabot's contest this year against Cincinnati Democratic Councilman John Cranley is a nail-biter. Cranley has raised almost as much campaign money as the incumbent, and both candidates describe the race as a dead heat.

One reason is that the changing demographics of some cities - with Republicans moving out and Democrats staying - could help Democrats' chances here, in Columbus and in other cities. And if enough Democrats win seats now held by Republicans like Chabot, their party could gain congressional control...

[Demeter]

1. That's Sounds Like a Good Way to Lose!

Those are the first line of layoffs, right there!