10/24/00 3:30 p.m.
Unanswered Questions
Clear answers are hard to come by in the race for Ohio.

By Kevin Holtsberry, freelance writer based in Ohio

he once white-hot spotlight of media attention has moved on. Ohio is no longer at the center of attention in the presidential contest. Important questions linger. Can Gore change the dynamic in the Buckeye State? Will the small but palpable Bush momentum nationwide widen the gap? Do "swing" voters really care?

These are the difficult questions that candidates, consultants, and political junkies consider in an agonizingly close race where every electoral vote counts. Clear answers are hard to come by but there are indications and gut feelings.

Can Gore change the dynamic in Ohio? Yes. Theoretically, anything is possible. After all, the Cincinnati Bengals actually won a football game on Sunday (they scored 31 points!). Finding a winning strategy won't be easy, however, as Gore is in an awkward spot. He must convince swing and undecided voters that he is a genuine and civil human being while at the same time raising Bush's negatives by attacking his policies and proposals.

This is a very difficult strategy this cycle. By all accounts crucial undecided voters are completely turned off by attack ads and confrontational campaigns. For example, I recently heard a female voter assert: "I wish there was a law that prevented candidates from attacking their opponents, they should only talk about their own ideas." Clearly, Gore's hard-hitting ads on Bush's Texas record and Social Security would violate this rule.

In fact, Gore and Ohio Democrats are aware of this dilemma and are running ads on both fronts. One set of ads attack Bush on Social Security and his Texas record, while another set seeks to present Gore as a personable and intelligent candidate whose policies reflect "our values." It remains to be seen if Gore can be both likable and aggressive, or if he can outline an impressive (depressing?) list of new policies and yet be for smaller government. Lastly, can he energize a largely apathetic group of "undecided" or "uninterested" voters in order to move the polls?

In the end, I don't think he can. His attack ads might sway some voters and rally some of the faithful — but they will likely alienate as many as they motivate. His "I am not for big government" spots are too little, too late. Gore's thematic dissonance and his stretched resources in the state hamper their effectiveness. By a small but solid margin most voters simply feel more comfortable with Bush.

While Politicians stump and pundits prognosticate, partisans will throw their energy into Get-Out-the-Vote activities, manning the phone banks, and stuffing envelopes for last minute mailings. With dozens of key races in the state — ranging from school board to president — this street warfare often determines which candidate hits the mattress exhausted but content, and which one dreams of what might have been.

Right now it's advantage Bush.

The spotlight might have moved on but the battle continues.