Columbus Ohio- Obama vows to break cycle of job losses

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Obama to speak to Ohio police recruits

I heard on of the talking heads say again this morning that the President is "overexposed". Well, you know what? Until he has one of these things and no one shows up, he's not "overexposed", m'kay?

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama, who often says his $787 billion economic stimulus package will save or create millions of jobs, can point to at least 25 jobs saved in Ohio's capital.

Obama was to travel to Columbus on Friday to speak at the graduation ceremony for 25 police recruits who owe their jobs to the economic recovery bill he signed into law less than three weeks ago.

The recruits are part of a class of 27 who were laid off in January by Mayor Michael Coleman, a Democrat, before they could even start walking the beat. Coleman blamed city budget problems at the time.

But Coleman announced last week that the Justice Department had informed the city that it would get $1.25 million in stimulus money to pay the officers' salaries through the end of the year. Two of the recruits chose not to return.

Obama In Columbus Circa Yesterday

by Cliff Schecter

Around 1:30 or so yesterday I got a call on my phone. It was Paddy. And much like many of you, I was happy to hear from her. It was hard to hear her speak though, as I was standing among 60,000 boisterous Obama supporters at the Statehouse.

It was insane.

Paddy was calling because she saw me on the tv. Yes, it is true, somehow I was allowed to join my wife, some friends, a number of congressional candidates and various others in a "VIP" section behind the candidate (I assume in my case it was an error). So we were right in the camera's view.

In any case, it was my first Obama rally. And it was everything you hear about it and more. The crowd was batting around a beach ball. People were swaying, chanting and singing. There was a sea of diverse faces as far as you could see. It was a rock concert (I will have some pictures that we took to post soon--some technical issues).

Obama and Michelle, who also spoke, did not disappoint. It was inspiring and it made a cynic like me almost believe we can really change things. I felt the same way when I went in to early vote a week ago, and waited in an hour-long line among a crowd that was easily 75% African American. People were talking, cheering and having a good time. It was good stuff.

All of this is anecdotal, but you heard it here first. Ohio goes 52% to 47% Obama (1% assorted others) on election day. We take back the state house (my gig here) allowing us to redistrict fairly (this place is gerrymandered insanely from 16 years of Republican rule) and 4 House seats. That will give us a 10 to 8 majority among that delegation.

So, in all, feeling cautiously optimistic.