[img_assist|nid=1257|title=Sherrod Brown and Nancy Garland|desc=Politicker Photo|link=none|align=left|width=420|height=203]GAHANNA - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain) drew volunteers, fired them up and sent them out yesterday on behalf of state House candidate Nancy Garland (D-New Albany).

About 100 people attended the indoor rally and then canvassed in Gahanna, the state House district's population center northeast of Columbus. Brown told them that thanks to their help in 2006 and today, a new Democratic era of American politics will be created.

"Historians will probably look at 1980 that a conservative era began in this country, but they will look at 2006 as the year that the conservative era ended in this country," he said.   

Garland thanked the volunteers for their help and said winner her race and taking the state House majority is critical for the state.

"Gahanna is ground zero. If we win Gahanna guys, we are going to win this race," she said of the district's population center.

Garland skipped her opponent state Rep. Jim McGregor (R-Gahanna) to take a swipe at House speaker Jon Husted (R-Kettering) for blocking a $200 million bond issue to pay for military veterans' bonuses in July.

"I can't think of people who need a bonus more than our servicewomen and servicemen," she said.

Garland also hit the Republicans for not fixing the state's school funding method and allowing thousands of jobs to be moved out of state during the GOP's 16 years in the majority.

Garland said her campaign has knocked on 12,000 doors in nine months. Communications Director Liz Brown said the Garland campaign has canvassed Gahanna, Bexley and spent a great deal of time door-to-door in New Albany.