Ohio: Ohio Democratic Party

Taylor made her announcement at the Statehouse a week after informing the Ohio Republican Party central committee that she would not run for the U.S. Senate against former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman of Cincinnati in next May's GOP primary election.

"I want to continue the progress we've made helping to provide Ohio taxpayers with a more accountable and affordable government," Taylor said at a press conference.

Taylor said she "seriously considered" a Senate bid and denied receiving any pressure from the state GOP to run for re-election. Her decision, she said, was based on "where do I fit in to be of the best service" to Ohioans.

The auditor is one of five members of the State Apportionment Board, which will reconfigure Ohio's 99 House and 33 Senate districts for the next decade after the 2010 census.

Strickland went to Chicago on March 16 for what the Ohio Democratic Party calls "campaign and party-building meetings" to raise money for himself and the party. Doug Kelly, the party's executive director, declined to provide details.

The governor also held political meetings in New York last Tuesday and spoke at the Spain-U.S. Business Sustainability Conference at the Grand Hyatt New York.

Strickland was invited by the Spanish ambassador in part to discuss the state's partnership with two Spanish companies involved with solar and wind projects with the hope of new development in Ohio, spokeswoman Amanda Wurst said.

The governor also stopped by the Lou Dobbs Show on CNN and made a pitch for Ohio, saying, "I invite people watching this show to come to Ohio.

I'm outta here.

I don't mind people who disagree with me.  In fact, I came here because I enjoy the give and take of a good debate.  Lord knows, I suffered the slings of arrows of several frontpagers, commenters, and other bloggers because of my support of Hillary Clinton.  And yet, despite some deeply personal and regretable attacks from both sides, I stayed.

I've been at this site for three years now.  I've gone through three rounds of site administrators during that time.  I think it's safe to say I'm the longest running member of BSB still blogging. Until today.  Because during my entire time at BSB, I've had one simple request for the administrators here: we don't have to agree with each other, but we should always have each other's back.

The Ohio Democratic Party's Saturday dinner in Cleveland, organized to celebrate its 2008 victories, was actually dominated by talk of victories in 2010. (Finally, the party is looking ahead!)

Five Democrats - Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, Cincinnati State Rep. Tyrone Yates, Dover Congressman Zack Space and Cuyahoga County Commissioner Lee Fisher - pitched themselves for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Republican George Voinovich, who is retiring at the end of next year.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown urged party members to avoid a costly primary. (He had a brief but nasty tangle with Cincinnati lawyer Paul Hackett in the 2006 primary.