President Barack Obama is using the power of incumbency to shower the key swing state of Ohio with time, attention, and most importantly federal dollars. The first federal grant for a manufacturing center went to Ohio as well as $125 million in tax credits to promote clean energy and a $5.49 million Small Business Administration loan to a dairy owner to make more ricotta cheese.
“One of the tastiest investments the government has ever made,’’ the president quipped recently as he ran off a list of businesses the government has helped in the stated,
The Washington Post reported.
Obama is in Ohio today, marking his 29th visit since taking office, far more than sojourns to other swing states. The state in second place is Florida, with 22 visits, the Post reports.
Ohio, with 18 electoral votes, has gone to the winning presidential candidate in nearly every contest for 70 years. No Republican has won the presidency without Ohio. Obama’s efforts to woo the Buckeye state’s voters appears to be paying off with a number of recent polls showing him opening up a lead of 8 to 10 points.
While the administration denies Ohio has gotten any special treatment, it wouldn’t be out of line with previous occupants of the White House. Brendan Doherty, an expert on presidential travel at the U.S. Naval Academy, told the Post that Obama “is following in the footsteps of his recent predecessors.’’
He said that presidents have targeted battleground states since the Reagan administration and noted that President George W. Bush visited Ohio 35 times in his first term.
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