Ohio Democrats are looking to TV host Jerry Springer as a possible candidate for governor, according to more than a half dozen Democrats in Business Insider.
Those who want Springer to run have said that Springer's career as a TV talk show host will help him connect to working-class voters. Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and the Hamilton County Democratic chairman, Tim Burke, have spoken with Springer about his potential candidacy, according to Business Insider.
The current governor, Republican John Kasich, leaves office in 2018 due to term limits.
Springer is politically active in the state and has political experience: he was the mayor of Cincinnati in the late 1970s, and he ran for the Ohio governorship in 1982. He considered running for the U.S. Senate from Ohio in 2000 and 2004, but changed his mind both times, Business Insider reported.
"The issue of me running for political office frequently comes up because I am constantly touring around, giving speeches and raising money for the party," Springer told Business Insider on Tuesday.
"If I do ever decide to throw my hat in the ring . . . I will let people know. At this point . . . I don't even have a hat," Springer added.
"I think it's important that we win and that we have the strongest possible candidate," Strickland said in Business Insider's report.
"I think he has a very strong ability to communicate what I think is the heart of the Democratic message. I think he is a superb communicator," Strickland added.
One Democratic operative told Business Insider that Ohio Democrats had enough quality candidates. Springer's background as host of "The Jerry Springer Show" will be a distraction in the race, the operative said.
In February, Springer discussed a possible candidacy with the Cincinnati Enquirer.
"What's probably giving it more juice this time is the Trump victory. People are thinking that somebody outside the traditional political establishment can win. His constituency is basically mine. These are fans of the show. I could be Trump without the racism," he said.
Ohio's rural voters are being "duped" by Trump, Springer said in the Enquirer. "They are ignored. That ought to be the constituency of the Democratic Party. Trump has misled these people. They're not getting helped by deregulation. They're not helped by getting rid of healthcare," he said.
The talk-show host has weighed in on recent political issues. In March, Springer slammed the Republican healthcare proposal. "What kind of freedom do you have if you can't afford to take your kid to the doctor?" he said at the time on MSNBC.
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