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All About McSame

Everything you really need to know:

1--John McCain Votes to Filibuster Minimum Wage Hike

2--McCain housing policy shaped by lobbyist

3--Bush, McCain plug Social Security

4--McCain blasts Obama's and Clinton's attacks on NAFTA

5--McCain in NH: Would Be "Fine" To Keep Troops in Iraq for "A Hundred Years"

6--McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion

7--Senate passes expanded GI bill despite Bush, McCain opposition

8--McCain says overturn the law that legalized abortion

9--McCain Defends Bush's Iraq Strategy

Fifteen State Legislators Endorse Obama

Submitted by Jeff on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 4:22pm.

The Obama for America campaign announced at a press conference today that 15 members of the Ohio General Assembly are supporting Barack Obama:

Sen. Capri Cafaro, Hubbard
Sen. Eric Kearney, Cincinnati
Sen. Tom Roberts, Dayton
Sen. Tom Sawyer, Akron
Sen. Shirley Smith, Cleveland
Rep. Jennifer Brady, Cleveland
Rep. Ted Celeste, Columbus
Rep. Mike Foley, Cleveland
Rep. Robert Hagan, Youngstown
Rep. Tracy Heard, Columbus
Rep. Tom Letson, Warren
Rep. Clayton Luckie, Dayton
Rep. Dan Stewart, Columbus
Rep. Tyrone Yates, Cincinnati
Rep. Sandra Williams, Cleveland
[UPDATE: Rep Vernon Sykes of Akron wasn't listed but is an Obama supporter.]

That essentially ties him with Hillary Clinton, who claimed 14 on the list of endorsements issued last week:

Sen. Ray Miller, Columbus - Senate Minority Leader
Sen. Lance Mason, Cleveland - Minority Whip
Sen. Dale Miller, Cleveland
Rep. Todd Book, McDermott - Ass't Minority Leader
Rep. Steve Dyer, Green
Rep. Eugene Miller, Cleveland
Rep. Barbara Boyd, Cleveland Heights
Rep. Michael DeBose, Cleveland
Rep. Tim DeGeeter, Parma
Rep. Jennifer Garrison, Marietta
Rep. Edna Brown, Toledo
Rep. Matt Szollosi, Oregon
Rep. Linda Bolon, East Palentine
Rep. Ron Gerberry, Austintown

There are 67 Democratic legislators in the two chambers combined, so these two lists represent fewer than half. Comparing the two lists is interesting along several dimensions.
Continued after the break.

First is race. The Ohio Black Legislative Caucus endorsed Obama in January, but Ohio's only African American member of Congress is Clinton's national campaign chair. Obama has eight supporters who are African American, compared to six for Clinton, five of whom have districts in or near Rep. Tubbs Jones' congressional district. Only Sen. Smith and Rep. Williams are from Tubbs Jones' area but broke with her to support Obama. African American legislators not accounted for on these lists are House Democratic Leader Joyce Beatty of Columbus, Rep. Dale Mallory of Cincinnati, Rep. Fred Strahorn of Dayton, and Rep. Vernon Sykes of Akron. [UPDATE: Sykes is an Obama supporter.]

Second is gender. Obama actually received more endorsements from women legislators (five) than Clinton (three). The Democratic women not listed are Lorraine Fende of Willowick, Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles, and Kathleen Chandler of Kent.

Third is leadership ambition, i.e., state representatives thought to be interested in running for the position of House Speaker if the Democrats take control of the chamber in november. Todd Book and Matt Szollosi are in the Clinton camp, Ted Celeste is supporting Obama, and Armond Budish of Beachwood has not taken sides. Szollosi's endorsement may owe something to his strong ties to organized labor, Book's to his location in Gov. Strickland's former congressional district. Celeste's endorsement of Obama is interesting, given his close ties to Strickland.