Over the past few days I've seen and heard about some conservatives upset with Dave Yost switching from the AG race to the auditor's race. They are questioning his principles and saying he is unwilling to stand up to the "establishment".
I say he's smart. And principled.
Yost currently serves as Delaware County Prosecutor. Previously, he served as County Auditor. If Dave felt he could contribute to Ohio's greater good at the state level, he could choose between running for AG or State Auditor. Well, at the time of the decision making process, Mary Taylor was planning on running for Auditor and the AG race was wide open. Logically speaking, running for AG was the obvious decision.
Unfortunately for Yost, when he made his decision to run for AG, he didn't have the benefit of having full knowedge of the effect rumors and ultimately the entry of Mike DeWine into the AG race would have upon his own candidacy.
Well, as we all know, from a fundraising perspective, the effect has been devastating. Mike DeWine was able to use his 30 years of relationship building to dominate fundraising and zero out Yost's ability to raise any significant funds, even among his own supporters.
Now, conservatives like to be mad at Mike DeWine, but his politics aside, you can't blame a guy for wanting to make a comeback.
Now, with his cash-on-hand at virtually zero, Yost faced the same challenge Jennifer Brunner currently faces, but without her name ID. Without cash, he had to go up against someone who has repeatedly won statewide. Yes, he lost last time, but that doesn't lessen his name ID. Some conservatives like to think the perceived backlash against DeWine would be enough to force a Yost victory. Unfortunately, that universe only exists for those wrapped inside the political bubble - where politics is something we obsess over day in and day out. The reality is this - DeWine was going to win. He had far superior name ID and Yost didn't have the money to enhance his own ID or highlight his record versus that of Mike DeWine. Additionally, DeWine did have the money to ensure his victory. In other words, Yost didn't stand a chance.
So in facing this political reality, Yost could either stick it out in a race he was virtually assured of losing, or move over to a now open auditor's race - a race in which his resume is perfectly suited. But this time with major contributors committed to backing him.
Yost's decision isn't about giving in to Chairman DeWine or surrendering his principles. It's smart. Plain and simple.
Yost believes he can help the state of Ohio. He can't do that from ending up 2nd place in the AG race.
If anyone really cares about what is good for Ohio, they would do whatever they can to keep Mike DeWine out of any public office. Dave Yost may have done what is best for Dave Yost but he did not help the State of Ohio any.
ReplyDeleteIf you’ve ever had a chance to listen to Dave Yost speak, you would know simply that this was NOT a decision based solely on what is best for Dave Yost, he is a candidate that has always represented the grass roots and genuinely cares about making a difference. This was not an easy decision but the right decision, if he had stayed in the AG race he would have lost, not because he wasn’t the better candidate but because the name of the game is money and connections, Dave Yost for State of Ohio Auditor is what’s best for Ohio.
ReplyDeleteWell, this means I will be voting for Richard Cordray in November.
ReplyDeleteMike DeWine wants his old seat back from Sherrod Brown, and running for AG is just his "stepping stone" back into office.
While I certainly want to see Brown chased out of office in 2012, I don't want to have to hold my nose and vote for DeWine ever again.
YOU: "Now, conservatives like to be mad at Mike DeWine, but his politics aside, you can't blame a guy for wanting to make a comeback."
ReplyDeleteME: You can NOT be serious. Hell yeah I can be mad at Mike DeWine for wanting a comeback. What does 60-40 LOSS mean to you people anyway?
Ugh. Matt, clearly I meant from his perspective.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone goes out like that, they'd love an opportunity to come back and end their career on a high note.
I'd settle for just "end his career". Mike DeWine is bad for Ohio, bad for the Republican Party and bad for gun owners. He needs put out to pasture.
ReplyDeleteYost staying in the race would've kept him lined up for 4 years later ('cuz DeWine ain't winning any general election in Ohio - see 2006 & 2008 - we don't vote for gang of 14 members here). Further, he'd have some more "street cred" in the bank. The Auditor race will be VERY HARD in the general election - anyone but Mary will need some serious coattails to ride into a winning result.
While winning beats losing I would argue that it is better to lose in the primary to an eventual general-election loser than to win in the primary and then get spanked in the general. At least when the primary goes against you (and the nominee then gets beaten) there is the chance to say, "See, we made a poor choice - let's fix that next time." But when you lose in the general election people avoid you like you've got leprosy.
By the way - Mike DeWine IS the embodiment of political leprosy.