Right On The Right

John Boccieri's campaign has taken a few hits lately, such as during his presser about gas prices. The Democrats in the district are trying to spin Youngstown John as the hometown boy with the plan, but he has neither the plan or the hometown name. The Schuring campaign is cautiously optimistic about the polling results coming out recently, and my sources say Youngstown John's internals aren't looking any better. From the Schuring release:

(CANTON) - Sen. Kirk Schuring's 16th Congressional District campaign is in a strong position heading toward the fall, leading Youngstown Democrat John Boccieri by six points, a new Tarrance Group poll shows.

"I'm very pleased to see our campaign's strength in the 16th Congressional District," Sen. Kirk Schuring said. "The people of this district know that Washington is broken and that's why our common sense conservative message is beginning to resonate throughout this district. Voters want a Congressman who is from the district, who understands the 16th District, who is a problem solver and who knows that to affect real change to our pocketbooks we need to drill for oil, create jobs and make healthcare more affordable. My opponent refuses to allow Americans to drill for oil so that we can pay lower prices at the gas pump. Today's poll is evidence that the people here in the 16th Congressional District want someone to represent them who will stand up for their concerns and work to fix the crucial problems we face."

My last post about the Schuring campaign garned a bit of controversy, in the Ohio political community and in the blogging community. Since I released the post, I've had conversations with plenty of Ohio political operatives and I want to clarify a few things and give my readership some updates:

First off, I still endorse and will always endorse Kirk Schuring for United States Representative, and I believe the people of Ohio's 16th would be doing us a disservice by electing John Boccieri. Despite the problems that the campaign has had with the blogging community, my endorsement should never have been in question. My first post should've clarified this. Second, on the blogger front, some friends of mine said they have been contacted by the Schuring campaign and I applaud them. It's time that we push forward and win this thing.

On a seperate point, I haven't been contacted by the official campaign yet but I have been contacted by someone in the Stark County Republican community with a few videos about Boccieri. The following video is from a press conference John was supposed to have with prominent Democrat Rahm Emanuel. Rahm didn't show and Boccieri was left to field questions from the audience, and he attacked drilling:

Boccieri is incorrect in saying that we wouldn't see a drop of oil for 15-20 years. If we began offshore drilling, which is essentially easy-access oil, we'd see refined gasoline within 5 or 6 years. If we began slant-drilling in the Rockies, it wouldn't take much longer than that. What John fails to mention also is that immediately prices would plunge because the speculators would see America securing her own energy independence. Whether these videos were sent from someone within the Schuring campaign or not, I appreciate the tip-off, and I fully support Kirk going into November.

Ohio readers, and astute readers in general, will know that back before the Ohio Primary Cycle I made two big endorsements. I decided to endorse Kirk Schuring for Ohio's 16th and Paul Phillips for Ohio's 18th. Kirk won his Primary by a hair and Paul Phillips lost out to Fred Dailey, the former Secretary of Agriculture here in Ohio. Since then, boy have there been problems with the Schuring campaign. I haven't received one press release since the victory back in March, and sources close to the campaign say it has to do with a big internal shake-up. Whether it be staff-related or money-related, I know that bloggers are being left out in the cold. I'm not the only one. I did a quick search of Weapons of Mass Discussion, a site known for having all the campaign news, and the last mention of the Schuring race was the night after primary night! Can you say media blackout? Meanwhile, from the Dailey campaign, whom I didn't endorse...:

Mount Vernon, OH) – Fred Dailey, Republican candidate for Congress in Ohio's 18th District, praised the 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision to strike down the District of Columbia Gun Ban. This decision clearly protects the rights of U.S. citizens to bear arms.

"The Supreme Court made a common-sense ruling today to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms," Dailey said. "This decision affirms that our second amendment right is an individual right and that firearms will continue to be a part of the American culture. This decision also underscores the importance of having a Supreme Court that defends our constitutional rights instead of legislating from the bench."

And that's just one of about half a dozen press releases I've received from Dailey's camp. In all honesty, I thought Dailey would have a harder time reaching out to bloggers, but he obviously chose the staff to do it. Schuring has dropped the ball and is quickly losing the battle for blog coverage. I decided to investigate the Schuring problem, but the real problem is there's no one to talk to. It took me days of digging and all I've been told is the internal shake-up has left media advisories not being sent out to the blogosphere and staff unpaid. Stay classy Kirk, and good job to Dailey. ROTR endorses Fred Dailey for Ohio's 18th Congressional District, and I am left baffled by the events coming out of Schuring's HQ in Canton.

I have an internet exclusive to share with you guys, and it has to do with the Ohio 16th race. Kirk Schuring has racked up yet another endorsement from a major Republican establishment group. The forerunner organization for gun-owners sent this letter to Kirk:

On behalf of our millions of NRA members, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund is proud to endorse your candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2008 Republican primary election in Ohio’s sixteenth congressional district. Based on your record in the Ohio state legislature, as well as your response to our NRA Federal Candidate Questionnaire, you are rated an “A” by the NRA-PVF in this election.

As a member of the Ohio Senate, you demonstrated a proven commitment to defense of our Second Amendment rights through your votes for Ohio’s Right to Carry law and efforts to stop bogus lawsuits against our domestic gun manufacturers.

The NRA-PVF urges all NRA members, gun owners, and sportsmen in Ohio’s sixteenth congressional district to vote for you in the Republican primary election on March 4th.

The NRA is one of the most principled Conservative groups in the nation, and the fact that they support Kirk adds another notch in his belt of credentials. Kirk has the establishment, and it's because he has the views and experience to serve Ohio.

The ROTR endorsed candidate for Congress representing Ohio's 16th is Kirk Schuring. Ben Keeler has the exclusive, bringing us Schuring's first television ad. Check it out:

Schuring earns some points with me for making it clear that he opposes amnesty and making it clear that he wants strong, secure borders. That's a Conservative ideal and we need more allies in Congress to fight against amnesty.