Here's the ad that wins the Election in Ohio.

And it's crucial that we get this ad on the air right now, because voters - particularly persuadable voters - just started voting yesterday in Ohio.

The ad is tough, aggressive, and hard-hitting against the GOP's failed economic policies.  But we need your help to get it on the air by Friday.

This ad highlights the report released by the Ohio Democratic Party on Monday, Ohio's Eight Years of Economic Pain. You can download the full report at www.ohiodems.org/economicpain

1,087 Ohio Companies Shut Down or Had Mass Layoffs under George W. Bush, Costing More than 180,000 Ohio Jobs
83 of Ohio's 88 Counties Hit by At Least One Shutdown/Layoff.

Since 2001, 1,087 factories and companies in Ohio have shut down or had mass layoffs due to the failed Republican policies in Washington - an average of one shutdown or mass layoff in Ohio every 2.5 days, a new report revealed today. Read the report at www.ohiodems.org/economicpain

These 1,087 shutdowns/layoffs cost 180,264 Ohioans their jobs - an average of 61 jobs lost each day for eight straight years. Many of these jobs were shipped from Ohio to China, Mexico, India, and other low-wage countries.

Coming to a Smoke-Filled Cloakroom Near You...  LobbyistforCongress.com

The Ohio Democratic Party has launched a new parody website that helps  voters learn About the record and positions of career lobbyist Steve Stivers.
LobbyistforCongress.com is devoted to the record and positions of career banking lobbyist Steve Stivers. The site features a special interest issues section, introductory video, and useful biographical information about everyone's favorite lobbyist candidate.  Visitors are also invited to sign up with unique social networking portals like "MyLobbyist," "FaceBank," and "TaxIn."

"Steve is far too modest to mention his big-money lobbying career, his support for big oil companies and predatory lenders, and his vote for the single largest tax increase in Ohio history on his own campaign website, so we decided to do it for him," said Ohio Democratic Party Communications Director Alex Goepfert.

Video after the fold.

New Web Video Highlights McCain's Deep Involvement in Deal with Foreign Shipping Company as 8,000 Ohio Jobs Hang in the Balance

The Ohio Democratic Party released a new web ad today contrasting John McCain's aggressive personal intervention in the Senate on behalf of a foreign shipping company with his unwillingness to intervene just as aggressively with DHL as 8,000 Ohio jobs hang in the balance in the wake of the deal he helped broker.  

The ad features video of McCain's recent exchange with a woman at a town hall in Portsmouth, Ohio and reporting from The Plain Dealer.  On the eve of his visit to DHL in Wilmington, The Plain Dealer reported that McCain's campaign manager and longtime friend Rick Davis lobbied on behalf of DHL to overcome Congressional opposition to allowing a foreign company to take over Airborne, and that McCain himself intervened to ensure that the deal went through.  According to The Plain Dealer, Rick Davis earned $185,000 lobbying for foreign ownership, and $405,000 after the deal passed Congress.

Watch the video after the break. The Plain Dealer story is available here.  

Today John McCain will be in the Mahoning Valley trying to convince Ohioans that the economy has been good in the seven and a half years under George Bush. In fact, he described the Bush years as "a pretty good prosperous time" and said that NAFTA has been "a great thing for America."

So we went to the Mahoning Valley, an area that has been devastated by the policies of the Bush Administration, to see what real Ohioans think about McCain's views on the economy. And they responded very candidly. You can watch the video below.

Ohio State Senator John Boccieri, a Major in the United States Air Force Reserve and C-130 aircraft pilot as well as a candidate for Congress in Ohio's 16th Congressional District, will deliver the national Democratic radio address for Memorial Day on Saturday, May 24 at approximately 11:05AM.

Boccieri has served in the Reserve for 13 years and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan on four rotations during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In his address, John reflects on the solemn holiday and the service and sacrifices made by our soldiers and military families. He also calls upon leaders in Washington to change direction on policies effecting our economy, jobs, veterans, health care, and Iraq to put America and our middle class families first again.

Audio after the fold.

John McCain was in Ohio yesterday and again he did not present any real plans to alleviate the economic problems facing Ohio's working families. McCain believes that the problems you face everyday - from skyrocketing gasoline prices to rising mortgage rates - are all in your head.

Here's exactly what McCain said while discussing gas prices and economic hardships: "A lot of our problems today, as you know, are psychological - confidence, trust, uncertainty about our economic future, ability to keep our own home."

That our country's problems are merely "psychological" was news to us, so  we hit the streets to see what real Ohioans thought about McCain dismissing the real problems they face day to day.

The special election in OH-5 is heating up beyond anyone's expectations. This is a race of national significance as a loss for the GOP would be detrimental in a district that has been solidly Republican for years. Ohio Democrats from all over the state are putting forth a concentrated GOTV effort in the district.  We now need Democrats across the nation to join our effort by calling Ohioans and talking to them about Robin's message of more jobs, better health care and ending the war in Iraq.

It's time to make this happen. If you live outside of Ohio, volunteer today for Robin's Virtual Phonebank. It is easy to do and you can call from virtually anywhere. We need your help to put Robin over the top on December 11th. Contact Jason at phonebank4robin@gmail.com to sign up for Robin's Virtual Phonebank.

For canvassing and phonebanking in Ohio, email WeirauchGOTV@ohiodems.org.

We can win this race, but only with your help. Be part of a great Democratic victory. Volunteer today.