This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
Published on October 16, 2019, Ohio's Democratic leaders are gathering in Columbus ahead of the presidential debate, but their focus extends beyond tonight's event. They are grappling with a pressing question: Can the party's eventual nominee carry the state in 2020?
Ohio has long been a crucial swing state, with every winning presidential candidate since 1960 carrying the state. However, the state's conservative leanings have grown, making it a challenging prospect for Democrats. In 2016, President Trump secured an eight-point victory over Hillary Clinton, a margin that was higher than in some states where Clinton did not campaign in the final weekend.
Publicly, Ohio's leading Democrats, including Senator Sherrod Brown, insist that they can put the state back in their column in 2020. Brown has emphasized the state's 'crucial role on the national stage' and its history as a bellwether. However, in private conversations, Democrats are less confident about their prospects, acknowledging that other states will be more competitive and important to their nominee.
Despite these concerns, Ohio remains a key state in the presidential election, with seven presidents hailing from the state. As the debate rages on, Ohio's Democrats are left wondering if they can reclaim the state with the right nominee.
