Coshocton Forum Uncovers Issue Differences

            On October 15^th, the three candidates for the 18^th congressional district in Ohio faced off in a forum in Coshocton with rhetoric about issues and jobs.[1] In this forum, Democratic candidate Zack Space further cemented his message of portraying himself as a moderate while Republican candidate Bob Gibbs showed himself to be a conservative advocating government withdrawal from business interests.

            As jobs have become the central issue of the campaign, the two candidates have found themselves in different camps as to how to create these jobs. In a recent interview tith the Mount Vernon News, Space championed the stimulus package and has taken credit for the jobs created in the 18^th by it. In the same article, Gibbs criticizes the stimulus and advocates government withdrawal from business.[2]

            Space has been criticized by the Americans for Prosperity for his vote for the cap-and-trade proposal in a recent advertisement.[3] The advertisement is biting in associating Space with Pelosi, a figure that the Republicans are trying to make the villain of this campaign season. The question as to whether or not the negative ads from this campaign will result in a decreased turnout has evidence on both sides in scholarly research.[4] [5]

            Space and Gibbs have less to disagree on when it comes to health care. Space voted against the health care proposal for the reason that it did not benefit seniors enough and Gibbs also came out against health care reform from a libertarian standpoint.[6] Space was able to further bolster his credentials with senior citizens with a vote on senior security.[7]

            Also of note, Gibbs supporters are running a phone advertisement that the NRA is accusing of falsely claiming the NRA endorsement.[8] An interesting study to be undertaken would be whether this ad had a measurable effect on having voters believe the candidate was NRA-endorsed.

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[1] Alaimo, Jessica. "18th District Candidates Sound off at Coshocton Forum."Zanesvilletimesrecorder.com. Zanesville Times Recorder, 15 Oct. 2010. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. <http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/20101015/NEWS03/10150301/1002/NEWS01/18th-District-candidates-sound-off-at-Coshocton-forum>.

[2] Reed, Alan. "Gibbs, Space, Sutton Square off for 18th District Seat / Mount Vernon News."Mountvernonnews.com. Mount Vernon News, 18 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. <http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/10/election/gibbs-space-sutton-square-off-for-18th-district-seat>.

[3] Israel, Josh, and Aaron Mehta. "Americans for Prosperity Blasts Ohio Democrat’s Climate Change Vote." The Center for Public Integrity. 21 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. <http://www.publicintegrity.org/blog/entry/2553/>.

[4] Ansolabehere, Stephen, Shanto Iyengar, Adam Simon, and Nicholas Valentino. "Does Attack Advertising Demobilize the Electorate?" American Political Science Review 88.4 (1994): 829-38. Print.

[5] Lau, Richard R., and Gerald M. Pomper. "Effects of Negative Campaigning on Turnout in U.S. Senate Elections, 1988-1998." Southern Political Science Association 63.3 (2001): 804-19. Print.

[6] Reed, Alan. "Gibbs, Space, Sutton Square off for 18th District Seat.”

[7] "SPACE ANNOUNCES VOTE ON RELIEF FOR SENIORS." PoliticalNews.me. 17 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. <http://politicalnews.me/?id=5615&keys=Congressman-Zack-Space-SocialSecurity>.

[8] Riskind, Jonathan. "NRA Corrects 18th District Call: Space Has Its Support | Columbus Dispatch Politics." Ohio Political News & Opinion | Columbus Dispatch Politics. 20 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. <http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/10/20/copy/nra-corrects-18th-district-call-space-has-its-support.html?adsec=politics&sid=101>.