  One of the biggest gossip pieces in the political air these days is about Jerry Springer, Ohio delegate to the DNC, potential gubernatorial candidate, talk-show host, and city-councilman who resigned after paying for a hooker with a personal check. Springer is the kind of mainstream politician even John Waters could love. Every pundit wants to talk about Springer, because it's the kind of political bookmaking that has appeal outside the Dorkway. Of course, Springer gossip is hardly new. Remember back when he was going to challenge Senator George Voinovich? Well, that fell through. Can't imagine why. Back in those Springer v. Voinovich days, I put a lot of thought into whether or not such a bid would be a good idea.
I ruled against it, because Springer negatives were too high, Voinovich was immune from anti-Bush sentiment among moderates and independents because he was the Senator who single-handedly forced the President to reduce his tax cut proposal, and Springer clearly hadn't come up with a way to blunt criticism of his talk show. The first rule of politics is name recognition is everything. Springer has near-100% recognition (through-out his Vice Presidency, Al Gore's recog rating were in the low 90s). This is a serious advantage that comes close to overcoming the negative ratings altogether. But with negative ratings at 75%, well, that might be a bit much. urlLink Salon's got an interview with Jerry. The interview didn't make me think much more of him. He seems earnest, has a keen sense of political realities, and is willing to push a populist and left-of-center agenda. But he still seemed incapable of dealing with his show. He has to a find a way of turning the show to his advantage, or at least turning the criticism away.
As urlLink Tim Noah has said at Slate, if Kerry doesn't win Ohio, there is almost no way that Springer can be denied the nomination. The frenzy for any candidate with the twin advantages of huge personal wealth and high name recognition won't be overcome in the primary. But Noah also finally got the answer I was looking for. When asked about his show, Springer says it "didn't shut down one factory ... it's absolutely irrelevant to people's lives.
" In a state where even President Bush admits the economy is not picking up [Bush's message in Ohio seems to be "So, yeah, the economy here is still shitty. But it will get better. I won't do anything to make it better. Just have faith in tax cuts. Tax cuts are totally the new Jesus! "], this message may be what Springer needs. It marries a populist message to a dismissal of his critics. Whether or not this formulation will work, it gives me an idea that maybe Springer has the ability to craft a political narrative that will work. The problem with his campaign to me now is less the candidate than the platform. Should the economy turn up in the first two years of a Kerry administration, that can help create coattails for Congressmen, but will have limited impact on gubernatorial elections.
The sitting Republican administration will get the credit, and Springer's message won't have any power anymore. Ohio, the birthplace of at least eight Republican presidents (roughly twenty percent of all presidents) will almost certainly turn back to its conservative roots unless the economy stays bad. Springer should pray for a depression. 
