governor's races, starting with ohio, where i think in are tightening and democratic incumbent ted strickland now back in a dead heat with republican john kasay. finally to maryland, where incumbent governor marty o'malley is opening up a big lead over republican bob earlyic who he beat four years ago. we will continue to check the "hardball" score board and all the big races every night leading up to election day j now to president obama in full campaign mode. u.s. congressman jim clyburn of south carolina is the democratic whip. congressman clyburn, thank you for watching. here is president obama last night in madison, wisconsin. >> i know times are tough right now. i know times are tough. i know a lot of folks are anxious about the future and i know that during the campaign, especially after we had already

. >> reporter: that could be way kasich is neck in neck with democratic governor ted strickland and republican senatorial candidate rob portman leads democrat lee fisher. there are 35 days until the election but early voting here started today and both sides know that two years ago john mccain got more votes here on election day but obama won the state with the lion's share of early voters. >> early voting is a critical part of our strategy. quite frankly, you can lose an election in ohio before election day. >> reporter: now, our poll gives the democrats something of a back handed compliment. whereas only 28% of ohioians like that job the democrats in congress are doing, only 22% like what the republicans are doing. katie? >> couric: dean reynolds reporting from columbus, ohio, tonight. meanwhile, jeff greenfield is our senior political correspondent. jeff, they may not be happy with either party in congress but clearly ohio voters are very unhappy with the job president obama is doing. why is that so significant? what does it tell us? >> i think ohio is as representative a state as any in th

and also arlen specter and struggling incumbents like ohio governor ted strickland and president obamaimself who knows he must convince voters the economy can improve. >> we stop the bleeding, stabilize the economy but the fact of the matter is the pace of improvement is not where it needs to be. and the hole we had dug ourselfs in was enormous. gwen: the scary truth appears to be rattled voters appear to lash out at lots of people for lots of reasons. let's go through some of the reasons here, panel. starting with you, john. >> the economy. i'll take the easiest, biggest target, the economy is bad and affecting people in their lives and if it's not affecting them it's affecting somebody in their lives and everybody is anxious. in this time of anxiety they turn to washington and see people they dislike, distrust and are just bafoons. and the numbers for congress are terrible and people look and say they're doing nothing to help me in my life. gwen: what about it, jeanne? >> i think that's part of it. action in washington is driving a lot of this. the republicans, many of them are angry

an iraq war veteran was doused in hot coffee at an event featuring ted strickland.race gallagher has been checking it out. live in our west coast newsroom. unbelievable story >> reporter: thinks name is clayton hanson, also a republican staffer. he went to ted strickland's campaign event, who of course is running for governor against john kay sick -- casic. he's campaigning when somebody paors hot coffee -- pours hot coffee on his back >> excuse me, sir. i didn't mean to bump into you. >> reporter: did you hear the guy there? it was kind of an insincere didn't mean to bump into you. what he does is hansen goes on, he films stricklands remarks. he goes back, the coffee spiller was clearly giving him the one finger signal by his nose. now if you have any doubts about whether this guy spilled the coffee or not the cops want to see this guy and know who he is , because he is now facing assault charges. if you have any idea who that quite is that allegedly assaulted that iraq veteran call the sciotio county sheriff's office. they want to investigate this thing. by the wa

russ feingold is in trouble and ted strickland, polls favor republicans for congress by a margin of sixercentage points. >> there are races where you have democrat incumbents down 10 11 points. people are angry but not having jobs. >> that is playing right in to republican hands. >> i believe washington is crushing us. >> this a vote for republicans or just against democrats? >> if republicans win can control of congress it's because voters are voting against democrats. >> experts believe they are in track to regain house and with high profile democrats in races, republicans could make a run for the senate, too. feeling that wave, mr. obama has little choice to blame his predecessor. >> if the economy was a card and they drove it into the ditch, these guys come and tap us on the shoulder, we want the keys back. [ laughter ] >> you can't have the keys back. you didn't mow how to drive. >> a message that doesn't appear to be working. >> that effort has failed. president can continue to work at trying to show voters they need more time. that is what ronald reagan did in 1982. they haven't

one of the finest governors and this country, ted strickland. [applause] the lieutenant governor and soon-to-be junior senator from the great state of ohio, lee fisher is here. [applause] i used to hear that line about the senator from illinois. that would be made. [laughter] outstanding mayor of cleveland, frank jackson is here. [applause] the mayor of parma. [applause] somebody who is fighting for work and families every single day, the sheriff. [applause] 3 of the hardest working and finest members of the house of representatives, dennis kucinich [applause] marcia birch, and john burterri. good afternoon, everybody is good to be back in ohio. her you know, in the fall of 2008, one of the last rallies of my presidential campaign was right here, in the cleveland area. [applause] it was a hopeful time, just two days before the election. we knew that if we pulled it off, we would finally have the chance to tackle some bacon difficult challenges that had been facing this country for a long time. we also hoped for a chance to get beyond some of the

. >>> well ohio governor ted strickland and other state officials got an up-close look at the destruction left behind by tornadoes. one destroyed part of the ohio state university campus in wooster. there is no shortage of trees uprooted and power outages. damages said to be in the millions. but nobody hurt or killed. definitely wild weather through the heart of the country. >> the weather has been crazy this year. but things are calm here as home. >> we like to complain when it's bad. >> exactly. and fall is just around the corner also. but we're not doing too bad. we have a spike coming up in our temperatures. but let's look at our satellite radar composite. a ridge of high pressure in control. there is a frontal system on the way and we'll watch that closely as it could provide just a few changes in some of our viewing area. so here is a look at the current temperatures at the airport for you. 63 at national airport. 57 at dulles and we have 59 degrees at baltimore. and as we take a look up the mid-atlantic, cooler for boston at 58 degrees. and we have 60 degrees to the south in richmo

let's go to ted strickland and john kasich.sonal attacks. >> he also called the leader of lehman a good friend and awesome leader. he said he's the kind of guy you want to go into battle with. now he says i was in a two-person office in columbus, ohio that office earned him a $400,000 bonus when lehman brothers was going into bankruptcy. doesn't sound like a two-person office to membership. >> it has been almost a full year of innuendoes and smears. you know what? because if you can't sell your own record, you attack the other guy. you know what? i'm not distracted. >> sean: it is interesting. personal attacks against christine o'donnell didn't work. they've been trying this against john kasich his poll numbers keep going up he's up by a seven point margin in a state like ohio. really it seems the voters want jobs. they want government that is going to tighten their belt. none of this stuff seems to matter. >> personal attacks when the economy is in the tank people are tone-deaf. look at barack obama. tried to talk about the pa

john casic running five points ahead of ted strickland in the state gubernatorial race in ohio senate race bob portman is now seven points ahead of lee fisher. and out in california in the golden state, meg whitman leads jerry brown by six points in the race for governor and karly fiorina trails barbara boxer by just two points but still within the margin of error to. help analyze number wez bring in the pollster, one and only mr. frank luntz good to see you and undecided are down at 4%, 6%, we're still 49 days from the election. yet, everybody made up their minds there. is not that much room to. me those numbers aren't soft. they're harder than people realize. this is going to be hard for democrat autos dick morris contends any break is going to move in the republican column. >> democrats in washington one party rule. they have white house, both houses of congress and so... any break going to take place, any undecided will go republican. >> and traditionally the break is about two to one for challenger over incumbent. it's not just republicans benefit because they're not democrats th

wednesday, ohio, to try and help governor ted strickland. all as the latest polls show voters favor republicans for congress by a margin of six percentage points. >> there are races here where democratic incumbents are down. 10, 11 points. people are simply angry. they're angry about the economy, about not having jobs. they're angry about obama-care. >> reporter: that's playing right into republican hands. >> i believe washington is crushing us in spending and debt. >> reporter: is this a vote for republicans or just against democrats? >> if republicans win control of congress, it's because voters are voting against democrats. >> reporter: while conservative tea party candidates may have complicated republican efforts. experts believe they are on track to regain control of the house. with high-profile democrats in tight races, harry reid and barbara boxer, republicans could make a run at power in the senate, too. feeling that wave, mr. obama has been left with little choice but to blame his predecessor and plead for patience. >> if the econo

on majority leader harry reid and in ohio, he's up among likely voters and incumbent governor ted strickland in ohio trails former congressman john kasich. and in california a statistical dead heat with barbara boxer leading carly fiorina by 2 percentage points and meg whitman 6 point cushion between former governor jerry brown. the major issues in the abbreviated congressional session before the election has to do with your money. how much to take and how much to spend. correspondent james rosen reports it could come down to whether democrats stand together. >> amid reports that multiple members of his rank and file are prepared to dessert him and support extension of bush era tax cuts to upper as well as middle encome, at that pairs, senate majority leader harry reid assures people he is holding his party together. >> we're united as a caucus to cutting taxes to middle class americans ap small businesses. and i hope the republicans wouldn't hold hostage middle class tax cuts in order to protect the give aways to millionaires and billionaires. >> reporter: outnumbered on the senate floor th

between jerry brown and meg whitman and ohio former fox news guy john kasich leads the incumbent ted stricklandpoints. keeping an eye on all of those races the vote is just six weeks away. very interesting. those are the big ones along with the delaware thing we will get to in a moment. plenty more ahead as the factor moves along this evening. what does a society do when a society allows a 2-year-old smoke pot. what kind of punishment should be imposed? is it legal on the case. charles krauthammer will talk about the mail he has received about his comments about christine o'donnell. that should be interesting. we hope you stay tuned to those reports. >> bill: culture warrior segment tonight, provocative cover story in "newsweek" man up. traditional mail endangered species. time to rethink masculinity. i don't know about you, but i'm very frightened. here now the culture warriors fox news margaret hoover and gretchenarlson. all right, carlson, is it all over for hen? we don't need men anymore. you hear jennifer aniston. >> oh, well, i hope it's not over for men. come on, i love men. listen, "new

couple of governor's races, starting with ohio, where things are tightening and democrat incumbent ted strickland is now back in a dead heat to republican con kasich. finally to maryland, marty o'malley opening a big lead over ehrlich, who he beat four years ago. we will continue to check the "hardball" score board and all the big races every night leading up to election day j now to president obama in full campaign mode. u.s. congressman jim clyburn of south carolina is the democratic whip with. congressman, thank you for watching. here is president obama last night in madison, wisconsin. >> i know times are tough right now. i know times are tough. i know a lot of folks are anxious about the future and i know that during the campaign, especially after we had already started winning, the feeling was, well this is just exciting, you got those nice hope posters and then there was the inauguration and beyonce singing and bono and i know sometimes it feels a long way from the hope and excitement that we felt on election day or the day of the inauguration. but i've got to say, we always knew this was

but that is one of ted strickland's arguments that he was part of that washington that nobody likes.also works for lehman brothers. you know, they had a televised debate last night. we were out in ohio, the show was, last week, your home state. they had a televised debate last week. i want to play something kasich said in his closing statements that sounded very familiar. >> well, about a week ago, ten days ago, i walked into a bob evan's. and as i walked through the restaurant, i saw a man and a woman, and i went over to them and they were writing numbers on a piece of paper. i said, what's -- what are you doing there? they said, well, my job was downgraded. the lady says , my job was downgraded. we're sitting here working on the family budget. trying to figure out how to make it work. >> you wouldn't be surprised that democrats senate, they question just about everything he says. one blogger in the state wrote this anthony fosakaka wrote, like much of tonight's debate, the words come out of john's mouth were fiction. someone please send me a photo of the ohio couple in the bob evan

between jerry brown and meg whitman and ohio former fox news guy john kasich leads the incumbent ted strickland6 points. keeping an eye on all of those races the vote is just six weeks away. very interesting. those are the big ones along with the delaware thing we will get to in a moment. plenty more ahead as the factor moves along this evening. what does a society do when a society allows a 2-year-old smoke pot. what kind of punishment should be imposed? is it legal on the case. charles krauthammer will talk about the mail he has received about his comments about christine o'donnell. that should be interesting. we hope you stay tuned to those reports. ♪ [ deb ] people don't just come to ge capital for money. they come to us for help. at ge capital, we've been financing taylor guitars for over eight years, helpi them build a strong dealer network. bringing music to people... i like that. ♪ ♪ [ bob ] i didn't know you could play. i didn't either. ♪ boss: and now i'll turn it over gecko: ah, thank you, sir. as we all know, geico has been saving people money on rv, camper and trailer insurance...

on monday, he'll be in ohio, hanging out with ted strickland, the governor there, who faces a tough re-electionbut also in presidential politics. 2012 not too far away. talking about 2012, just the other night we had sarah palin in iowa. remember she was headlining the big republican party dinner in iowa. coming up this week, mitt romney, another possible contender for the 2012 gop nomination, he'll be in new hampshire doing the same thing sarah palin was doing. he'll be headlining a big new hampshire dinner for the republican party. they say, this is just about this year and helping republicans raise money for this year, but maybe it's partially about 2012 and the next race for the white house. t.j.? >> thanks to paul steinhauser. for the latest political news, you can head right to our website, cnnpolitics.com. [ male announcer ] let's throw down some style. style that lasts a lifetime. what do you say we get the look we want, the softness we need, and an unbeatable lifetime stain warranty for whatever life throws at it. then let's save big on the installation. ♪ we're lowering the cost of go

today he is going to be with ted strickland, the governor of ohio.ton is campaigning with him twice today. yesterday he was in pennsylvania campaigning with joe sestak running for the senate there. finally, the tea party and coffee party, are they getting together? the coffee party, we talked about it earlier this year, maybe a progressive alternative to the tea party. the coffee party is having their first national convention later this month, 25th of september in louisville. guess who is going to be talking there, amy kramer, from the tea party express. maybe there's a little kumbaya here. >> tea party, coffee party. what's next? what do you drink in the morning? >> i can't talk about that on tv. >> could be an interesting party, though. your next political update comes in an hour or go to our web side cnn politics.com. ♪ [ male announcer ] you're at the age where you don't get thrown by curve balls. ♪ this is the age of knowing how to get things done. ♪ so why would you let something like erectile dysfunction get in your way? isn't it time you tal

. >> the ohio governor ted strickland getting a firsthand look at the damage left by a tornado. the twister tearing through a research campus of ohio state university on thursday reducing some of the buildings to rubble and scattering debris across a wide area. >>> president obama and his family went to itch cho. they walked uh -- went to church. the last time he and his family attended church publicly was easter sun i ad, last april. >>> and an american woman released after 13 agonizing months in a notorious iranian prison is now speaking out. sarah shourd expressing deep gratitude for her released, but saying she and the two other hikers with whom she was imprisoned never committed a crime and their arrest was a huge misunderstanding. we go live to new york city. that's quite a misunderstanding, peter. >> it is, greg. sarah shourd made her first statement to the u.s. media after being released from an iranian prison after 410 days. speaking on behalf of herself and her two friends left behind she declared "we are not spies." she expressed her great thanks to the government and

this is what joe biden said just a few hours ago at a fund-raiser for ted strickland, the ohio governory. compare me to the alternative. the republican tea party is the alternati alternative. that's the message he's telling democrats to tell their friends into the midterm elections. >> mark preston, thanks to you and to paul. we're talking politics tomorrow, among other stuff, with the former president, bill clinton. he's got a lot on his mind. he's my special guest tomorrow in "the situation room." >>> jack cafferty is coming up next with "the cafferty file." >>> then texting and driving. the deadly toll it's taking on america's roads and highways. >>> and a pop star pressuring lawmakers to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the u.s. military. will lady gaga's rally have an impact? ♪ everything you need to stretch out on long trips. residence inn. ♪ everything you need to stay balanced on long trips. residence inn. gothgeckt-shirt... "4 milon drirstched!". gecko water bottle... notebook... chamois... gecko: sir, i feel a little bit uncoorblwith all... you know.. ahis. mean, 's no

today in ohio helping out ted strickland democratic governor there facing a tough re-election.the democratic governors association. bill clinton is not done with ohio. he moves on to minnesota later today where he'll fund raise with the democrat's nominee mark dayton, former senator. rock star on the campaign trail. over to mark preston. >> national democrats want voters to know who john boehner is. who is he? a lot of people don't know who he is. he is an ohio republican. and if the republicans were to take a back the house majority he would be the new speaker. they want people to know about him so much they are running tv ads. they just released another ad today. let's take a quick listen to it. >> pass out campaign checks from big tobacco on the house floor. team up with wall street to block reform. >> does he have a lot of relationships in this city? yes, absolutely. >> there you go, ali. john boehner, an ohio republican. democrats are trying to villianize him saying he'd rather side with big business than the working man. much like republicans are trying to villainize nanc

party hands and the vice president going to ohio today teaming up around now with the governor, ted strickland couple things going on. over to mark for more stuff. >> tony, of course, viewers know i tend to get serious until i talk about serious subjects. point something out with a little fun. check out the picture on cnnpolitics.com. you can see, it says rr100. what that is, the sealers on the "uss ronald reagan" they are spelling out his initials, and 100 to signify his 100 birthdays. the late president, of course, was born 100 years ago. come february they plan a year-long celebration to honor his life and his legacy. so, of course, this picture right here, we see it on cnnpolitics.com, taken last week. a shoit out to dillon mccord, the u.s. navy sail here took that picture, tony. kind of a cool thing to check out on our website. >> high, i love that. wish we could take it full. that looks terrific, but we can certainly direct everyone to the website. gentlemen, appreciate it. very good. thank you. >>> your next political update coming up in one hour for the latest political news, just go t

little and give you a fourth one and that is joe biden is going back to ohio to campaign for ted stricklandjoe biden's fourth trip to ohio in two months. really huge, big state there, ali. >> and it's a microcosm of the entire nation and economic problems the nation faces. candy crowley, thanks. be sure to stay with cnn for the key races and key issues heading into the midterm elections. your next update is an hour a y away. >>> we have talked about cyberbullying and how the internet age has taken old-fashioned bullying to an all new and tragic level. i've got more to say about it coming up. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 absolutely. i mean, these financial services companies tdd# 1-800-345-2550 are still talking about retirement tdd# 1-800-345-2550 like it's some kind of dream. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 it's either this magic number i'm supposed to reach, or... tdd# 1-800-345-2550 it's beach homes or it's starting a vineyard. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 come on! tdd# 1-800-345-2550 just help me figure it out in a practical, tdd# 1-800-345-2550 let's-make-this-happen kind of way. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 a vineyard? giv

ted strickland and lee fisher who is running for senate. i am not sure when we will do if things do not turn around and if we do not put the people it -- right people in office. that is why i am going to do everything possible to make a difference in this election. there is too much at stake. thank you. i would now like to introduce the afl-cio vice-president arlene holbaker. >> thank you, trent. your story is one that moves us all, your commitment to state in the fight for the middle-class. good morning to all of you. we have been talking about economic patriotism and working people are facing. what we know is working people are frustrated, yet, they are angry. that frustration and anger is being stoked by people, groups, corporations who are trying to distract working families from the truth. the truth is, the agenda that they advocate brought about our economic devastation and will deepen the economic inequality that is so dangerous to our society. americans are angry because they are losing their jobs and their homes. we have seen the f

first of all, someone who i believe this one of the finest governors in this country, ted strickland. [applause] the lieutenant governor and cent of the junior senator from ohio, lee fisher is here. -- and send to be the junior senator from ohio, lee fisher. in the junior senator from illinois used to be made. the outstanding mayor of cleveland, frank jackson, is here. rma.mayor of palm someone is fighting for work and family each and every day. and three of the hardest working and finest members of the house of representatives, then as the senate's -- dennis kucinich, and good afternoon, everybody. it is good to be back in ohio. you know, but in the fall of 2008, one of the last rallies of my presidential campaign was right here in the cleveland area. it was a hopeful time, just two days before the election. we knew that if we pulled it off, we would finally have the chance to tackle some big and difficult challenges that had been facing this country for a very long time. we also hoped for a chance to get beyond some of the old political divides -- but during democrats and republican

first of all, someone who i believe is one of the finest governors in this country, ted strickland.applause] the lieutenant governor and soon to be junior senator from illinois -- i mean ohio, ray fisher. you get that line all the time about senator from illinois. that would be me. [laughter] the outstanding mayor of cleveland, freight jackson, is here. -- frank jackson, is here. the mayor of pommard, dean of material. someone who is fighting for work and family every day, sherry brown. [applause] and what of the hardest working and fine as members of the house of representatives, dennis kucinich. [applause] marce a church -- marsh a church. [applause] good afternoon, everybody. did is good to be back in ohio. you know, in the fall of 2008, one of the last rallies of my presidential campaign was right here in the cleveland area. it was a hopeful time. just two days before the election. we knew that if we pulled it off, we would finally have the chance to tackle some big and difficult challenges that have been facing this country for very long time. we also hope for a chance to get b

we have in ohio race ted strictland the governor and john kasich. a stricklandasich guy. watch this+inÑec&5g >> sean: coffee on him and gives the veteran a middle finger. it is getting hot out there. >> that is the lowest. you don't need to do this. >> sean: you haven't done that to me once in all the years -- >> i hope i never do. >> o'reilly does that to me every night. i walk down the hall, it is scary. >> you provoke him. >> i do. i thought the worst thing was strickland singing the tom petty song in the background. >> that was wrong. >> that was wrong. that was an injustice. >> sean: things are hot out there evidenced by that grayson ad we aired earlier. juan you didn't see it. for your been fit we ing to run it again. >> thank you -- for your benefit, we are going to run it again. >> thank you. >> sean: his opponent said don't use it they cut out the don't part. >> announcer: religious fanatics try to take away our freedom right here in central florida. webster wants to impose his radical fundamentalism on us. >> she should submit to me that's in the bible

ted strikland. what a race. polls show much of strickland's lead is due to support from independence.d had your shoes shined. well, i made you a reservation at the sushi place around the corner. well, in that case, i better get back to these invoices... which i'll do right after making your favorite pancakes. you know what? i'm going to tidy up your side of the office. i can't hear you because i'm also making you a smoothie. [ male announcer ] marriott hotels & resorts knows it's better for xerox to automate their global invoice process so they can focus on serving their customers. with xerox, you're ready for real business. we're with you when you're saving for your dreams. [ woman ] when you want a bank that travels with you. with you when you're ready for the next move. [ male announcer ] now that wells fargo and wachovia have come together, what's in it for you? unprecedented strength, the stability of the leading community bank in the nation and with 12,000 atms and thousands of branches, we're with you in more ways and places than ever before. with you when you want the most fro