Susan Gwinn, chairwoman of the Athens County Democratic Party says "Taft has been a disaster for Ohio. His approval rating is so low, it's unbelievable. We'll mention Taft every chance we can."
Governor's Split With Conservatives Might Harm Bush
By JAMES DAO
Published: July 4, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Before the Bushes of Connecticut and Texas, before the Kennedys of Massachusetts, there were the Tafts of Ohio.
William Howard Taft was the nation's 27th president. His son, Robert, a conservative senator known as "Mr. Republican," was the powerful nemesis of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal. Robert's son became a congressman and his grandson, Bob, is the state's sitting governor. In Ohio, the Taft family is the closest thing to a Republican farm team.
But Governor Taft, 62, now finds himself at odds with conservatives, unpopular with voters and sitting atop a party organization that is riven by feuds and tarnished by scandal. The disarray is so great, Democrats contend, that it could hurt President Bush's ability to win Ohio, a pivotal state for the Republicans. "We will run against Bush and Taft," said Susan Gwinn, chairwoman of the Athens County Democratic Party. "Taft has been a disaster for Ohio. His approval rating is so low, it's unbelievable. We'll mention Taft every chance we can."
The governor and other Republicans dismiss such threats.
"I don't believe that the in-fighting will have an impact on the presidential race," Mr. Taft said. "Everyone is working strongly for the president."
But Republicans acknowledge that the party has problems, calling them the bitter fruit of success. Republicans have occupied the governor's mansion since 1991 and dominate the state legislature and Congressional delegation. Mr. Taft was elected to a second four-year term in 2002 with 58 percent of the vote.
Today, there is not a single Democratic statewide elected official and the party's best known personality is a television talk show host, Jerry Springer, a major Democratic contributor and potential candidate for governor.
Amid such utter domination, the Republicans have had no one to blame for the state's troubles - except other Republicans. And those troubles have been numerous.
Since 2002, tax revenues have plummeted and education and health care costs have risen, causing huge budget shortfalls. Mr. Taft cut programs and pushed a 1 percent sales tax increase through the legislature.
Before long, his approval rating had fallen to below 40 percent and he was facing a rebellion among conservatives, led by the Republican secretary of state, J. Kenneth Blackwell, who has called for repeal of the sales tax increase.
"As a state, we've gone the other way from the president," Mr. Blackwell said in an interview. "Our tax policies have created an environment that is a hostile climate for business."
At the same time, Mr. Blackwell has been locked in a bitter feud with the Republican House speaker, Larry Householder. Both are considered potential candidates for governor in 2006, when Mr. Taft will be ineligible to succeed himself, though Mr. Householder has been hurt by an investigation into possible campaign finance violations by some of his advisers.
Tall, deep-voiced, mild-mannered and centrist in his politics, Mr. Taft - like generations of Tafts, a Yale graduate - is not known for his charisma. But supporters and even some Democrats say he deserves more respect.
"You're not going to find him giving fiery stump speeches," said Robert T. Bennett, the state Republican Party chairman. "But he fits the mold of what Ohioans look for in a leader: common sense. He's a very decent man."
William Burga, president of the state A.F.L.-C.I.O., agreed. "We get along with him better than with Voinovich," Mr. Burga said, referring to George Voinovich, Mr. Taft's predecessor as governor. "He's a more honest person."
Mr. Bennett scoffs at Democratic assertions that Mr. Taft will be a drag on the Republican presidential ticket. Still, it seems clear the governor will keep a low profile in the campaign. Mr. Taft seems unfazed by that prospect.
"I don't think people vote in presidential elections based on how they view state issues," he said. "The governor can be most helpful in building the base, grass-roots organization, helping to raise funds, as I did in 2000."
