Dayton Daily News backs Neuhardt and Wulsin

The Dayton Daily News has endorsed attorney Sharen Neuhardt (D-Yellow Springs) and Dr. Victoria Wulsin (D-Indian Hill) in their respective races for U.S. Congress.

Neuhardt is running against state Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) to replace retiring U.S. Rep. David Hobson (R-Springfield) in Ohio's 7th Congressional District. And Wulsin is challenging U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) for Ohio's 1st Congressional District.

The News wrote that Neuhardt is the "smarter, bolder" choice for Ohio's 7th, while Wulsin is the "best bet" in Ohio's 2nd. The News notes Hobson's history of being "knowledgeable, relentless and skilled" as he's represented the 7th, and wrote that Austria does not "have the kind of reputation that Rep. Hobson had when he first ran for Congress."

The editorial board criticized Austria as being "scared of saying anything that might offend" in their endorsement of Neuhardt. They note Neuhardt's never having held office, but say that she "compares well with the experienced politician in her understanding of issues."

The board concludes that if voters select Austria "they are settling for mediocrity, quite possibly on a long-term basis." But if voters choose Neuhardt, "they are hoping for something better."  "She has the potential to develop into a leader in an important policy realm or more than one," The News wrote. "The rookie is the better, bolder, more optimistic choice."

Included in the News piece was an endorsement for Austria from Hobson, in which Hobson wrote, "Austria is the best candidate with the training and experience needed to get things done for our region."

In Ohio's 2nd, the News writes that Wulsin has "an impressive pre-political resume." The News notes that, if elected, Wulsin would have a learning curve in Congress, but they go on to write that she's probably up to it considering her doctorate from Harvard.

The board writes that Wulsin is a "mainstream Democrat" philosophically, but say that she "has emphasized working with both parties and has kept her policy suggestions fairly fuzzy," in light of the conservative bent of the district.

The board concludes, "In the close election of 2006, the district showed itself to be open to the possibility of a Democrat, to have concerns beyond political philosophy. That independence is a useful message for voters anywhere to deliver, lest they be taken for granted by one party or the other. This is a year to drive the message home."