Strickland: I can't win Ohio for Obama

Gov. Ted Strickland speaking in support of the "Clean Ohio" ballot initiative.: Politicker PhotoCOLUMBUS - Gov. Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon) said he can't deliver Ohio for presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama on his own.

At a press conference following an event supporting the "Clean Ohio" ballot issue Strickland was asked by PolitickerOH.com what he will do to deliver the state to Obama, especially in light of the tightening presidential race shown by today's Quinnipiac poll.

"I cannot deliver the state but I have already been trying to be helpful to Senator Obama and I will continue to do that," Strickland said, adding that he's been urging voters across Ohio to support Obama.

Strickland said no single person can deliver the state because it takes a large team to win an election.

"I can't even deliver Ohio for myself. It takes a lot of people to help a candidate win a state. I'll try to do my part certainly," he said.

Strickland said he's always expected Ohio to be close between the Illinois senator and U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

"I've said and I deeply believe that Ohio race will be very close, very competitive. That's the nature of Ohio," Strickland said, adding that Ohio's swing status comes from being politically diverse.

Strickland said it was "impossible" for him to know why Obama has lost ground in Ohio, specifically whether or not Obama's slide in the polls can be attributed to his European trip last week.