Chrysler Throttles Down on Jeep Jobs

Columbus, Ohio: Although the two presidential candidates have  raised almost equal funds in Ohio,  there's good news for Obama. One respected polling operation has him ahead of his rival, Republican nominee John McCain, by a whopping 14 points, with only dozen days before Election Day.

The bad news for Jeep workers in Toledo is that between 800 and 850 of them will receive a visit by the Grinch before New Year's Eve, as Chrysler expects to tell them they no longer have jobs as a result of slow sales of two of the automaker's products, the Jeep Liberty and the Dodge Nitro, made at its Toledo Jeep North plant.

A Chrysler spokesman said the involuntary layoffs should happen by year's end. Some workers, the spokesman said, may choose to take buyouts before the bitter end arrives. Workers at the Toledo South plant, where the Wrangler is made, may also have reason to worry as additional production cuts will be made there, too.

As Jeep workers in Toledo worry about their future, Barack Obama should be buoyed by the polling news from the Quinnipiac University that he now has a 14-point lead over McCain, who along with his sidekick Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin have made repeated visits to the Buckeye State, a must-win state if they want to move into the White House next January.

The news for Ohio Chrysler workers underscores that the economy is the biggest of all issues. Sixty-one percent of Ohio voters believe that, and by a margin of 55 percent to 36 percent, Buckeyes now trust Obama more than McCain. But  voters here say they still trust McCain to better handle foreign policy. That margin for McCain is slim, 48 percent to 46 percent.

For those who have already voted, Obama leads McCain 71-20 percent. Among all Ohio likely voters, the Democrat leads 58 - 33 percent among women and gets 46 percent of men to McCain's 44 percent. White voters back Obama 47 - 43 percent, as do black voters, 94 - 3 percent. Independent voters go 50 - 37 percent for the Democrat. Obama gets a 58 - 33 percent favorability in Ohio, with 48 - 42 percent for McCain.

McCain's running mate Sarah Palin was in Troy, the seat of a county in west central Ohio that last voted for a Democrat in 1964. According to Quinnipiac, Palin now is viewed unfavorably by 41 percent of Ohioans, compared to 37 percent favorable. Democratic running mate Joe Biden is viewed favorably by 49 percent, compared to 22 percent unfavorable. To counteract the frequent trips McCain and Palin have made to Ohio, Gov. Ted Strickland and brother Roger Strickland will hit the campaign trail for Barack Obama on Friday on a swing of Southeast Ohio. Strickland and and his brother Roger were born in Appalachia Ohio, which helped him over the top in 2006, when he became the first Democrat to become governor in 16 years. The family duo will make stops in Caldwell, Woodsfield, Belpre and Pomeroy, and attend the Jackson Ironmen/Cambridge Bobcats High School football game in Jackson. 

 At each stop, the Stricklands will rally supporters and encourage Southeast Ohioans to vote early, a media release said. They will also discuss Senator Obama’s plans to protect jobs and benefits for hard-working Ohioans and support rural economic development by cutting taxes for working families, developing renewable fuel sources and supporting agriculture and our farmers.

John Michael Spinelli is a former Ohio Statehouse government and political reporter and business columnist. He now serves as the OhioNews Bureau Chief for ePluribus Media Journal. Find ONB archives here.
Photo credits: (c) 2008 AnHarris, istockphoto

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