Swing vote key to win in Congress

By JULIE CARR SMYTH • AP Statehouse Correspondent • July 20, 2008 COLUMBUS - Central Ohioans are the quintessential swing voters in a quintessential swing state. Witness voter sentiment on the presidential race at a suburban Meijer store one recent afternoon. One Obama, a couple of lukewarm McCains, one non-voter, a possible Nader and an undecided. "I might just close my eyes," said Derek Collins, a 20-year-old Ohio State University student. "I don't trust Obama on the economy, and McCain's just past his prime." It is against this backdrop that Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy and Republican Steve Stivers are locked in one of the nation's most expensive, closely watched contests for Congress. The winner of Ohio's 15th Congressional District will replace nine-term Rep. Deborah Pryce, who is retiring. The district is so evenly split... [read full story]