Fisher Eyes Energy Technology Jobs
GROVEPORT, Ohio -- When Energy Secretary Chu appeared here last week to announce a $75 million stimulus grant for the state's gridSMART Demonstration Project, Democratic Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher was close at hand.
That kind of funding, expected to create 500 jobs, is the kind of thing Fisher says could make the Buckeye State the epicenter for emerging energy technology as it continues its transition from the steel, automobile and glass industries for which it is best known.
"Every state is making investments in a clean energy economy, but only a few states have the assets that can be leveraged so that that particular state is a national leader, and Ohio is one of those states," Fisher said.
So he joined Chu, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy and several employees of the Ohio unit of American Electric Power in the announcement of the award, which he said is just the "tip of the iceberg" for more funding of renewable energy projects in the state.
"Twenty years from now, I want our children and our grandchildren to read the Ohio story, and it'll be the story of a state that went from steel to wind turbines, went from glass to solar panels; it went from tires to polymers and advanced materials; it went from bicycles to hybrid vehicles and fuel-cell vehicles; and it went from gliders to lunar rockets and turbine engines," Fisher said in an interview. "All these things are happening as we speak; they're not dreams."
It's part of Fisher's emphasis on creating jobs, a counterpoint to a similar strategy laid out by his expected Republican opponent, former Rep. Rob Portman.
Fisher said his record establishes him as the best candidate on the jobs issue and said he views energy technology as the best vehicle for job growth, given the state's manufacturing prowess and rank as third in the nation for manufacturing capacity – as well as its central location as opposed to California, Wyoming or other states with potential.
Fisher, whose lime green tie made him the only one of about nine on stage at the announcement event deliberately wearing just a little of the issue’s signature color, even cornered Chu in front of the sandwich buffet after the event to lobby for an American Centrifuge Plant project in Piketon that Portman also is pushing but for which federal loan guarantees have been delayed.
The candidate indicated he was not thrilled by what he was told, but that he is not giving up. "He certainly was very familiar with the project, and that was encouraging," Fisher said of Chu.
Unlike some conservative Democratic incumbents and candidates in swing-state districts who are distancing themselves from President Obama on issues like health care and energy, Fisher said he would have voted for cloture on the Senate healthcare bill, although he favors a robust public option. He stands with Brown on cap and trade legislation in believing more support is needed for manufacturing states before he can support it but thinks dealing with climate change is critical, but he thinks more stimulating of the economy should take precedence on the agenda.
His campaign is buttressed by a bustling Ohio Democratic Party that is preparing for Obama's 2012 re-election bid. Led by executive director Doug Kelly, it has ballooned into the third biggest party organization behind the Democratic National Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee with 60 staffers.
Democrats in Washington and Ohio also are growing less concerned with what they once worried would be an extremely divisive primary.
Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner lags behind Fisher in endorsements and fundraising, with latest reports showing her with just $112,000 in cash on hand while Fisher has $1.6 million.
That advantage is only likely to grow, with Senate Majority Leader Reid planning to headline a fundraiser in Washington next week. Other hosts include Democratic Conference Secretary Patty Murray of Washington and Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, along with Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Robert Menendez of New Jersey has intimated repeatedly that his real allegiance is with Fisher, who has lapped up the bulk of congressional endorsements in Ohio, too.
Brunner's campaign has also been dogged by setbacks such as being overruled by the state Supreme Court on her decision regarding the residence of a state senator, late payment of taxes on a condominium bought for her son and the decision of two campaign employees leaving to join her office staff.
But Brunner reinforced her commitment to the race. "This is just one of those races where you're going to have to wait and watch and see," she said. She suggested that Fisher’s establishment backing actually helps her and went so far as to say she’s heard of a few people encouraging him to run for the state Supreme Court instead.
Brunner went on that she is the better candidate for the general election because "the last election my primary opponent ran and won on his own was 19 years ago." Fisher was elected lieutenant governor on a joint ticket with Gov. Ted Strickland, while Brunner was elected secretary of state three years ago by 15 points.
Brunner said her campaign still has about 1,000 volunteers. "Usually I come out with something first and then [Fisher] follows with something less emphatic," she said, adding, "I think it's a question of courage."