Ohio Democrats Split On Whether Gun Control Can Be A Winning Issue

Despite the renewed debate over gun control since the mass murder in Aurora, Colo., Northeast Ohio Democrats are mixed on whether the issue can be a winning one for their party this Fall.

In Patch's, Democratic insiders were mixed on whether gun control was a battle worth fighting.

About half said they thought the issue could galvanize the state's Democrats in November, but the other half also said that would be bad politics considering the strength of pro-gun interest groups and the overall acceptance of guns by Ohioans.

"Gun control is bad politics in Ohio," said one insider who responded to the survey. "Only three Ohio Governors in the forty years since Kent State have been Democrats, and they all downplayed the gun-control issue. Ohio definitely sits in the gun-freedom column of states, and Democrats should not be eager to annoy this segment of voters."

Democrats surveyed were also mixed on whether pushing gun control would help or hinder the party's effort to win over vital undecided voters.

"Gun lobby is strong in Ohio and the President doesn't need another 'hot potato' issue that would allienate those undecided voters," said one insider.

Despite their own support for gun control, especially a ban on assault weapons, these Democrats seemed resigned to believe the issue was a non starter.

"Unfortunately, I think the 'right to bear arms' supercedes the need for overdue reform," an insider said.

What do you think? Would pushing gun control be a winning effort in Ohio this election season?

This is the latest installment of our Red/Bue Ohio series, in which we gather opinion and insight from influential local Democratic and Republican activists, party leaders and elected officials in Northeast Ohio.

Want to participate? If you are an activist, party leader or elected official and would like to take part in regular surveys that last only a few minutes, please e-mail Senior Regional Editor Jean Dubail at jean.dubail@patch.com."