SituationSolution Sutton hired Greenberg Quinlan Rosner’s Mike Bocian to serve as her pollster and strategic advisor. After conducting a baseline survey, Bocian helped craft a message that resonated with the voters of the 13th district and suited Sutton’s record and beliefs. Winning would not be easy, as Sutton faced a crowded field. Well-known, popular former Congressman Tom Sawyer was the front runner according to Greenberg Quinlan Rosner’s baseline survey, as well as other publicly released polls. Anti-war activist Gary Kucinich enjoyed the name recognition of his famous brother, presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. Shopping mall heiress Capri Cafaro was willing to spend $2 million to win the race. Sutton had neither the financial resources of Cafaro nor the name recognition of Sawyer or Kucinich.
She did have the support of key groups, such as firefighters, police, several labor unions and pro-choice groups. And she had a record that appealed to voters and could win their support if presented in the right way. Working with a strong team of consultants and staff, Bocian offered a simple message: integrity matters. After years of corruption in Columbus and Washington, voters in northeastern Ohio wanted a candidate who would stand up to corruption. Sutton had a history of breaking up back-door meetings between lobbyists and legislators. When she found out an education trip she was taking was paid for by drug company lobbyists, she left the meeting and paid her own flight home. And she had a plan to stop the corruption that had become rampant in Washington. Bocian also worked with Sutton to tie corruption to economic issues affecting people’s everyday lives. Sutton understood the connection immediately. As she said, “Not until we end the culture of corruption can we tend to the people’s business. Washington’s failure to create good jobs is a failure borne out of corruption. Washington’s promotion of a Medicare plan that helps the drug companies, but not our seniors, is a failure rooted in corruption.” With this message, Sutton began to gain traction, making steady progress throughout the primary. On primary Election Day, Sutton emerged with 31 percent of the vote, defeating Cafaro by 6 points and Saywer by 8. After the primary, the Republicans pointed to OH-13 as a key target, sending Dick Cheney to raise money for Sutton’s opponent, Lorain Mayor Craig Foltin. But Sutton did not waver. Staying true to her message of standing up to corruption and fighting for jobs in Ohio, Sutton took OH-13 off the board, defeating Foltin in a 61-39 percent landslide and allowing Democrats to focus on other districts and ultimately gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Methodology |
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