Cleveland Plain Dealer: Richard Cordray’s “Bland” Ohio Gov Campaign Lacks “Passion, Energy, Message”

With polls showing him locked in a tight race against former Congressman Dennis Kucinich for the Ohio Democrat gubernatorial nomination, Washington D.C. Bureaucrat Richard Cordray’s bland campaign continues to struggle without a message for voters. A new Cleveland Plain Dealer column writes that Cordray “lacks passion, energy and a message beyond saying he’ll protect Ohioan’s money.”

The column also notes Cordray’s “bland, bureaucratic” style on the campaign trail, which has failed to connect with voters. In January, the Toledo Blade called Cordray “an inherently weak candidate” who is “underwhelming on the stump,” while comparing him unfavorably to Hillary Clinton. As Cordray struggles to catch fire with just days to go until Democrats choose their gubernatorial nominee, his low-energy campaign continues to raise concerns for Ohio Democrats.

Jeff Darcy writes in the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

“If Ohio voters want a governor who is a bland, bureaucratic type, promising to do little more than protect their money, then Richard Cordray is their man.

Cordray’s current campaign ads hype his stint as Ohio Attorney General and head of the U.S. Financial Protection Bureau, saying he’ll protect Ohioan’s money, and say nothing more.

Like him or not, Kucinich deserves credit for directly addressing his position on a wide variety of issues of interest to Ohio voters.

While Kucinich has expressed his vision for Ohio on a number of issues, Cordray has offered little more than saying he’ll protect Ohio’s money.  Cordray’s now running for governor, but sounds like he’s running for treasurer.

Cordray is endorsed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who created the financial protection agency he ran in President Obama’s administration. But Cordray noticeably lacks Warren’s energy and passion.

Kucinich has been endorsed by allies of Bernie Sanders. Their support is not surprising.  Kucinich is a pioneer of the progressive movement that championed Bernie Sanders in the 2016 election.

As I wrote last year, Kucinich’s two presidential runs proved to be ahead of their time with Sanders and Trump riding high on progressive and populist waves in 2016.”