Facebook is a mixed bag for Ohio campaigns

By Wally Edge

We took a spin through the tubes to try to identify which Congressional campaigns are taking advantage of online social networking tools -- and which aren't. Most candidates have a presence on the popular website Facebook, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're making any effort to reach out to supporters. For example, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan's (D-Niles) challenger Duane Grassell (R-Mogadore), has a facebook group -- but only one supporter. Ryan has over 800.

Several candidates don't have any campaign presence on Facebook, but most serious campaigns have at least 100 supporters. A few politicians with national profiles have many more. U.S. Rep. John Boehner (R-West Chester), has 1093 supporters, and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Cleveland) leads the pack with over 24,000.

Certainly there are other ways for campaigns to do online outreach, so it may not be the most meaningful metric, but below we've summarized the number of Facebook supporters for the major Congressional campaigns in the state.

OH-1
U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood): 610 supporters
State Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Price Hill): 164 supporters

OH-2
U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland): 167 supporters
Dr. Victoria Wells Wulsin (D-Indian Hill): 165 supporters

OH-3
U.S. Rep. Michael Turner (R-Centerville): 160 supporters
Jane Mitakides (D-Washington Twp): 86 supporters

OH-4
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Urbana): 184 supporters
Mike Carroll (D-Mansfield): no campaign group, but 245 personal friends

OH-5
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green): 60 supporters
George F. Mays (D-Norwalk): campaign has no facebook presence

OH-6
U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-St. Clairsville): 212 supporters
Franklin County Deputy Recorder Richard Stobbs (R-Dillonvale): campaign has no facebook presence

OH-7
State Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek): 11 supporters
Sharen Neuhardt (D-Yellow Springs): 117 supporters

OH-8
U.S. Rep. John Boehner (R-West Chester): 1093 supporters
Nick Von Stein (D-Mason): 8 supporters

OH-9
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo): 352 supporters
Bradley Leavitt (R-Toledo): campaign has no facebook presence

OH-10
U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Cleveland): 24,528 supporters
Former state Rep. Jim Trakas (R-Independence): 86 supporters

OH-11
U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Cleveland): 622 supporters
Thomas Pekarek (R): campaign has no facebook presence

OH-12
U.S. U.S. Pat Tiberi (R-Westerville): 239 supporters
David Robinson (D): 72 supporters

OH-13
U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Copley Township): 244 supporters
David S. Potter (R): campaign has no facebook presence

OH-14
U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Chagrin Falls): 255 supporters
Former State Appellate Judge William O'Neill (D-South Russell): 236 supporters

OH-15
State Sen. Steve Stivers (R-Upper Arlington): 276 supporters
Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Columbus): 308 supporters

OH-16
State Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton): 33 supporters
State Sen. John Boccieri (D-New Middletown): 208 supporters

OH-17
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Niles): 817 supporters
Duane V. Grassell (R-Mogadore): 1 supporter