As Obama pushes faith-based initiative, he vows return trips to SE Ohio

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama: Politicker photoZANESVILLE -- U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) toured the Eastside Community Ministry earlier on Tuesday before announcing his new plan to expand federal faith-based charity initiatives, modeled on President Bush's programs of the past eight years.

But Obama admitted he hasn't been in this area of Ohio enough but said he's competitive against U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

"I haven't spent enough time here for people to understand what my agenda, what my platform is. If they have a chance to compare myself and John McCain, and say ‘who's going to make the most difference in my life?' I think we'll do very well," Obama said, adding that his health care plan is superior to McCain's plan.

Obama communications director Robert Gibbs told PolitickerOH.com that the campaign will play in southeast Ohio as much as any part of the state -- or the country.

"The one thing that we know about Ohio is that the road to the White House goes through here, undoubtedly. We'll have a strong effort here, as strong as any place of the country," Gibbs said.

Gibbs was asked whether voters can expect Gov. Ted Strickland, as well as Bill and Hillary Clinton, to campaign here.

"We'll have surrogates and Barack Obama through here often and we'll touch every corner of the state," he said.

Obama spoke to Bill Clinton over the phone yesterday and said during his press conference that he welcomes the former president's support on the campaign trail.

"He is one of the most gifted public officials of our generation and has been one of the successful presidents that we've had in my life time, so I want his active involvement, his active participation," Obama said.

Zanesville Mayor Butch Zwelling (D) said that John Kerry came to the city once in 2004 but didn't follow up with more visits and media in southeast Ohio. However, then-U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain) came to Zanesville eight times during his 2006 campaign for U.S. Senate. Zwelling said he expected Obama to do well in the region.

ALSO on PolitickerOH.com:

• Strickland will campaign for Obama 
• A closer look at Zanesville, site of Obama visit