In case you missed it… Early voting for the special election in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District got off to a “surprisingly strong” start yesterday, with Danny O’Connor holding rallies across the district and aggressively courting voters who have supported Gov. John Kasich.

From WSYX-TV:

“People are making homemade yard signs, just doing everything they can to win this race,” O’Connor said. “I think that’s not necessarily just about partisanship. I think it’s about having someone to go to Washington who’s going to get stuff done.” O’Connor will try to flip a reliably Republican district for the Democrats. Part of his strategy for winning is to get his supporters to vote early. “There’s just so much enthusiasm about what we’re doing right now,” he said. “After you vote, you can continue to help the campaign by volunteering, going out and knocking on doors, making phone calls, writing postcards.”

From WHIZ-TV:

O’Connor believes in helping solve the problems Americans have when they sit down at their kitchen table at night. He doesn’t think they sway Democratic or Republican – most Americans want the same thing at the end of the day. “I grew up in a small town that’s mostly Republicans so I understand that Republicans and Democrats aren’t that different. We all worry about the same things. We want our kids to have a better future. We want to have our shot at the American dream and that’s what I’m going to fight for. That’s what I’m going to represent in Congress.”

In addition, the Hill is highlighting the O’Connor campaign’s efforts to reach out to “Republicans who agree with Kasich’s repeated criticisms of President Trump.”

…Ohio’s 12th Congressional District is the most affluent and well-educated in the state, home to the kinds of voters Democrats have over-performed with in recent special elections. Democrats are also hopeful that the state GOP’s burgeoning civil war will help them, especially in Kasich’s home district, where he remains popular. The bad blood between Trump and Kasich allies runs deep in Ohio. The governor has become one of the most visible Trump critics in the GOP and Trump allies won a battle for control of the state party. Recent primaries have also turned into referendums on GOP support for Trump.

As his GOP opponent is being propped up by D.C. establishment figures like Speaker Paul Ryan and Ryan’s super PAC has already dumped $1 million into attack ads, O’Connor has so far “been able to hold his own on the airwaves” without air support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee or other outside groups.

WATCH/READ MORE:

WSYX: Early voting starts for pivotal Congressional seat

WHIZ: 12th Congressional District Candidate (D) stops in Zanesville

The Hill: Ohio Dem aims to win over Kasich wing of GOP

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