Tue Aug 5, 7:18 PM ET

Aug. 5 (Bloomberg) — Ohio Governor Ted Strickland said the presidential race in his state will be “close,” and he’s urging fellow Democrat Barack Obama to campaign in rural areas where his support has been weakest.

“We feel as if there could be great benefit to his campaign by spending some time with the two of us in various parts of Ohio and perhaps getting a bus and going into rural areas of Ohio.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080805/pl_bloomberg/ajgg8nuyqhc0_1

Sorry Gov. Strickland, that ship already sailed long ago. Rural America is synonymous with Patriotism, and any attempt to “introdue” Obama there will be met with the utmost failure.