Strickland on vacation?

Despite Rep. Ted Strickland’s commanding lead over Republican Ken Blackwell in the Ohio gubernatorial race in recent polls, the Ohio Democrat is still a sitting member of Congress. He hasn’t retired. He hasn’t resigned. He hasn’t been expelled.

But he hasn’t cast a vote in Congress in over a month – since Sept. 6, when he approved a measure to congratulate Spelman College, a historically black women’s school near Atlanta, on its 125th anniversary.

That means Strickland has missed the last 87 votes, including measures to strengthen laws against illegal immigration, prohibit minors from being transported across state lines to get abortions without parental permission, and fund the Appalachian Regional Commission.

To put that a little more in perspective: Even former Rep. Mark Foley, who resigned when his inappropriate e-mails and instant messages to congressional pages came to light, and Rep. Bob Ney, who's scheduled to plead guilty tomorrow to accepting gifts and travel from lobbyists in exchange for legislative favors, have cast votes more recently than Strickland has.

To see all the votes he's missed, click here and scroll down to vote #429 on Sept. 6. Then click here to see more votes he missed.

Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said his boss is “actively campaigning to be Ohio’s next governor and he’s working hard to earn the trust of the people” and that he’d missed the votes because most of them are non-critical resolutions, like the Spelman College bill or others to name post offices, that don’t need Strickland’s vote to pass.

“Of course, it’s all very important, but equally important is the future of the state of Ohio, and Ted Strickland wants to be a part of the future of the state of Ohio,” Dailey said.

Dailey pointed out that Strickland, by the campaign’s internal calculations, has a voting record of 96 percent for his entire congressional career, starting in 1993.

Carlo LoParo, spokesman for Blackwell, countered by pointing out that this year, only two members of Congress – Reps. Jim Davis, D-Fla., another gubernatorial candidate and Lane Evans, D-Ill., who isn't seeking re-election – have missed more votes.

Check out the list of top vote missers from The Washington Post database here.

“There’s no doubt why his district continues to struggle. He doesn’t even care enough to show up and vote,” LoParo said.