Voinovich backs UC bid for presidential debate

Sen. George Voinovich of Cleveland sure has some nice things to day about Cincinnati!

Ohio's Republican senator sent a letter today to the Commission on Presidential Debates in support of the University of Cincinnati's bid to host a 2008 presidential debate, making it clear that he expects Ohio to once again be ground zero for presidential politics:

"Ohio has long been a bell-weather for national elections. The upcoming 2008 presidential election promises to have a focus on Ohio and its voters once again. The stream of individuals visiting Ohio and organizing campaign or exploratory committees in the state grows everyday," Voinovich wrote.

He then touted the significance of Cincinnati:

"Cincinnati, once known as the 'Queen City of the West,' remains at a geographic and political crossroads of America," he wrote. "According to some political historians, the Presidential election of 1908, won by Cincinnati native William Howard Taft, was the first election where presidential candidates ran a modern day political campaign. Political leaders and activism has always played an important part of the three-state region known as Greater Cincinnati."

The deadline for schools and other locations to apply to host a 2008 presidential debate is March 31. The committee will then review the applications, visit the sites and make their final selections this October. For more information about the Presidential Debate site selection process, click HERE.

For more information about the UC bid - and a possible competing one from the Northern Kentucky University, check out last week's story in The Enquirer HERE.