DISCUSSION: CORDRAY IN ACTION - GETS "EARNED MEDIA" AND ENLISTS LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN HIS BID TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL?

Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray (Democrat) is getting excellent political advice.

Tapped by the Ohio Democratic Party to be the party's candidate to become Ohio's next attorney general, he has embarked on a politically masterful strategy.

Cordray's strategy is all summed up in The Repository's piece (today) on action taken by Massillon City Council (the body which finally found something to do over the summer months):

MASSILLON City Council adopted a resolution Monday crafted by Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray to place pressure on credit card companies to end "unfair" practices.

The strategy: Fashion an issue that has everyday people appeal (i.e. "ending 'unfair' credit card practices" - not bad, heh?), convince a politically friendly governmental body to be your foil (Massillon City Council staffed by all Democrats and arguably controlled by the Stark County Democratic Party chairman [Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.] who is linked tightly to Governor Ted Strickland and state party chair Chris Redfern) and get the media (The Repository, The Independent and the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT, et cetera to bite [that is to say - give the event publicity]).

A political stroke of genius! Ohio's and Stark County's Republicans must be absolutely beside themselves. They probably thought (and who could argue with them) that in light of the Marc Dann scandal, this could be a Republican statewide pick-up in November.

But the Democrats (including the "non-political" Governor Strickland) are proving to be much better politicians than the Republicans. Apparently, Kevin DeWine is in over his head much as former Stark County Republican chair - Curt Braden - was, when it came to Stark County politics.

Look for Canton City Council to follow suit. Canton City Council President Allen Schulman is a local Democrat who has powerful Democratic connections in Columbus and it is predictable that the plan is already laid out for Canton.

Question: Is the Massillon City Council move a display of masterful Cordray political skills or is just plain old "good" local government in action?