Labor dispute shadows Republicans, boosts Obama in Ohio

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/06/us-usa-campaign-ohio-idUSTRE82508120120306

By Jeff Mason

COLUMBUS, Ohio | Tue Mar 6, 2012 1:10am EST

(Reuters) - As Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum fight to win Ohio's presidential primary on Tuesday, Republican hopes of victory here in November may be jeopardized by lingering fallout over a labor rights dispute that left blue-collar voters cold.

A failed attempt by the state's Republican governor to limit collective bargaining rights for public unions last year altered the political landscape in this battleground state.

Ohio Democrats are enjoying greater fundraising and the unlikely return of middle class "Reagan Democrats" to the party after voters repealed a law championed by Governor John Kasich to limit collective bargaining rights for fire fighters, police officers, and other state workers.

"We had some of the best fundraising months in our state's history in an odd year, and those dollars came from ... low dollar donors that had not participated in the party but were drawn to it because of the attacks on collective bargaining," said Chris Redfern, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party.

FULL story at link.