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ATHENS — As her silver campaign bus bounces down the two-lane highway in southeastern Ohio, Jennifer Brunner chats with half a dozen wide-eyed college Democrats from Ohio University.
“She was very human, you know,” said Alex Maza, a 21-year-old junior from Kettering. “Sometimes talking to politicians it is very inorganic, very technical. She is very human.”
Brunner hops off at each stop, shakes hands, answers reporter questions and keeps her chin up in the face of news that she is 17 points behind in a recent statewide poll.
“I didn’t like it but we’re not done yet,” Brunner said of the Quinnipiac University poll that shows her primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, pulling away.
She quickly pointed out that half of the voters surveyed said they might change their mind and a third of registered voters are undecided.
Elected secretary of state in 2006 in her first run for statewide office, Brunner decided more than a year ago to run for U.S. Senate.
She adopted “Rosie the Riveter” as her campaign mascot and “Courage” as her campaign mantra. She is quick to mention that she would be the first female U.S. Senator from Ohio and the 18th woman in the Senate.
The Brunner campaign bought a used 1991 school bus with 150,000 miles on eBay for $2,050, painted it silver, added wi-fi and a new muffler. Driver Adam Niswonger said they logged 5,000 miles in three weeks.
“Athens is a very good area for Democrats. They tend to be very engaged in politics. I thought we should get the bus down there,” Brunner said.
The Dayton Daily News followed each of the candidates for a day last week to get a feel for how they are connecting with voters.
At the Athens Community Center, Brunner pledged that she would fight for fairness, equality and respect — even if it’s not popular. She favors gay marriage, abortion rights, the health care overhaul, tougher regulation of financial institutions and retraining Ohio workers for clean energy jobs.
In the final week, Brunner’s campaign planned stops in college towns and small cities such as Lima, Bowling Green and Athens as well as another swing through Ohio’s largest cities. Lacking enough campaign money for TV ads, Brunner says the bus attracts attention and media coverage.
She urged supporters to help her underdog campaign by calling voters and helping them get to the polls. “We win with 50 percent, plus one. It’s that simple,” she said. “What has a greater impact than a canned commercial is you getting on the phone and talking to voters.”
On Wednesday’s trip to Logan and Athens, Brunner picked up $350 in campaign contributions, did four media interviews, toured a technical college, met with college Democrats, and spoke before a crowd of 80 supporters in Athens.
After nightfall, while eating carry-out Mexican food on the noisy bus, Brunner pronounced the day a good one.
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