Fisher still telegraphing that Brunner is a threat...

Allow me to voice my dissent to Nick's post about Fisher's "Women for Lee" campaign fundraising group kick-off.  First, the simple fact that Fisher is launching a statewide fundraising subcommittee further cements that Fisher views that Brunner is the only Senate contender that Fisher is worried about.  Second, it suggests that Fisher is convinced that Brunner is in this for the long haul.

This continues the trend of Fisher reacting to Brunner.  I'm not surprised that Fisher is launching this effort in NEO as that's his geographical basis.  What I am surprised is who is not mentioned on this list of sponsors.  Ohio has four Democratic Congresswomen: Kaptur, Fudge, Sutton, and Kilroy.  Fudge, being a NEO pol, and successor to the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, should be on that list.  She's not.  Not one of Ohio's Congresswomen are listed as being part of Women for Fisher.  Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro?  Not on board (publicly at least) for Fisher.  Senate Assistant Minority Leader Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland)?  Also, not on the list.  House Majority Floor Leader Jennifer Garrison?  Assistant Majority Floor Leader Tracy Maxwell Heard?  Both nanda.

Sherrod Brown's wife, Connie Schultz?  Not on the list.  Despite her husband's endorsement, where's Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland?  Well, she's apparently not going to be at Fisher for Women's fundraiser next Wednesday. [UPDATE]:  Tim over at BloggerInterrupted notices several other notable Democratic women not on the list, both from NEO and prominent supporters of Clinton during last year's primary.  It's worth a look.

ActBlue shows that only 16 people have contributed to this fundraiser next Wednesday (on-line at least).   If I'm supposed to be impressed that Fisher has raised $2,000 online for a Cleveland-area fundraiser to be held next week, I'm not.

Everyone one of these powerful, influential women are the type of Democratic women I'd expect Lee Fisher to get to have symbolic endorsements to suggest that Brunner doesn't have the Democratic primary female vote locked up.  I expect that they're all being pressured by Fisher and his supporters in the party to support Lee in order to try to force Brunner out of the race early.  Instead, I see a rather unimpressive attempt by the Fisher campaign to try to neutralize Brunner's support from EMILY's List.  Unless I see a jump over the next week (or if the campaign decides to release their event totals that includes offline donations), I see this as a weak start to try to neutralize one of Brunner's strengths.

But is this the fight Fisher really should be fighting?  Especially this early?  As a matter of campaign strategy, why would Fisher want to frame the race over female voters?  I'm sorry, but I think given the choice between the first female Senator from Ohio and Lee Fisher, who is a progressive who also supports women issues, most women are going to go with Brunner.  I think Fisher needs to focus more on getting the rationale for why he's the strongest candidate against Portman and why he's running rather than focusing on Brunner so much.  After all, isn't he supposed to be the prohibitive front-runner?

Furthermore, none of these people are, say, an "Oprah"-like endorsement where one primary candidate can use to neutralize a female candidate's presumed advantage.  I don't see these names as people who are going to influence female voters preferences.  Of course, as a male voter, I could be wrong.