BY RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY
PDT Staff Writer

Tracy Park was alive with fun, music and lots of good food on Saturday for the Scioto County Democratic Party rally, encouraging one last push for voters before Tuesday's election.

"It's a great day here in the park," said Randy Basham, chair of the Scioto County Democratic Party. "We've got John Simon and his band playing on stage. We've got the candidates, and past president Bill Burga from the Ohio AFL-CIO spoke a little while ago with a kind of get-out-the-vote speech. Basically we're just raring back with some cornbread, beans, hot dogs and listening to some good music."

He said the numbers looked good for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, and pledged a path to victory on Tuesday. Local Democratic candidates, like Craig Opperman (candidate for county engineer) and William Ogg (candidate for county treasurer), also enjoyed the rally.

"It's a beautiful day. We couldn't have planned a better day," said Scioto County Commissioner Tom Reiser.

Reiser and Mike Crabtree are both running as Democrats for re-election as Scioto County Commissioners, against Republican candidates Doug Coleman and George Crumm, respectively.

"Mike and I are sort of running together, and we feel really good about it. I think when people know the real story about what our financial problem is, they understand it and I think the success we've had on economic development issues is probably the best it's been in years," Reiser said.

Crabtree called the election season "stressful".

"I think the people in Scioto County are fully aware of the economic situation we have, and they're fully aware of the economic situation nationwide. This is not something new. Economies go up-and-down. We're very aware of it and we're doing the best we can," Crabtree said.

He also said there were a lot of negative mud-slinging in the campaign.

"I don't know how much of that stuff people believe. I guess it could go either way. I think the people of Scioto County are much smarter than that. A lot of the misinformation and distorted facts my opponent's getting out there, in the long run, is going to hurt him somewhere along the line," Crabtree said.

He said the next two or three years are still going to be tight in the county, but said the Scioto County Commissioners are working to minimize its effects and said he looked forward to a "favorable" outcome on Tuesday.

Reiser, meanwhile, stressed the importance of just voting -- period.

"I just think that everybody, no matter who they're voting for, it's important that everybody get's out and votes. Whether they vote for me and Mike, or for our opposition, or whatever side of the fence they're on, I think everyone should get out and vote. If you don't get out and vote, you don't have a right to complain," Reiser said.

Early voting is still available today at the Scioto County Courthouse, and the general election is Tuesday.