Cunningham Serious Congressional Contender

Newshound Kevin Osborne of the Cincinnati Post might have gotten scooped by WLWT/Channel 5's John London on the Bill Cunningham For Congress story but he catches up to day and is a step ahead of the Cincinnati Enquirer's Greg "No Reportee" Korte.

The mainstream media doesn't like or respect Cunningham, and they won't treat his candidacy like they did Nick Clooney's or like they would've handled a run for Senate or Governor by Jerry Springer. Take this paragraph in Kevin's story.

Overshadowing Portman's remarks, however, was the intense scrambling among GOP hopefuls to be his replacement -- led by WLW-AM talk show host Bill Cunningham.

Come on, Kevin! How is the scrambling overshadowing Portman's remarks or nomination? And how can you say that Cunningham is in any way leading the "intense scrambling"? Even though Cunningham let me talk on his radio show the other day, he went back to sports and has been focused on the news, not self-promotion. In fact, I'm told that Cunningham has been reluctant to discuss his possible candidacy because he didn't want to overshadow Portman. I think Kevin's accusation is the beginning of the Cunningham bashing that will come in the days ahead.

Then there is this dig at Cunningham's lack of experience as an elected official and his past radio pranks.

Most of the likely contenders are experienced politicians like Hamilton County Commissioners Pat DeWine and Phil Heimlich, Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Greg Hartmann and various officials in Brown, Clermont and Warren counties.

Another mentioned as a possible replacement, state Rep. Tom Brinkman, said he wouldn't seek the office.

Cunningham, known for his outspoken views and ardent support for Bush, has played pranks on the media in the past about his political aspirations. But he insisted that this time he is serious about seeking office.

A provision in his contract with Clear Channel Communications -- WLW's owner -- allows him to take a 90-day, unpaid leave of absence specifically to run for Congress, he said.

"I'm thinking about it," Cunningham said. "I need to look at if I ran, can I win and if I win, can I do the job."

He considered running for Congress 12 years ago, but decided not to because of business obligations.

He will make a decision on a race by mid-April, he said.

"I think everybody running is good in their own right," Cunningham said. "It's not a case of good or bad, it's who can represent the district the best."

I don't want to blast or in any way speak out against the other candidates mentioned by Kevin right now. But believe me, it's coming....

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