This week, I got a chance to do something few liberals ever do: visit a red state (Ohio). More observations from Bush Country...

Certain parts of Ohio are very hostile to gay marriage. In 2004, state voters passed an anti-gay marriage amendment, with only one county (Athens, home of Ohio University) voting against it.

Want to understand the appeal of the religious right? Go to Ohio. Barns bear Jesus slogans, billboards condemn abortion, and 12,000-member megachurches are part of the landscape. As my ever-trusty Ohio source noted, it was wise for President Bush to describe, six years ago on the campaign trail, the impact of Jesus Christ on his life. Dubya proved a better reader of public opinion than Al Gore ever was.

And if the Democrats have anything going for them, it's the need to boost jobs here. Yesterday, we drove through rotting industrial hulks in Cleveland (to the just-as-depressing accompaniment of local boys Pere Ubu). This showed the economic challenges new Sen. Sherrod Brown seems eager to fix. He may not revive the Rust Belt ... but let's hope he can do something.