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0000017a-3b40-d913-abfe-bf44a4f90000Howard Wilkinson joined the WVXU news team as the politics reporter and columnist in April 2012 , after 30 years of covering local, state and national politics for The Cincinnati Enquirer. On this page, you will find his weekly column, Politically Speaking; the Monday morning political chats with News Director Maryanne Zeleznik and other news coverage by Wilkinson. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Wilkinson has covered every Ohio gubernatorial race since 1974, as well as 16 presidential nominating conventions. Along with politics, Wilkinson also covered the 2001 Cincinnati race riots, the Lucasville prison riot in 1993, the Air Canada plane crash at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in 1983, and the 1997 Ohio River flooding. And, given his passion for baseball, you might even find some stories about the Cincinnati Reds here from time to time.

Cranley Says United Party Will Win Ohio For Clinton In November

John Cranley
Howard Wilkinson
/
WVXU

PHILADELPHIA – Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley has been all-in for Hillary Clinton from the start of her campaign, helping her raise money in Cincinnati for her exploratory committee long before she officially announced her candidacy.

Last month, he and his wife Dena hosted Clinton in their Mt. Lookout home for a fundraising event that brought in a whopping $450,000 for the Clinton campaign.

Now, he finds himself at the Democratic National Convention, watching as a tussle between the forces of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders unfolds, with many Sanders delegates reluctant to get on board and thousands of Sanders supporters marching in the streets of Philadelphia.

Cranley is convinced the discord will end as soon as the convention ends and the delegates go home.

"I think we are going to be completely united," Cranley told reporters Tuesday morning at the Ohio delegation hotel, moments after he made a speech to the delegates at their daily breakfast.

"You think we are split; look at the Republicans," Cranley said. "Last week in Cleveland, Ted Cruz got up and spoke from the podium and he wouldn't even endorse Donald Trump for president."

Trump has said he would fund a political action committee to fund opponents of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who has refused to endorse him, and Cruz.

"Look at the division on their side," Cranley said. "At least in our party, we have the losing candidate, Bernie Sanders, getting up on stage and telling people, his people, to vote for Hillary Clinton. How is that division in our party?"

Cranley said he will continue to do whatever he can to help Clinton and her running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, win not only Ohio but the presidency this fall.

"I will do anything I am asked to do," Cranley said. "The stakes are too high."

Cranley said he has learned in politics that no contest can be taken for granted and that a campaign can not let its foot up from the gas pedal.

"There are only two ways to run in politics," Cranley said with a laugh. "Unopposed and scared."

Hamilton County will be a key to winning Ohio, Cranley said.

"Hamilton County has become a purple state instead of a reliably red state in recent years," Cranley said. "There's little doubt that, in the end, Hamilton County will end up voting for the candidate who wins Ohio. And Ohio is a key state. That's why we have our work cut out for us."

Howard Wilkinson is in his 50th year of covering politics on the local, state and national levels.