Tribune editorial staff

In this year's presidential race,

Ohio has been declared a key battleground state.

In search of undecided voters, both President George W. Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry have made several stops in the Buckeye state. However, both candidates seem to be ignoring the importance of the voters in the southern part of the state.

It is not that either man is refusing to visit smaller cities: Bush was just in Cambridge and Kerry in Zanesville last weekend. However, neither has made a commitment to visit a city in our region of the state.

Both Bush and Kerry have been nearby in West Virginia. While folks of that state share some of the same values and concerns as we do in southern Ohio, the stateline may alienate the Ohio voters from the Mountain State voters.

We are not saying that the candidates necessarily have to visit Lawrence County, but any of several nearby cities would be nice. Whether it is Ironton, Portsmouth, Gallipolis or even Chillicothe, Athens or Marietta, southern Ohio voters should be given the opportunity to hear what the candidates have to say.

Before heading to the polls, voters should have the opportunity to learn all they can about these two candidates, such as their personal and political backgrounds, their qualifications and their stance on issues. While we have the opportunity to read about the candidates in the newspaper or on the Internet or see them speak on television, a personal visit will give voters more of a chance to make an informed decision.

Both men need to realize that even though southeastern Ohio is not home to a major city, we have plenty of registered voters waiting to cast a vote on election day. Some are undecided and some may change their minds before November. If this year's presidential race is as tight as the one in 2000, one trip to this area could very well drum up enough support to push one candidate over the edge.