Subodh Chandra, former Cleveland Law Director and Assistant U.S. Attorney, has become the talk of the Ohio political scene as he campaigns for Ohio Attorney General in the Democratic Primary.

Chandra recently attended two fundraisers held in his honor in Boston, Massachusetts, which were organized by Samir Desai of Aditi Inc and his wife Nilima; Nishith Acharya of the Deshpande Foundation and his wife Sheetal; USINPAC (United States India Political Action Committee); Aadil Ginwala, Harvard Law Student; and Mike Thakur, Harvard Law Student. 

In his dynamic speech, Chandra told supporters about the growing momentum of his campaign, citing recent endorsements from three major Ohio newspapers.  Ohio’s largest daily newspaper, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, hailed him in their editorial endorsement saying that, “Chandra, by virtue of proven private and public legal accomplishment, his exceptional stewardship over the Cleveland Law Department, his fine intellect and his plans to target political corruption, should be the nominee.”

The Akron Beacon Journal and the Sun News have also editorialized in favor of Chandra.
 
A second-generation American born to immigrants from India, Chandra uses both candor and humor on the campaign trail to address the challenges of introducing an unfamiliar surname to Ohio voters.  He begins his stump speech by leading the audience in an interactive name exercise of how his first name rhymes with "abode" and last name rhymes with "tundra."

Turning more serious, Chandra discusses with his growing audiences the need for an accomplished attorney general with record of accomplishment and a bold vision for the office.  

The Akron Beacon Journal’s editorial endorsement of Chandra aptly describes this vision:

Chandra wants to raise expectations for the office. He wants to employ its untapped authority. He has in mind an attorney general who pursues more aggressively the interests of his client, the public.

The possibilities are many, from predatory lending to charter schools, the discussion benefiting from an attorney general eager to enter the fray, speaking intelligently and forcefully. Chandra isn't kidding when he points to Eliot Spitzer, the attorney general in New York, as his role model.

Chandra faces a tough primary contest on May 2, against Ohio State Senator Marc Dann. Thus far, however, Chandra has earned more endorsements and has raised more money as of the last required public reporting of campaign contributions.  

Due in large part to Chandra’s energetic style, many party activists and bloggers across Ohio have been enthusiastically supporting him.  Joe Hallett, one of Ohio’s most widely-read political columnists, noted that, “Chandra has become something of a rock star on the rubber-chicken circuit, captivating audiences with his sense of humor and rhetorical eloquence.”

Chandra has also earned the support of national figures such as famed attorney David Boies, who represented Al Gore in Bush v. Gore, the case that ultimately decided the outcome of the 2000 presidential election.

Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and philanthropist Kanwal Rekhi, both from California, have also been actively supporting Chandra.

Former presidential candidate and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich has endorsed Chandra, as well as former U.S. Ambassador to India and former Ohio Governor Richard Celeste.

Early on in the campaign, Celeste wrote a letter to Ohio Democrats saying that, “Subodh’s deep convictions, tenacity, and real-world accomplishments make an unbeatable combination. He will not only make an effective candidate, he will make a great Attorney General. He will bring energy to the Democratic ticket and higher ethical standards to the office.”   

For more information, or to contribute to the Chandra campaign, visit: www.ChandraForOhio.com.

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