The repeal of the Republican-backed measure to limit unions' bargaining strength has Ohio Democrats hoping it will give them added momentum a year from now.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, who's up for re-election in 2012, says the repeal of Senate Bill 5 shows the middle class pushing back. And, he says, the message it sends isn't too different from that being raised by the Occupy Wall Street movement.
BROWN:
"You know whether you like what they're exactly doing or the way they look on Occupy Wall Street, you like what they're saying about a few people in this country are taking advantage of everybody else. And this class warfare that the elite in this country have waged against the middle class, people are seeing it, and people who don't recognize it are going to get political whiplash."
But economic upheaval and lingering unemployment may still hinder Democrats' prospects - especially the President's. That warning from Ohio Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich:
KUCINICH:
"If President Obama can get the economy moving, then he'll be reelected. But if unemployment stays around 9-percent I think it's going to be very difficult. Bottom line, this is a responsibility of both parties, this isn't about whether Democrats are in the White House or Republicans are in the White House, have to create jobs."
Meanwhile, there's no word yet if Republican Governor John Kasich and GOP legislators plan to reintroduce legislation to replace SB 5.