Springer may seek Ohio's governor's seat

CINCINNATI, July 29 (UPI) -- Critics may accuse Jerry Springer of pandering to the masses but that may not stop the TV host from his next political campaign, that of Ohio governor.

"Talk all you want to about the television show, but that's not what's important," Springer told Cleveland's WEWS-TV.

"What's important is people's lives and how they can defend their families, and they can't defend their families if they don't have a job."

For the last 18 months, Springer has been making similar comments on TV and at Democratic events.

On Wednesday his representative said Springer's show would be off the air for a year and a half before anyone would be asked to vote for him.

"The Jerry Springer I've watched work the state of Ohio in the last 18 months is exactly the kind of person we need," said Tim Burke, the Democrats' county co-chair.

But Republican commissioner Phil Heimlich disagreed.

"Somebody that would put on that carnival-type stuff ... I just think you have to question what kind of values they have," Heimlich said.

Springer said people are smart enough to separate the show from the vote.