A Family Divided

<p>Abe Lincoln said 150 years ago that a "house divided against itself cannot stand."</p><p>But the four redheads in the politically fervent Kowalick-Allen household of Occidental, at odds over the Democratic presidential nomination race, are united nonetheless.</p><p>In fact, they're all in Ohio this weekend as foot soldiers preparing for Tuesday's Democratic primary election, albeit on opposing sides.</p><p>Martha Kowalick will be working for Hillary Clinton. Her partner, Nick Allen, and their son, Jacob, 9, will be rallying Cincinnati Democrats for Barack Obama.</p><p>Alexandra, 12, is sitting on the fence.</p><p>"My family is kind of a snapshot of what's happening in America," said Kowalick, 52, a lifelong Democrat who's impressed with Clinton's intelligence and experience.</p><p>Allen, 57, a former photojournalist, thinks Obama has a better chance to unite the country. "He seems to have this inspirational quality," Allen said.</p><p>It's the first time in their 13 years together that the couple, both veterans of progressive politics, have disagreed over a Democratic candidate.</p><p>"There have never been multiple choices that were decent," Kowalick said in the kitchen of their cozy, woodstove-heated rural home. "I think it's a real exciting time in history."</p><p>Allen said he received an e-mail from the Obama campaign seeking volunteers to help in the crucial Texas and Ohio primaries. Cincinnati is his hometown, and also offers a chance to visit his parents, who back Obama.</p><p>"I thought I should play some small role in history," Nick Allen said. "Then I recruited my family."</p><p>They might spend the next three days handing out fliers at shopping centers or making phone calls from a campaign office. If Clinton, Obama -- or even Republican John McCain -- show up, the family wants to hear the candidates speak.</p><p>Ohio, a battleground state of 11.5 million people with Republicans and Democrats in about equal supply, has emerged as a major venue in the 2008 campaign.</p><p>Obama, winner of 11 straight primaries and caucuses, has narrowed Clinton's once commanding lead in Ohio polls to 6 or 7 points. The former first lady needs big wins in Ohio and Texas to stay in the running, analysts say.</p><p>The Kowalick-Allen clan is as divided as the nation's 72 million registered Democrats. There's no TV in their house, but two daily newspapers, plenty of magazines and political chatter.</p><p>"I believe she (Clinton) could do something about health care in this country," said Kowalick, who works as a consultant to nonprofit organizations.</p><p>"So could Obama," said her son, a fourth-grader at Cali Calmecac Charter School in Windsor.</p><p>"We have plenty of these little exchanges," Kowalick said.</p><p>Both parents are trying to woo their undecided daughter, "Especially my mom," Alexandra said.</p><p>Alexandra, a volleyball player and sixth-grader at Occidental's Salmon Creek Middle School, said she appreciates Clinton's status as the first female presidential contender.</p><p>"I want the right one" to win, Alexandra said. "Even though she's a woman." If she remains neutral in Cincinnati, Alexandra may go shopping with her grandmother instead of dialing phones for a Democrat.</p><p>Kowalick and Allen, like many other Democrats, said they'd readily vote for either candidate in November. Obama is "impressive," Kowalick said.</p><p>"If Hillary wins, that's fine with me," said Allen, who runs an online fund-raising and advocacy firm.</p><p>The trip to Ohio isn't much of a vacation, he admitted.</p><p>"I think it's really cool," Alexandra said.</p><p>Jacob, a Little League baseball player, assented -- with a reservation.</p><p>Is it better than going to watch Major League spring training in Arizona, he was asked.</p><p>"Maybe," Jacob said.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Guy Kovner at 521-5457 or guy.kovner@pressdemocrat.com.</p>