Ohio Senate Race In National Spotlight

[OzarkDem]

Analysts say their U.S. Senate race is one of the top three in the nation, and Nov. 7 could end the political careers of Republican DeWine or Democrat Brown, each of whom has spent the past three decades in elected offices.

That the usually cautious Brown is willing to give up the safe 13 th Congressional District seat in northeastern Ohio he has held since 1993 to challenge DeWine, an 11-year Senate veteran, speaks volumes about the dismal political climate for Republicans.

"Brown wouldn’t have even given it a thought in a previous cycle," said Nathan Gonzales, an analyst for the Washingtonbased Rothenberg Political Report.

"In the absence of Coingate, Gov. (Bob) Taft’s problems and President Bush’s unpopularity, DeWine wouldn’t have a race," said Jennifer Duffy, editor of the National Journal. "All of that has sort of created one."

...

Still disheveled from a redeye flight after a fundraising foray to California, Brown paused during a dialing-fordollars session at Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee headquarters to rhetorically frame the race:

"Since George Bush and Mike DeWine raised their right hands in January of 2001, Ohio lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs, tuition has doubled at a lot of state universities, the minimum wage has not been raised, health-care costs and gasoline prices and prescription-drug prices have gone through the roof, and these guys have not responded with anything. They’ve got to defend that, and we’re going to be aggressive about it."

http://dispatch.com/news/news.php?story=dispatch/2006/05/29/20060529-A1-06.html

[liberal N proud]

1. DeWine bipartisan ???

The problems this country faces do not lend themselves to partisanship," DeWine said. "Whether it’s fixing Social Security or fixing Medicare, it can only be dealt with on a basis. I’ve shown that I am the one candidate of the two who can do that, and I’m the only one who can work across party lines to get things done."
:wtf:

[mod mom]

2. Really! Who controls all the strings not only nationally but in Ohio as

well? Face up to your poor leadership, Dewine!

[cmd]

3. Any time someone says "I'm the only one" flags go up

If he is the only one who can be bipartisan, why doesn't his record demonstrate that. Mike, you are nothing more than a rubber stamp that says "Paid for by the GOP".

[OzarkDem]

5. And what has he done for Ohio?

Not a damn thing. Ohio is a donor state - we pay more federal taxes than we get back. Our schools, roads, health care system is crumbling, and all DeWine does is rubber stamp more cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and other programs.

[MercutioATC]

7. Geez...he's YOUR candidate...

You spent quite a bit of time here attacking his primary challenger...now you're going to attack HIM???

Are you just chronically unhappy?

[OzarkDem]

8. I'm talking about DeWine, who is not "my candidate"

read the previous post again - they were criticizing DeWine, not Sherrod Brown.

I support all the Dem candidates running in Ohio and I hope you do, too.

Your personal remarks are uncalled for.

[MercutioATC]

9. My mistake.

...and no "personal remarks" were involved. You DID spend a lot of time badmouthing Brown's primary challenger here. That's not "personal", it's recorded fact.

Brown will get my vote simply because he's not as objectionable as DeWine.

[OzarkDem]

10. No problem

Sherrod Brown is an excellent candidate, I'm sure you'll like him if you give him a chance.

[MercutioATC]

11. Brown has my vote, not my support or affection.

...and I thank you for being gracious about my error.

[OzarkDem]

12. Not a problem

Primaries are difficult and its always hard when the candidate you support doesn't win. Been there many times.

[muryan]

4. i am voting for brown

and helping to volunteer for the campaign over this summer. However i just thought i'd mention that out of all the blood sucking venomous republicans in the senate, dewine might be one the easiest to digest. He has crossed party lines several times to vote with democrats on some semi-important issues. However, his support of the Iraq massacre and the federal marraige amendment will doom him with ohio voters who are on somewhat of a liberal swing.

[OzarkDem]

6. DeWine only crosses party lines when its "safe" - its phony

Its all an act, staged to make him look "moderate". Go back and see how many times he "crossed party lines" and it actually made a difference. You won't find any examples.

The GOP in Congress sends him a message, along with other GOP "moderates" letting them know when its safe to vote against the party without hurting chances of the bill actually passing.

Welcome to DU! Glad to hear you'll be working for Brown!