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OH-Sen
Most of Renacci’s War Chest Came From Himself
Cleveland Plain Dealer: “Earlier this week, Rep. Jim Renacci’s (R-OH) U.S. Senate campaign announced he and his allies had raised slightly more than $4.5 million since he jumped in the race in January.”
“As it turns out, $4 million of that was Renacci’s own money, according to a newly available federal campaign finance filing.”
Renacci Didn’t Report $50K In Donations
Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH) “failed to disclose nearly $50,000 in political contributions while registered as a Washington lobbyist starting in the late 2000s,” the AP reports.
“Renacci is Republicans’ favored candidate to win a GOP primary and take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown this fall in one of the year’s most closely watched Senate contests.”
NBC News: “Well, this isn’t the kind of headline Republicans probably want to deal with as they head into a challenge to a potentially vulnerable Democratic Senate incumbent.”
Brown Holds Double-Digit Lead In Ohio
A new SurveyUSA poll in Ohio finds Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) leading possible challenger Jim Renacci (R) by 14 points, 52% to 38%.
In the gubernatorial race, Richard Cordray (D) and Dennis Kucinich (D) are tied in the primary battle to oppose presumptive GOP nominee Mike DeWine (R). In general election match ups, DeWine leads Cordray, 47% to 39%, and tops Kucinich 51% to 38%.
Renacci Will Run for Senate In Ohio
Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH) said he will leave the Ohio governor’s race to run for U.S. Senate in an attempt to unseat incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
J.D. Vance Now Seriously Considering Senate Bid
Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance (R) “is now seriously considering a U.S. Senate campaign in Ohio and discussing the prospect with Republicans in Washington, following overtures from party donors and leaders who believe he would be their best candidate,” BuzzFeed News reports.
Republicans Look to Author for Possible Senate Bid
Top Senate Republicans have quietly reached out to J.D. Vance — the star author of Hillbilly Elegy — about running for Senate in Ohio after the abrupt withdrawal of GOP candidate Josh Mandel last week, Politico reports.
Mandel Drops Senate Bid In Ohio
Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel (R) announced his withdrawal from the race for U.S. Senate due to a health issue with his wife, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Mandel was vying to challenge Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in a rematch of the 2012 race.
The filing deadline for a new candidate is February 7.
GOP Tries to Recruit Author J.D. Vance for Senate
“Some Republican activists and donors worried about the prospects of their party’s Senate candidate in Ohio are kicking around an outside-the-box alternative: Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance,” BuzzFeed News reports.
“The recruiting overtures reflect unease with the early GOP frontrunner, state Treasurer Josh Mandel, who is seeking a rematch with Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown.”
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“Portman has run a damn fine race. The rest, I’ll have to tell you over a drink.”
— DSCC Executive Director Tom Lopach, quoted by the Columbus Dispatch, on Ted Strickland’s (D) weak challenge to Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH).
Democrats Pull Back In Ohio Senate Race
“The Democratic Party’s national Senate campaign arm has canceled more than a week of television ads that were set to run next month in the key battleground of Ohio, where former governor Ted Strickland (D) has struggled to gain traction against incumbent Sen. Rob Portman (R),” the Washington Post reports.
“The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had reserved advertising time on Ohio TV stations starting Sept. 13. Now, according to political ad trackers in both parties, the national Democrats won’t launch that campaign until Sept. 22.”
Strickland Apologizes for Scalia Remarks
Former Ohio Gov. and Senate hopeful Ted Strickland (D) apologized for saying that Justice Antonin Scalia’s death “happened at a good time,” since it came just before the Supreme Court ruled on a case that could have been a blow to unions, Morning Consult reports.
Said Strickland: “I mean, the death of Scalia saved labor from a terrible decision. And I don’t wish anyone ill, but it happened at a good time because once that decision had been made, it would have been tough to reverse it.”
Portman Comes Out Against Trade Deal
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), a former U.S trade ambassador, announced that he “opposes a sweeping 12-nation Pacific Rim trade agreement, dealing a setback to a deal that is seen as a key part of President Obama’s economic legacy,” the Washington Post reports.
“The Ohio Republican is facing a difficult re-election campaign against Ted Strickland, an anti-trade former Democratic governor, in a state that has seen a steep decline in manufacturing as a result of companies moving operations overseas. The announcement is a significant but not fatal blow to the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which is protected by fast-track rules that ensure it cannot be filibustered in the Senate.”
Landrieu May Help Some GOP Senators with Re-Election
Former Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) plans to spend some of the nearly $150,000 left in her campaign fund to help former Senate colleagues run for re-election, the Shreveport Times reports.
Landrieu said she also will contribute some leftover campaign money to Republicans: “I’m not opposed to helping one or two of my Republican friends that have helped Louisiana — if they ask. They haven’t asked yet.”
She specifically named Rob Portman of Ohio, who is up for re-election next year, and Susan Collins of Maine, who is up in 2020.
Strickland Leads Portman in Ohio
A new Quinnipiac poll in Ohio shows Ted Strickland (D) just ahead of Sen. Rob Portman (R) in a possible U.S. Senate match up, 44% to 41%.