I don't know that the Ohio dems are that bad.  I think it is more that Ohio Republicans, with certainly some notable exceptions, are quite refreshing.  They stand no chance on the national stage.  But the type of Republican who plays well here in Ohio on a statewide level is so much more moderate than those GOP candidates we are seeing rise to national prominence.  Of course, we have some real knuckleheads, like Jordan.  But we have plenty in the mold of Kasich, Portman, LaTourette, Voinovich, etc.  All that said, it might just be a case of the chubby bridesmaid effect which makes us look favorably on those politicians.

It's because you're dead in the in water in statewide races without NEO voters

Pretty close to everyone who holds their nose while voting for Hillary is going to vote for Portman, that provides a pretty hefty margin of victory.  Some of the orange kool aid guzzlers may sit it out due to his lack of enthusiasm for Their Hero, but they won't vote for Strickland so they only count half, and they won't be anywhere close to enough.

^I'm way more excited for Clinton than I am Strickland. I would guess a large number of people who will vote in November don't know who Strickland or Portman are. The presidential race seems to be sucking all of the air out of the rest of the races.

That's the problem in a nutshell, trying to unseat an incumbent with a candidate who excites nobody.  Both of them are relatively centrist but that approach doesn't work as well on offense as it does on defense.  And just like at the presidential level, when the party stands against open primaries it prevents its next generation of candidates from developing any stature or name recognition.

^I'm way more excited for Clinton than I am Strickland. I would guess a large number of people who will vote in November don't know who Strickland or Portman are. The presidential race seems to be sucking all of the air out of the rest of the races.

 

This is why American's turn me off as privileged, spoiled and lazy (I'm not including you btw).  How the hell do people not know Strickland or Portman who served/are serving as governor and U.S. Senator!? This is why I often see sports, entertainment, etc for too many people as being an unhealthy distraction as well as a healthy diversion.  People are too driven by what Ohio State football, the Browns or Reds are doing rather than paying attention to more critical issues in life.

It's cause the Internet lets you tune out everything except what you're nerding out on. Used to be you had to turn on the news or open the paper to find out who won the game, what the lotto numbers were or what time the movies started.

It's cause the Internet lets you tune out everything except what you're nerding out on. Used to be you had to turn on the news or open the paper to find out who won the game, what the lotto numbers were or what time the movies started.

 

True, but I think the bigger problem is people choosing to tune out.  News is still there to be read.

Former Ally Sets Sights on Strickland

The National Rifle Association (NRA), a one-time friend of former Gov. Ted Strickland, has spent more money supporting rival U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) than it has on all other congressional campaigns combined, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/09/16/when-friends-become-foes-ted-stricklands-fundraising-woes/89544326/

Interesting article on Portman in the WSJ today. It says Trump (and others) are riding on Portman's coattails.

 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/rob-portman-may-provide-reverse-coattails-for-donald-trump-in-ohio-1475181035

 

 

Interesting article on Portman in the WSJ today. It says Trump (and others) are riding on Portman's coattails.

 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/rob-portman-may-provide-reverse-coattails-for-donald-trump-in-ohio-1475181035

 

 

 

Maybe so.  But if Kasich endorses Johnson or McMullin that cancels it out.  Especially if Portman continues to keep Orange at a distance.

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/political/ohio-sen-rob-portman-revokes-support-for-donald-trump

^ "I will be voting for Mike Pence for President."

 

That is a dumb strategy. Maybe I'll vote for Mike Pence for Ohio Senator, which makes about as much sense as voting for him for president. Seeing as how Portman pretty much has the election in the bag already, this comment was superfluous and essentially only helps Clinton. Very odd move.

^ "I will be voting for Mike Pence for President."

 

That is a dumb strategy. Maybe I'll vote for Mike Pence for Ohio Senator, which makes about as much sense as voting for him for president. Seeing as how Portman pretty much has the election in the bag already, this comment was superfluous and essentially only helps Clinton. Very odd move.

 

He has a history of changing his views in ways that might not help him electorally.  He has the integrity that the two main Presidential candidates profoundly lack.  Maybe that's why his election is in the bag.

^ "I will be voting for Mike Pence for President."

 

That is a dumb strategy. Maybe I'll vote for Mike Pence for Ohio Senator, which makes about as much sense as voting for him for president. Seeing as how Portman pretty much has the election in the bag already, this comment was superfluous and essentially only helps Clinton. Very odd move.

 

You're vastly overestimating the comfort level most other people, politicians or not, have with someone who boasts about sexual assault.  Or for politicians, maybe just being associated with that person by voters.  If you want to be cynical about it.

David Pepper ‏@DavidPepper  2m2 minutes ago

NRA has spent more money to bolster Portman in this race than any other candidate in nation, combined.

^And Strickland used to be an NRA sweetheart.  Interesting.  Looks like some spurned lover revenge to me.

David Pepper ‏@DavidPepper  2m2 minutes ago

NRA has spent more money to bolster Portman in this race than any other candidate in nation, combined.

 

Seems like a bad investment. I don't see Strickland getting any traction. Also I thought he was a loyal Clinton ally, yet I haven't seen them do anything on his behalf. Like he's diseased.

^And Strickland used to be an NRA sweetheart.  Interesting.  Looks like some spurned lover revenge to me.

 

Hmm, it's almost like the NRA is a bunch of partisan hacks.

^And Strickland used to be an NRA sweetheart.  Interesting.  Looks like some spurned lover revenge to me.

 

Hmm, it's almost like the NRA is a bunch of partisan hacks.

 

They endorsed him in 2010.  Strickland's changed not them.

^Yeah, that's fair. I hadn't realized Strickland had changed some of his views till I read up on the race just now.

IF anyone deserves a second term it is Portman. You really cant objectively say anything bad about the guy, if you are truly being objective. He has served Ohio well

 

^I can objectively say he's been an awful representative of my federal policy preferences. And half of Ohio can say the same thing about our other Senator, whom I support.

^ In your opinion you mean. Objectively, he has done Ohio very well

IF anyone deserves a second term it is Portman. You really cant objectively say anything bad about the guy, if you are truly being objective. He has served Ohio well

 

The main reason I voted for Strickland over Portman was Portman's endorsement of Trump.  I would agree Portman's done a lot for Ohio, but to endorse Trump speaks volumes on his moral fiber.

IF anyone deserves a second term it is Portman. You really cant objectively say anything bad about the guy, if you are truly being objective. He has served Ohio well

 

 

He endorsed Trump, he voted for the government shutdown, he signed that stupid Iran letter, he's an ultra social conservative and he votes straight down the party line so he's spineless. I disagree he's done a lot for Ohio and certainly not as much as prior Republican Ohio Senators or prior Ohio Rebublican representatives. The current crop are just as feckless as he is.

IF anyone deserves a second term it is Portman. You really cant objectively say anything bad about the guy, if you are truly being objective. He has served Ohio well

 

The main reason I voted for Strickland over Portman was Portman's endorsement of Trump.  I would agree Portman's done a lot for Ohio, but to endorse Trump speaks volumes on his moral fiber.

 

He did it for party reasons but eventually had enough and unendorsed him.  That took some gumption and involved a small amount of electoral risk.

IF anyone deserves a second term it is Portman. You really cant objectively say anything bad about the guy, if you are truly being objective. He has served Ohio well

 

The main reason I voted for Strickland over Portman was Portman's endorsement of Trump.  I would agree Portman's done a lot for Ohio, but to endorse Trump speaks volumes on his moral fiber.

 

He did it for party reasons but eventually had enough and unendorsed him.  That took some gumption and involved a small amount of electoral risk.

 

Jeff Flake never did and that's admirable. Portman is a coward and just follows the flock like a good little boy. So he stood up to Trump after the 401st offensive thing he said. He deserves a golf clap and nothing more.

^And Strickland used to be an NRA sweetheart.  Interesting.  Looks like some spurned lover revenge to me.

 

Hmm, it's almost like the NRA is a bunch of partisan hacks.

 

They endorsed him in 2010.  Strickland's changed not them.

 

Regardless of whether or not that's really true, it's a foolish strategy on their part. They should have spread the money around; the Dems are on the verge of winning back the Senate, or at least forcing a 50-50 which will be broken by Kaine as VP. This is great news if you're for sensible gun control measures and want Supreme Court Justices on the bench that don't tow the NRA's extremist line. They may win the "battle" with Portman over Strickland, but they're going to lose the "war" over the Senate as a whole.

^ but if they don't have the house, I doubt "sensible" gun control is going to pass.

The Democrats should have run Sittenfeld. He probably would have lost, too, since Ohioans rarely elect somebody on his first time out; but at least he would have gotten statewide exposure.

^ I don't think you run Sittenfeld and expose him to a loss on a big stage yet. He will probably run for State level office in 2018 when Kasich is term limited. It will give him better name recognition if he wins at that point to go on to bigger things.