Senate - OH

This will be probably the highest profile race in the Buckeye state.  Former Congressman, US Trade Representative and Budget Director Rob Portman is a conservative favorite not only in Ohio but across the country.  Portman spent 12 years in Congress representating Ohio's Second District.  The district is a very diverse part of southwest Ohio that included downtown Cincinnati, inner and outer suburbs of Cincinnati along with rolling rural farmlands to the east.  This representation gives Portman a deep understanding of all aspects of life in Ohio.

 

Portman faces an unknown challenger in Tom Ganley, a northeast Ohio auto dealer.  Ganley has few known positions other than being an angry businessman.  To date no other conservatives have shown a real interest in the race.

 

Portman on the other hand has a solid record supporting smaller government spending, lower taxes and a strong belief in free trade.  Portman cares about working families and knows in these tough economic times families will tighten their belts until times improve unlike the current Congress which has gone on a spending spree second to none in our history.  During the stimulus debate Portman supported the conservative stimulus plan of tax cuts and shovel ready jobs.

 

On the liberal side three candidates have stepped forward all with records of more government spending higher taxes and more regulation.  The two highest profile people are current Lieutenant Governor and former state Attorney General Lee Fisher and former judge and current Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.  Tyrone Yates, a Hamilton county state representative has stated he intends to run but no announcement has been made.

 

Fisher has the blessing of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.  Since the position of Lieutenant Governor in Ohio is a ceremonial one, Fisher is free to campaign for the Senate pretty much full time while on the state payroll wasting taxpayers dollars. 

 

Brunner on the other hand is keeping her day job as Secretary of State while campaigning for the Senate.  In the two plus years in the position Brunner has been a highly polarizing Secretary wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars and defending the activities of ACORN.  She has the backing of the far left Emilys list.

 

While liberals are jumping for joy at the prospect of Fisher or Brunner in the Senate they are having a hard time deciding which to support.  Look for a bloody contest between the two.