Ohio Congressional Races: News and Notes

Items of interest in Ohio's Congressional races:

Senate: The Dayton Daily News reports today on former Ohio Congressman, former U.S. Trade Representative, and current Bush administration budget director Rob Portman campaigning for Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Cedarville) in Cincinnati on Friday. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Avon) blasted the pair in a press release, criticizing their support for CAFTA and Permanent Normalized Trade Relations with China. “Job loss is nothing to celebrate,” said Brown. “Director Portman and Senator DeWine teamed up in support of job-killing trade agreements that have made jobs one of Ohio’s largest exports.” Brown also noted that Portman is one of Bush's closest friends in Congress, and that Karl Rove has called DeWine a "loyal stalwart."

Brown also issued a press release today, noting that the Senate is scheduled to begin debating the Oman Free Trade Agreement and DeWine supported it earlier this year. Brown says that the Oman FTA would threaten the security of the United States by authorizing any company that has a subsidiary in Oman, including Dubai Ports World, to operate at U.S. port terminals. “Senator DeWine voted for job-killing trade deals that rewarded multinational corporations but jeopardized our national security,” said Brown. “The U.S. government should never give the keys to our national security away to a foreign country or corporation. This is Dubai Ports World all over again, and Mike DeWine has failed to put our security first.” In response to the Dubai Ports scandal, Brown introduced the Trade-Related American National Security Enhancement (TRANSEA Act), which would require a comprehensive national security review for all new trade agreements.

Sherrod Brown will headline a fundraiser at 6:30 pm on Friday, September 22, at the John Gaynor Family Farm, 6556 Dawsey Road, Rock Creek, Ohio (in Trumbull Township, Ashtabula County). Suggested contribution is $25. RSVP to valerie-at-sherrodbrown-dot-com.

1st District: The excellent blog Ohio's First reports that the ORP sent out a press release accusing City Councilmember John Cranley (D-Cincinnati) of "showing his true colors" by flying to Washington DC last Wednesday and schmoozing with favorite GOP hobgoblin Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and "liberal special interest groups." Problem is, Cranley never left the district that day. In other words, another GOP lie.

Focused on the issues, last week Cranley called on Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Cincinnati) and the Republican-controlled Congress to pass real earmark reform "to eliminate the out-of-control spending habits that have resulted in record surpluses becoming record deficits."

2nd District: Dr. Victoria Wulsin issued a press release today calling on convicted felon Rep. Bob Ney (R-Heath) to resign his office immediately. Ney pled guilty to charges of corruption on Friday. "If Bob Ney does not resign immediately, the U.S. House of Representatives should vote to expel him," Wulsin said. "He is the ultimate example of corruption and fraud in Washington and has embarrassed Ohio, our Congress, and our nation."

Wulsin compared Ney's misdeeds to the checkered history of opponent Rep. "Mean Jean" Schmidt (R-Loveland): reprimanded by the Ohio Elections Commission for "reckless disregard for the truth;" "failing to disclose $5000 in gifts that lobbyists gave her in a Cincinnati Bengals luxury suite" and co-sponsoring legislation benefiting the lobbyists; lying about her relationship with Tom Noe; and refusing to return $10,000 received from Tom DeLay's political action committee. Last week Wulsin also attacked Schmidt for using false information in push polling, including statements like "Wulsin would ban air condiitoners because they harm the environment."

I reported that this race was added to the DCCC targeted races list, but MyDD reports that it is on their list of "emerging races," apparently ones winnable if this turns out to be a "wave election."

3rd District: Former federal prosecutor Richard Chema (D-Oakwood) attended the ODP State Convention along with campaign manager Anthony Fossaceca, who told me that "now the real work begins." Yesterday primary opponent Charles W. Sanders issued this statement: "Thank you all for your valiant support. I congratulate Mr. Chema on his victory, and again pledge to do everything I can to support the ticket in November and to continue to work for real policy change now."

5th District: Robin Weirauch has a busy schedule going. She'll be at the Defiance County Turn Around Ohio Dinner at the UAW Hall tonight at 6:00 pm, the Fostoria UAW Cap Council Candidates Night on Wednesday at 5:00, and the Crawford County Democrats Ox Roast at the Fairground on Saturday at 5:00. She is also kicking off her "City Tour" with Williams County tomorrow, Seneca and Wood Counties on Thursday, and Bucyrus and Crawford Counties on Saturday.

6th District: State Sen. Charlie Wilson will host a voters' forum tonight at 7:00 pm at the Community Resource Center, 940 Pennsylvania Ave., East Liverpool, Ohio, and Wednesday at 5:00 pm he'll be at the Athens County Democratic Dinner, American Legion Hall, 520 W. Union Street, Athens, Ohio.

12th District: Today's Columbus Dispatch has an interesting article about how former Congressman Bob Shamansky (D-Bexley) and Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Genoa Township) "agree that their faith helps shape their outlook and value system," but "neither spends much time discussing religion on the campaign trail." However, see Russell's take at Buckeye State Blog, contrasting that report to Tiberi's meeting with Christian Reconstructionists in Washington DC.

MyDD reports that the DCCC has put this contest on their list of "emerging races," apparently meaning they see it as winnable if this turns out to be a "wave election."

13th District: MyDD reports that the DCCC has added the campaign of former state representative Betty Sutton (D-Copley) to their "Red to Blue" program, which gives campaigns financial support and mentorship from sitting Democratic Representatives.

14th District: Lew Katz (D-Pepper Pike) was at the 2006 ODP State Convention on Saturday, where Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Cleveland) hailed him from the podium as her criminal law professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, "without whom I would not have graduated."

Tonight at 5:00 pm Katz will speak at the grand opening of the Ashtabula Democratic Headquarters, 2211 Lake Ave, Ashtabula, Ohio. On Friday at 6:30 he joins Sherrod Brown at the John Gaynor Family Farm in Trumbull Township, Ashtablua County, and on Saturday he'll march in his last parade of the season, the Grand Jubilee Parade in Geneva.

15th District: Mary Jo Kilroy participated in a voter registration drive called "Campus Swarm" at Ohio State University today where hundreds of young voters were signed up in just a few hours. It was Move-In Day on the campus, which is in the 15th District.

Opponent Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus) told the Columbus Dispatch over the weekend that she is "not a party-line gal," despite voting with Bush 88% of the time, but today's Boston Globe quotes her cheering for her man Bush: "It's great to see the president doing what he does best," said Pryce. "The momentum is going in the right direction." Hat tip to the excellent Kilroy campaign blog for the news items.

18th District: MyDD reports that the NRCC made a quarter-million-dollar ad buy in the 18th District over the weekend, largest of any district listed in the announcement. All negative, I'm sure. Zack Space (D-Dover) is on the DCCC targeted race list, and he's going to need the help.