Posted on 01/12/2009 1:01:07 PM PST by St. Louis Conservative
Former Republican congressman Rob Portman will announce that he is running for the Senate soon after Ohio Sen. George Voinovich’s retirement announcement, according to multiple Republican sources.
Portman's official announcement is expected to take place on Wednesday.
Portman would give Senate Republicans an accomplished candidate who is likely to clear the primary field.
“He’s great on both policy and politics, and you don’t often find that combination,” said Hamilton County Republican party chairman Alex Triantafilou. “His experience in government, his experience in Washington and his understanding of Ohio would make him a tremendous force in the Senate.”
Portman would likely clear the Republican primary field, with other leading candidates unlikely to challenge him. A strong fundraiser from his days in the House, Portman is expected to have little trouble raising the millions necessary to mount a formidable statewide campaign. (He also has over $1.5 million remaining in his House campaign committee, which he can transfer over for a Senate race.)
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Tim Ryan-another punk from Youngstown is floating the idea of running for Senate. He’s don NOTHING for the Mahoning Valley during his time in the house-so I guess he’s as qualified as Sherrod Brown.
Great news! He’s a good man.
Yep, Portman’s the ‘real deal’ for Conservatives. Glad he didn’t take a seat on the SS McCain back in the summer.
Portman should win Voinovich’s seat easily.
Portman is a good guy.
I met him personally when he visited my military unit. My photo was on his congressional website for a long time from that visit!
I asked him for an autographed photo of Bush...he just sent me one of himself. :(
That’s okay, by now I would have used the one of Bush as mulch.
Portman thumbs up. Kasich thumbs down. Kasich = Mediawhore.
This is great news. Conservative former Congressman Rob Portman would be a *huge* upgrade over Voinovich, and he’s as strong a candidate as the GOP can muster for a statewide race in OH (with the arguable exception of John Kasich).
Excellent news! Portman was a terrific conservative representative. Just the medicine we need after the dark latter years of George V.
Although I’d like to see Blackwell take a run, if the party unifies behind Portman and the Dems have a nasty battle, we might hold this seat.
I noticed a lot of people Called him a good man, and a conservatives, so I decided to look him up.
I saw a bad thing here and there at first. He said that the media wasn’t being sexist towards Palin, and the media actually “keeps us honest” about things. He supported the Kyoto protocol. These raised my eyebrows.
Then I found out he was 100% pro-Amnesty. FAIR gives him a 0% on his report card. He voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who use hospitals. His whole record is 100% pro-illegal alien.
I cannot support him.
Would that mean a comeback by Traficant, perhaps?
Actually, this isn’t a great development. Rob Portmas has little name I.D outside of Cincinnati, and he is closely identified with the Bush White House.
Wouldn't THAT be great!
LOL - you used to be a big Portman booster! What happened, CF??
Two old Republican Senators are retiring. But we got two rising stars to replace them - Sarah Steeleman and Rob Portman. In a neutral political climate, these two stars would be favored. However I fear the current political climate may drag them down. Here’s hoping the bad economy drags the Messiah down in 6 months.
I agree if we’re talking about right now or 2006, but 2010 could be totally different, and chances are that it will be a lot friendlier to Republicans than 2006 or 2008 was. Who would have thought 2006 would be a disaster after the successful 2002 and 2004 elections?
We’ll be back.
I don’t know. People in OH like to do as their neighbors do, and the country is now Democrat, and they may follow.
For now. Things change.
I was supportive of Rob Portman for VP, thinking he could help McCain in the Cincinnati area. But the anti-Bush undertow last year was greater than I had anticipated. Bush is the Republican Jimmy Carter and the ‘Rats will have him to run against for the next couple of election cycles.
If Portman is the nominee, I’ll support him. But I think we’d be better off with someone who has a more independent image.
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