Amen. Pat DeWine has the best name ID in the race. He knows he has to portray himself as a true conservative. Elements of his record on City Council (when he allied himself with a Democrat) and his personal life (when he left his pregnant wife to move in with a p.r./advertisting consultant who was then hired by a large company who wanted a subsidy, and then DeWine changed his vote) call that into question. Also, he is more or less a career politician and as such seems susceptible to an affinity for governemtn.
There are too many non-DeWines running in this race. Some will back McEwen because they recall his fairly conservative voting record and hold little against him for the check-bouncing or the poor campaigns against Clarence Miller, Ted Stricklland, and Rob Portman. McEwen seems to me like a guy who is addicted to power in Washington. The fact that he's lived in Virginia since his defeat in Congress and his work as a corporate lobbyist points to this direction.
Jean Schmidt is conservative, too, (pro-life, pro-gun) but her biggest sin will be her vote for the sales tax increase in 2003.
There are a few other candidates who will attract local (we're talking township-level here, and small ones at that) interest.
Tom Brinkman has a long career in private industry (the printing business to be specific) and has actively campaigned for numerous referenda to limit or lower taxes. He has a solodly conservative record in Columbus, has never voted for a tax increase, and is endorsed by Right to Life and the Gun Owners of America. He also has experience defeating the Establishment's choice for office (he knocked off Joe Deters' hand-picked candidate who got the Party endorsement in the 2000 primary). This is why I am proudly supporting Tom Brinkman.
Who does Portman favor as his replacement? Or is he not allowed to say (other than, "whoever wins the GOP primary")?