Furthermore, when a candidate in this race breaks away from conservative orthodoxy, or the Republican platform, on an issue or two, there is usually a right-leaning philosophical justification for it. For example, Brinkman is oppposed to the death penalty on the grounds of defending all life. One of the lesser candidates wants to pull out of Iraq ASAP on libertarian grounds.
The Second Congressional District is a Conservative Disneyland. Some of you Southerners and Westerners are probably used to having races where everyone tries to "out-Conservative" each other and claim to be a direct intellectual descendant of Ronald Reagan. This is not the way things usually go in Ohio, though.
You make some good points. I am one district away (3) and this race is extremely interesting. Needless to say, I will be supporting ABD, Anyone But Dewine.