Posted on 06/13/2005 8:32:33 AM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Mud flies in Ohio special election
GOP front-runners stress family as vote nears in conservative-held district
By John McCarthy
Associated Press
WEST UNION, Ohio – Four Republican contenders in Ohio’s special congressional primary practically tripped over one another emphasizing family at a weekend picnic.
Jean Schmidt, a former state lawmaker, had to leave early to attend her daughter’s dance recital. Bob McEwen, trying to get back to Congress after a 13-year absence, noted his 29th wedding anniversary coming up Sunday.
State Rep. Tom Brinkman told the crowd that he has been married for 21 years and is raising six children. Pat DeWine, a county commissioner in Cincinnati, brought his mom (Fran), dad (U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine) and a couple of sisters.
In this economically distressed and largely Republican part of southern Ohio, family values play well among voters. But the candidates have also been doing their fair share of mudslinging in advance of Tuesday’s election to succeed former Rep. Rob Portman, who was named U.S. trade representative in March.
McEwen, 55, has come under fire for writing 166 bad checks on the House bank during his earlier tenure, while DeWine, 37, has been criticized for leaving his wife for a lobbyist three years ago.
“I think we ought to talk about the issues. I wish people would do that, but if people want to talk about my personal life I’m happy to address it,” DeWine said.
But DeWine can dish out negative ads, too. One radio ad for his campaign enlists the help of Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters, who criticizes Brinkman for his opposition to the death penalty.
Brinkman, 47, is one of the Ohio House’s staunchest abortion opponents and said he’s just consistent in being “pro-life all the way.”
Schmidt, 53, has been attacked for her vote in the House two years ago that imposed a 20-percent sales-tax increase over two years. She has said the tax was a temporary solution for misspending in the ’90s.
“I think we should be above the fray on mudslinging. We should talk about the issues,” she said.
At a recent candidates forum in New Boston, the rhetoric got so nasty it turned off Margaret Schumacher, 65, of Portsmouth.
“If I’d had a water gun, I think I’d have used it. When they start with that, it’s just like 2-year-old kids in the playground,” she said.
In addition to the four front-runners, there are seven other Republican candidates and six Democrats in Tuesday’s primary.
Democrat Charles Sanders, a former Waynesville mayor, is best known for losing to Portman four times.
Republicans rule the 2nd Congressional District, where Portman had been in office since his own special election in 1993. Only one Democrat, Thomas Luken in the 1970s, has represented the district since 1951.
The seven-county district spreads from Cincinnati’s eastern suburbs to Ohio’s southern tip, and generally suffers the same economic woes as the rest of Appalachia. Unemployment in Adams County in May was 8.9 percent, compared with 5.9 percent statewide.
I just read that the Cincy Enquirer endorsed Schmidt, who is in fourth place trailing Brinkman, McEwen, and Dewine who are in a statistical tie for first.
Forget Little Pat leaving the wife. How about nailing this guy for Daddy's treason in the Senate? I wish REAL Republicans in that district would give that some serious thought. We can only hope....
That may or may not help. I know the local paper endorsement is jokingly referred to as the "Kiss of Death"
referring to my paper, not Enquirer.
The problem is the field is so split that someone is going to win with 30% of the vote. I hope it is Tom Brinkman.
I think it is going to come down to McEwen or Brinkman.
The whole issue with Senator DeWine and the judges has hurt DeWine a little, but not on the level with the candidate's own personal issues. People seem to have a big problem with it. In order to win, DeWine has to come up big in Hamilton, Clermont, and Warren, because I don't think he can do it in the rural counties. DeWine can kiss this race goodbye if he loses Hamilton County. Big losses in Clermont or Warren could be dangerous for him too.
For McEwen, I think he is in pretty good shape. I think he will do well in the rural counties of the district where he is known. He appears to have strong support in Warren County. I think he'll do decently in Clermont County, where I believe he represented during his previous stint in Congress. He needs just enough votes in Hamilton County.
For Brinkman to win, I think he needs to win Hamilton County. I think his problem will then be the other counties. How will he do in Warren and Clermont? That is the big unknown. It seems the big "family values leaders" on the national and state level are going with McEwen. Even with the Club for Growth having encouraging words about him, not having one of these "family values leaders" supporting him is hurting Brinkman.
For Schmidt, Clermont County is a must win. A win in Hamilton or Warren counties (along with Clermont), could clinch it. In her Senate primary race last year, she did particularly well in Scioto County. That could be a bonus for her. However, on the downside of that race, she lost Clermont, Brown, and Adams counties.
Amazing how writing 166 hot checks is a "family value"
Or how raising the Sales Tax, Gas Tax, and Hotel Tax is considered being fiscally conservative.
Or how opposing the death penalty for terrorists is considered conservative.
Are there any big name political consultants involved?
I don't know who is working on what campaign.
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