Posted on 10/24/2005 11:08:03 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Paul Hackett, the Democratic veteran of the Iraq war who narrowly lost a special election in a heavily Republican congressional district in August, made his official entry into a U.S. Senate race Monday.
He faces a tough Democratic primary with Rep. Sherrod Brown in the race for the nomination to challenge second-term Republican incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine next year.
Hackett's only political experience is a stint as a small-city councilman.
"I'm asking all the people of this great state, regardless of political affiliation, to consider my message and to consider joining me in the fight to take back our government from the career politicians and their special interest support groups who have hijacked our government," he said as he announced his campaign at his home in suburban Indian Hill.
Hackett decided to run for Congress earlier this year after completing a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq as a Marine reservist. That special election in southern Ohio's seven-county 2nd District was to replace Rep. Rob Portman, who left his seat to become the U.S. trade representative.
Hackett won the Democratic nomination, then battled Republican Jean Schmidt, a former state legislator, in a campaign in which he linked her to embattled Republican Gov. Bob Taft while sharply criticizing President Bush's handling of the war.
Schmidt won on Aug. 2 with 52 percent of the vote, though Portman had consistently won re-election in the district with more than 70 percent and Bush had carried it in 2004 with 64 percent.
Hackett's strong showing in a state that was a pivotal presidential battleground solidified the attorney as a likely 2006 candidate for Congress or statewide office.
After Hackett decided to oppose DeWine, Hackett was irked when Brown, with three decades of elective politics behind him, decided he also would run.
Brown, a former state legislator and Ohio secretary of state, is in his seventh congressional term, representing northeastern Ohio's 13th District. He's expected to officially launch his Senate race in early November.
Bravo Sierra!
Sneaky, lying piece of garbage.
Just like Osama Bin Obama was the new "star" of the dem party. Reminds me of a child pushing buttons on elevator, hoping that one of the floors will be paydirt. They have nothing to offer this nation but hate and propped up candidates. Much like Air America. No matter what you call it or how you promote it, if there is nothing there people want, it will fail.
Expect to see a steady stream of "War Hero Opposed To The War" Democrat candidates for the next few years. They have no credibility on national security issues otherwise.
But this guy was just a staff puke.
Bravo Sierra!
It was a surprisingly strong showing... but he didn't win. The fact is, if the Repubs had a candidate do as well in a district that voted 65% Kerry, we'd be wanting him to consider state-wide office also.
I have no problem with Hackett personally, just his politics. If the debate stays on the issues, he'll get defeated again.
Another "Reporting for Duty" clown.
The bloom is off of the rose for Hackett. He tried to sneak into a house seat by playing the "veteran" who backs strong national security while reciting Michael Moore talking points elsewhere. Ultimately, it got out to the voters and he was defeated.
Is this another politician who's only qualification for office is that he is a war vetran? Can we expect, "Hi, I'm Paul Hackett, and I was in the Iraq War" at every campaign stop?
Wow, a veteran of the Ohio War. Was he a pollworker?
/silliness
This bum is a Marine in the Bobby Garwood model. As a Marine I am embarrassed by this guy. Calling the Commander in Chief an SoB is a UCMJ offense, not something you run for Senate on.

Maybe he went to Kent State...
That depends...if that candidate did well in that district by running as someone who agreed with and supported Kerry, we wouldn't be terribly eager to see them run for any statewide office. Hackett, the barking moonbat in private, ran as a Bush supporter in his ads.
This promises to set up a potentially nasty primary between Hackett and Sherrod Brown. Brown is a long-time hack congressman from a safe NE Ohio district who figures his time has come for the next step. He has no claim to fame except incumbency, but he sandbagged Hackett early on, posing as if he was not going to run, and now clearly is. The potential exists for intraparty fireworks from hot-head Hackett.
What are we going to do With Dewhine?
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