Posted on 01/28/2024 3:38:17 AM PST by RandFan
Bernie Moreno, a staunch Trump ally, is emerging as the leading candidate for the Republican nomination to face Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in what will be one of the most closely-watched Senate races this year.
Moreno started off the primary with low name recognition and trailed his other GOP rivals in most early polls. But a coveted endorsement from the former president, as well as from other leading Republican figures, has elevated him over his chief rivals, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan.
In a sign of his growing strength in the primary, Brown has already started attacking Moreno — knocking him over his ties to Trump in an effort to galvanize Democrats and others leery of the former president.
“Moreno now has the inside track to win this [primary] race, presuming he’s willing to spend some of his own money to communicate Trump’s endorsement and press the case against Dolan and LaRose,” said Ohio-based Republican strategist Mark Weaver.
Brown is one of two incumbent Democrats running for reelection in a state that voted for former President Trump in 2016 and 2020, making him one of the top targets for Republicans seeking to take back the Senate majority in November.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
I'm glad an outsider is in pole position
I like both Dolan and LaRose.
Sherrod Brown sucks.
I was leaning a bit towards LaRose because his military experience. But still waffling.
Also, LaRose staying Sec State for Ohio has value.
Any insights fellow FRepers?
Have not looked into Moreno that much. Can some FReepers provide some insight/links?
He’s a self-funding businessman I believe. The name rings a bell I think he competed against Vance last time/ has ran before.
Thanks.
So is Dolan.
LaRose is old school military.
Frankly I like all three. Just wish TWO US Senate seats were up this election cycle so I could vote for two of them.
Revising: Vance is awesome. Want him to stay there. So can Ohio get three U.S. Senators? /lol
Thanks. Good info.
It's the typical "get a candidate to split the votes" routine, the same thing they did to get a$$hole DeWine re-elected. He would have lost, had there not been a bunch of propped-up vote suckers to split the vote.
I probably favor Larose, at this time, with his record and military experience (101st Airborne, and Green Beret).
I may be wrong but I think he was a car dealer I bought a car from. A big time multi dealership guy.
I predicted Vance would lose because of that beard and belly and the bias of the soccer moms that control Ohio outcomes. I was wrong and glad of it. He is doing great and staying with all the right narrative.
“This SHOULD be a winnable race....”
Absolutely it should be. But Republicans have a nasty habit of shooting themselves in the foot via divisive primaries in critical statewide elections — mainly because the liberal wing of the party will never back a conservative in the general election and much prefers that a Democrat take the seat.
This is something Democrats NEVER do. In recent years they make certain that the field is clear for their chosen candidate in a Senate primary in any winnable state, thus avoiding the divisiveness.
Also, the Rats do not care how liberal a candidate is and they do not demand that only the most moderate, squishy centrist be their party’s choice — which the Republican establishment demands EVERY time. Or else.
In 2022 in NC and OH the anointed Democrat was basically unopposed and very well-supported financially (unlike unsuccessful GOP candidates who were drastically outspent). The Rats lost those 2 races anyway, but did everything possible to win them.
In 2020 they cleared the field in CO, GA (twice) and NC and picked up 3 of those 4.
In 2018 the same applies to AZ and NV and were again both successful pickups.
In 2024 the liberal GOP establishment is ramming “moderates” down our throats and marginalizing conservatives — as usual — in WV, OH & MT, which are the only 3 viable chances a flipping seats. WV is a sure pickup no matter who the Republicans nominate (they still greatly prefer the squishy old Governor over the young conservative Rep.) and MT and OH are tossups at best.
With Dolan clearly on the left no matter what fakes to the center his campaign tries, and Moreno clearly on the right, Larose will be the deciding factor — can he take enough votes to win himself, and if not then which of the other 2 candidates does he steal the most from to deprive them of the win?
The most recent poll I’ve seen is over a month old and favors Moreno with merely 22% and 44% still undecided. None of the three are remotely close to pulling away from the others yet, and that may never happen unless one drops out.
Trump’s endorsement is usually gold in a primary (and therefore a lead balloon in all but the safest general elections), and no polls have apparently been taken since that endorsement of Moreno. You’d think that Bernie ought to get a nice bump in the next one. If/when he becomes the clear favorite, the media will begin to savage him even harder than the linked article at the top of this thread.
That said, the shenanigans in EVERY Election are in the Dem-centered parasite and "Mail-in" votes in Columbus, Cincinnati, Akron, Cleveland, Dayton, and Toledo.....the flyover-country and suburban votes are ALWAYS offset by massive votes of the cities.
After some comments (public and private) and other discussions, I’m definitely leaning LaRose.
I am voting for Moreno. Sherrod Brown is leftist pond scum.
Dolan is a phoney. LaRose is all right. Moreno has proven bona fides by deferring to JD Vance in 2020. At Trump’s request. That’s how he earned Trump’s support, that and his solid consistency as a conservative and a Hispanic businessman.
Moreno dropped his campaign against Vance in 2020 so Vance could focus on the general. Get the whole story. Dolan is the rich kid on the block, son of a wealthy media family, dabbling in politics for something to do.
Brown is vulnerable, but if he runs against Moreno, has a better shot at retaining his seat.
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