Former Gov. Ted Strickland will run against Republican Sen. Rob Portman
It's really happening. On Wednesday, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland
announced that he would challenge Republican Sen. Rob Portman in a race Democrats badly want to win.
As we've noted previously, Strickland is a big get for Team Blue. He has a reputation as a great campaigner: While he lost re-election in 2010 to John Kasich, he managed to keep things very close in a hellish year for Buckeye State Democrats. Strickland also is a proven vote-getter in rural eastern Ohio, an area that has turned against most Democrats in recent cycles.
Strickland will join Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld in the primary and will start as the clear frontrunner. Sittenfeld has been raising real money and may decide to take his chances on the former governor, but Buckeye State Democrats tell Roll Call that they expect him to drop out when all is said and done. Sittenfeld is young enough that he has plenty of time to move up the ladder.
One option that Sittenfeld should consider is a run against Republican Rep. Steve Chabot in the state's 1st Congressional District. This Cincinnati-area seat was redrawn to protect Chabot, but at 52-46 Romney, it's not out of reach for Democrats in a good year. A blue win in districts like this would give the party a real shot at a House majority, but it's not going to happen without a credible candidate. Sittenfeld would face a tough campaign but national Democrats would definitely remember him even if he fails.
Even with Strickland in, this is going to be a tough race for Democrats. Portman isn't an exciting candidate but he's one of the most formidable fundraisers in politics, and he'll have the advantage of incumbency. But Strickland gives his party a better shot at flipping this seat and perhaps the entire Senate with it. We'll be keeping a very close eye on this contest over at Daily Kos Elections as things develop.