I’m liking this:
American Bridge 21st Century’s ad, shared first with The Hill, alternates between controversial remarks from the presumptive GOP presidential nominee and clips of Portman saying he’ll support him.
The ad ends by calling Portman “Trump’s man in Ohio” and showing a graphic of the two high-fiving. It will run all week on social media in Ohio.
Portman faces a tough reelection bid against Democratic former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.
"Donald Trump has proven himself to be unfit to be president, repeatedly making sexist and derogatory remarks and pushing misguided economic policies that will put American jobs at risk,” American Bridge president Jessica Mackler said in a statement.
“But that hasn't deterred Senator Rob Portman from putting politics over Ohio voters and fully embracing the Party of Trump."
The ad wars are heating up in Ohio. The Koch Brothers are coming to rescue Portman:
The network already has invested heavily in the Ohio Senate race to protect Republican Sen. Rob Portman in his battle against the state's former governor Ted Strickland, a Democrat. On Tuesday, Freedom Partners Action Fund launched a $2.2 million ad, attacking Strickland's record as Ohio's chief executive. It's Freedom Partners' second, seven-figure buy in the Ohio Senate race.
The ad features "Keith," described as a businessman from Tipp City, Ohio, who decries what he said were rising taxes and job losses during Strickland's tenure.
Strickland's camp said the group was twisting facts prop up Portman, whom they called a Koch "puppet."
Strickland’s campaign isn’t taking it and Hillary Clinton’s folks are spending big in Ohio to destroy Trump which could also hurt Portman:
Strickland's campaign quickly replied that the former governor was unfairly blamed for job losses incurred during the economic recession. And his campaign claimed that Strickland actually cut taxes while governor.
The ad, his campaign stated in a release, was an attempt by the Koch brothers to "twist the facts to prop up their puppet Rob Portman."
Meanwhile, Priorities USA, a pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC, announced it is buying $1.6 million worth of TV ads in Ohio targeting Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
The ad campaign, the first launched by the group for the general election, features two 30-second spots seeking to portray Trump as disrespectful toward women using his own comments.
Priorities USA stated in a release that it is spending a total of $6 million on the ads in four swing states – Ohio, Florida, Nevada, and Virginia.
Trump, using his favorite medium, Twitter, responded that one of the ads wrongly suggested that he told women to go (expletive) themselves, when in fact he was telling that to China.
And Portman is really trying to run away from the VP rumors by offering Trump this idea:
Ohio Gov. John Kasich , who dropped out of the Republican presidential race earlier this month, would make a good running mate for Donald Trump , Sen. Rob Portman told CNBC on Tuesday.
Portman, also from the swing state of Ohio and himself mentioned as a possible Trump vice presidential pick, said on " Squawk Box " he's not interested but he supports Trump for the White House.
"I'm happy doing what I'm doing," said Portman , a first-term senator who is considered vulnerable. "I've got my own re-election."
Trump’s not the only issue hurting Portman’s chances. Ohio Democrats have continues to slam Portman for not doing his job:
It’s been two months since President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to serve as the next Supreme Court justice, and Ohio Democrats are using the relative inaction taken by the Senate GOP majority on his nomination as an attack line against Sen. Rob Portman.
On Monday morning, surrounded by eight people dressed as judges, the head of the Ohio Democratic Party railed against the vulnerable first-term Republican over his opposition to even considering Garland for the post. The messaging was focused heavily on the Republican presidential front-runner, Donald Trump.
“It’s now clear that Portman is willing to let Donald Trump reshape the Supreme Court for generations — a reckless and dangerous idea that underscores how out-of-touch Portman’s politics are with Ohio’s common sense values,” said David Pepper, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party.
In his hometown press, Portman has been the subject of a number of negative editorials critiquing his opposition to Garland – a fact highlighted by the campaign of his likely opponent, former Gov. Ted Strickland.
Get ready for one tight and tough race here but it’s one we can win. Click here to donate and get involved with Strickland’s campaign.