Brown's focus is defeating DeWine

The congressman is tying the Republican senator to the governor and president.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown doesn't want to talk about Paul Hackett, another announced Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.
During a nearly one-hour interview Monday with The Vindicator, Brown barely mention Hackett's name without being asked a specific question about him.
Republican U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine is running in the November 2006 election for his third six-year term in the Senate.
Brown said beating DeWine in the November 2006 general election is his main focus.
Brown repeatedly tied DeWine to Gov. Bob Taft, convicted earlier this year of four counts of failing to disclose about $6,000 worth of gifts between 2001 and 2004 on his state ethics reports. Polls have Taft's approval rating in the single digits, among the lowest ever for any public official.
Brown unsuccessfully ran in 1990 for secretary of state against Taft.
Brown also tied DeWine to President Bush, who's also seen his approval rating plummet in recent months.
Polls also show that Brown is one of the best known Democrats in the state.
Criticism of DeWine
Brown of Avon, D-13th, said DeWine is not "corrupt," but he has failed to lead Ohio while the Republican-controlled state government continues to get rocked by political scandals and accusations of corruption.
"My whole campaign is to point out the Bush-Taft-DeWine leadership has failed," Brown said.
DeWine and other Republicans have failed Ohio residents and the country on a number of issues, Brown said, including health care, education, addressing the loss of manufacturing jobs, trade and Medicare. Brown said DeWine's support of Bush policies, particularly the war in Iraq and tax cuts for the wealthy, make him vulnerable.
"Mike DeWine isn't part of the culture of corruption in Columbus, but he's part of the culture of ineptness and inability to lead," Brown said.
DeWine's campaign officials couldn't be reached Monday to comment.
Prominent national Democrats tried to convince Brown earlier this year to run against DeWine next year. But the seven-term House member declined.
Primary opponent
Hackett nearly pulled a huge upset in an August special election for the 2nd Congressional District seat. Hackett received 48 percent of the vote in a district that heavily leans Republican.
When Brown, U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, declined to seek the post, the Democrats turned to Hackett.
Hackett said he specifically asked Brown if he planned to run for the Senate before making his decision in late September. Hackett said Brown told him no. On Monday, Brown said Hackett never asked that question.
Brown said he had a number of family matters to address and was busy unsuccessfully fighting to stop the passage of the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement when he was asked to run. Once those matters were addressed, Brown opted to get in the race.
"The party wanted a candidate and wanted one early because DeWine is vulnerable," Brown said.
If he didn't get in the race, Brown said Hackett would have faced opposition from another prominent Democrat, probably Ryan or U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Cleveland, D-10th. And Hackett would have lost.
While hesitant to talk about Hackett, Brown said he's not sure Hackett will remain in the race.
Political differences
Brown had previously criticized Ryan for keeping his word to support Hackett. Ryan has said he asked Brown if there was a chance he'd run for the Senate seat -- and Brown said "no" -- before he personally recruited Hackett to run for the seat.
On Monday, Brown said Ryan is a "decent guy," who will support him once he wins the May 2006 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
When asked if he was upset with Ryan, Brown said: "That's the way it goes. I won't dwell on it. It was awkward for Tim. No one cares what politicians think of other politicians."
skolnick@vindy.com