Brown, Mandel call each other liars, then things got ugly tonight

COLUMBUS

Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown said his Republican opponent has “fallen far short on the honesty and integrity quotient.”

GOP state Treasurer Josh Mandel called the incumbent a liar who represents everything that’s wrong in Washington.

And then things got ugly.

“Josh Mandel, as we know, has trouble telling the truth,” Brown said. “We just can’t trust Josh Mandel to tell the truth. We can’t trust Josh Mandel to do his job. We just can’t trust Josh Mandel to show up for work. We can’t trust Josh Mandel not to hire his cronies....”

Mandel responded, “The senator was just asked about bipartisanship. And instead of answering the question, he went on the attack on me. ... He did not offer one bipartisan proposal.”

Both candidates offered pointed comments during the second of three debates Thursday in Columbus in what has become one of the most heated statewide races in Ohio.

They were asked about trade and tax policies, the federal auto bailout, Obamacare and other issues that have been common themes throughout the campaign.

Read some of what they said in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.