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Bill Clinton endorses ex-Gov. Ted Strickland for Senate
RELATED: Hillary Clinton holds on to lead in Ohio
YOUNGSTOWN
Former President Bill Clinton is the latest — and most prominent — politician to endorse ex-Gov. Ted Strickland’s bid for the 2016 U.S. Senate seat.
“Ted Strickland offers a unique blend of qualities we need more of in Washington today: a proven record of service to hard-working Ohioans, energy, determination and idealism,” Clinton said Tuesday in a statement about his fellow Democrat. “He knows how to reach across the aisle to find common ground and when Ohioans need him to stand his ground. No one will care more, know more and work harder for better opportunities for every Ohioan than Ted. I’m proud to support him.”
The endorsement comes as Clinton’s wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, is considered the Democratic Party’s front-runner for president next year.
When Hillary Clinton unsuccessfully ran for president in 2008, Strickland, who was governor at the time, spent a lot of time campaigning for her. Clinton won the Ohio primary but lost the Democratic nomination to President Barack Obama, who Strickland campaigned for during the general election.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, the Republican incumbent from the Cincinnati area, said he is running next year for his second six-year term.
Strickland, of the Columbus area, also has been endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Cleveland; and three of Ohio’s four Democratic U.S. House members — Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th; Marcia L. Fudge of Warrensville Heights, D-11th; and Joyce Beatty of Columbus, D-3rd.
Strickland also is endorsed by several county Democratic Party chairmen, including David Betras in Mahoning County and Dennis Johnson in Columbiana County.
Also seeking the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat in 2016 is Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, who told a number of Democrats he’d get out of the race if Strickland ran. He remains a candidate, however.
Sittenfeld’s campaign announced Tuesday the hiring of longtime Democratic strategist Dale Butland as his senior adviser and campaign spokesman.
Butland has run or advised five U.S. Senate candidates since 1980, winning four of those races.
“I’m delighted that someone of Dale’s stature and reputation is joining our campaign team,” Sittenfeld said. “He knows what it takes to win a Senate race in this state, and there’s not a better political mind in Ohio politics. His strategic sense, staunch commitment to Democratic principles and vast experience in media will be of enormous benefit to this campaign.”
Meanwhile, Strickland’s campaign hired The Strategy Group to handle direct mail and AKPD Message and Media for its television commercials. Both are major Democratic Party firms that handled those responsibilities in 2012 for Obama’s successful 2012 campaign.