Ohio Senate race intensifies before Strickland decision

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland is facing virtually daily attacks over his positions on political hot-button issues even before he makes up his mind whether to run for the U.S. Senate next year.

On Wednesday, news that the Buckeye Firearms Association was questioning Strickland on gun rights, one of his strongest issues with swing voters in the closely divided state, was redistributed by the Republican National Senatorial Committee and the Ohio Republican Party.

Earlier in the week, the committee drew attention to Ohio Coal Association criticism that Strickland’s policy stances had turned unfriendly to an industry the Appalachian native long supported.

The association questioned Strickland’s statements in favor of coal communities during an event at which a Center for American Progress report was released calling for reform of federal coal subsidies the center says give Western coal an unfair advantage over Ohio and Pennsylvania coal. Strickland is a counselor to the liberal Washington-based think tank and president of its action fund.

The intensity of the rhetoric shows how important the race for Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman’s seat will be nationally in 2016.

Strickland, as a once-popular governor with statewide name recognition, is considered a potentially formidable challenger to Portman. Only Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld has entered the race on the Democratic side, and no Republican challengers are readily apparent.

Strickland has said he will announce his decision on a Senate bid by the end of this month.

But such a heightened environment also can lead to misinterpretation.

The Buckeye Firearms Association’s article, under the headline “Buckeye Firearms Feels Betrayed By Strickland’s Work At The CAP,” morphed quickly after distribution into suggestions that Strickland would not receive or had already lost its endorsement in the Senate race.