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Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate says he’s ‘not traveling the most conventional road’ to the seat
YOUNGSTOWN
A Cincinnati councilman for less than four years, P.G. Sittenfeld says he’s not a typical candidate for the U.S. Senate.
But the 30-year-old is taking on ex-Gov. Ted Strickland in the March 2016 Democratic primary with the winner facing incumbent Republican Rob Portman in the general election.
“I acknowledge that I’m not traveling the most conventional road to representing Ohio in the United States Senate, but ... I don’t think people are looking for more of the same,” Sittenfeld said Tuesday during an interview with The Vindicator that lasted about 50 minutes.
A recent poll from the Democratic Public Policy Polling shows Strickland with a huge lead over Sittenfeld – 65 percent to 13 percent.
“I’m not a known entity around the state of Ohio,” Sittenfeld said. “That’s why you run a campaign and meet people around the state.”
He pointed out that less than 40 percent of those polled had favorable views of Strickland and Portman.
“That says something as well. We have the most room for growth,” Sittenfeld said.
In an interview with The Vindicator two months ago, Strickland said, “There are 15 or 20” Democrats with “more experience and a more-impressive resume than [Sittenfeld] has.”
When asked Tuesday if Strickland’s comments were dismissive, Sittenfeld said, “It’s not how it looks to me. Frankly, there seems to be quite a bit of attention being paid to me, which is fine because I think we’re running a strong race, and I’m obviously running to win.”
Sittenfeld’s campaign raised more than Strickland’s in the first quarter of the year. But he said Tuesday that in future quarters that he’s “not going to match Ted Strickland dollar for dollar,” but will have enough money to be competitive.
Portman’s campaign has virtually ignored Sittenfeld.
“What turns voters off and makes them feel cynical is when campaigns are bitter, stale, tired arguments about the past,” Sittenfeld said. “Frankly, the Republicans are eager to make this election about the past. They’re starting early and often with attacks on Ted Strickland’s record.”
The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Tuesday that Sittenfeld missed a May 15 deadline as well as a 30-day grace period to file a required financial disclosure statement for Senate candidates.
Sittenfeld said, “There was an oversight. It was corrected. We’ll be filing a report this week. No harm done, certainly nothing to hide, and we’ll be filing it in a compliant way.”
Among Sittenfeld’s key issues in this campaign are mandatory paid sick leave, expanding family leave, raising the minimum wage and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit.
In comparison to Strickland, who’s enjoyed support from the National Rifle Association, Sittenfeld said he supports the Second Amendment, but wants universal background checks to buy guns and he “won’t bend over backwards to get” a high rating from the NRA.
Strickland’s campaign couldn’t be reached Tuesday by The Vindicator to comment on Sittenfeld’s statements, but has declined to talk about them before.
Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras, a Strickland supporter, said of Sittenfeld: “He’s not ready for prime time. All he’s doing is being a nuisance and damaging his future in politics.”