Ohio’s Strickland launches his 1st TV ads in US Senate race

COLUMBUS (AP) — Pilloried by negative attacks and lagging in funding and some polls, ex-Gov. Ted Strickland is airing the first television ads of his campaign against U.S. Sen. Rob Portman.

The multimillion-dollar ad buy began airing across today. The 60-second spot focuses on Strickland’s hard-scrabble childhood in Appalachian Ohio, his blue-collar roots and the campaign’s working-class focus.

The ads skirt the Democrat’s four years as governor, a target of millions in anti-Strickland ads. Leading the state during a national recession, Strickland presided over deep budget cuts and about 350,000 job losses.

Anti-Portman ads also are filling Ohio airwaves in one of 2016’s most-expensive election contests.