Despite $33M in ads to date, Portman leads Strickland by only 4-5 points

YOUNGSTOWN

Ex-Gov. Ted Strickland, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, admits he’s losing to incumbent Republican Rob Portman by about 4 or 5 percentage points, but said, “I feel good about that.”

Answering his own follow-up question as to why, Strickland said, “They’ve spent massive amounts of money against me, and I’ve been able to hold my own without any costly pushback on my part.”

This likely will be the most-expensive Senate race in the state’s history, and among the most costly in the nation.

Between $33 million and $37 million already has been spent by Portman and his supporters.

Though Portman’s eight different television spots – which started running in June – have all been positive about himself, the special-interest groups have hit Strickland hard, particularly on his four years as governor but also during his time in the U.S. House.

Portman committed $14 million to TV, and his campaign’s fundraising efforts are among the best of anyone running for the Senate this year, through the Nov. 8 election.

Strickland just went on TV Wednesday with a buy of about $1 million in Cleveland, Columbus, Youngstown and Toledo. He said he will be on TV through the Nov. 8 election.

Read more about the race in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.