Strickland criticizes Portman's record on Appalachia issues

STRUTHERS — Ex-Gov. Ted Strickland, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, says incumbent Republican Rob Portman’s record on issues related to Appalachia is poor.

“Rob Portman doesn’t know a damn thing about Appalachia coal communities and he pretends to be terribly concerned,” Strickland said today in Struthers during his kickoff of a two-day “Working Families First” tour of Appalachia.

“I have a record of standing up for coal miners,” said Strickland, who grew up in Appalachia.

Portman received the endorsement last week of the United Mine Workers of America’s National Council of Coal Miners Political Action Committee, the nation’s largest coal miners union and a group that backed Strickland during his 2006 and 2010 gubernatorial races.

Portman said there is a “dramatic” difference between him and Strickland on Appalachia issues, and the fact he received the coal miners’ union endorsement shows people there back him.

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