ohio senate debate Brown: Trump needs to unite country

Associated Press

OXFORD, Ohio

Ohio’s Democratic U.S. senator during a debate Friday evening called on the Donald Trump-backed congressman trying to unseat him to urge the president to try to unite the country.

The Republican Rep. Jim Renacci replied that there’s too much divisive rhetoric on both sides and that there needs to be more bipartisanship.

Second-term Sen. Sherrod Brown and Renacci had their third and last scheduled debate at Miami University, hours after the Trump administration announced an arrest in the nationwide mail-bomb scare targeting prominent Democrats who have traded criticism with the president.

Brown cited “Lock her up!” chants at Trump rallies, usually referring to Hillary Clinton, the 2016 presidential nominee Trump defeated. She and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, were among Democrats to whom packages were mailed.

“These are bombs ... these are attempted assassinations,” Brown said. “I wish we could tone it down. I wish the president would lead.”

He said Renacci should join him in “calling on the president to lead.”

“When it comes from both sides, it’s truly an issue,” said Renacci, who is in his fourth term in Congress. “We can’t have this in politics.”

He said when he first got to Washington, he found the partisan bickering to be “ridiculous.” He said he’s been part of a bipartisan breakfast meeting group that’s helped produce successful legislation.

Afterward, Renacci told reporters: “There are things that the president says I wouldn’t say. There are tweets he makes that I wouldn’t make. But in the end ... I support the actions and the results.”

For the most part, the candidates followed their familiar themes. Renacci, a businessman, said Brown, a former congressman, has been in politics too long and puts Washington first. Brown said Renacci puts billionaires and millionaires first.

Brown, 65, is considered a clear favorite. Trump tried to boost Renacci, 59, at an Oct. 12 rally in nearby Warren County. Renacci moved from the Republican gubernatorial primary field early this after getting White House encouragement.

There were shouts and boos during an exchange about domestic abuse.

Renacci again raised allegations made against Brown during his divorce proceedings in the 1980s and said he shouldn’t be a U.S. senator.

And Brown again said Renacci “should be ashamed” of himself. Brown’s ex-wife, Larke Recchie, is featured in a TV ad on his behalf. She has repeatedly asked Republicans to stop using the divorce in political campaigns.

Some 700 people attended the debate.