Gubernatorial Race
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The Columbus Dispatch notes how Ted Strickland and John Kasich are striking two different tones with their behavior — Kasich is remaining cool in the face of adversity, and Strickland sounds like a ranting union boss. The comparison seems to carry over to their voters, given that Strickland voters are now trying to disrupt John Kasich rallies. Kasich himself seems glad for the support – and shows he can get off a few zingers of his own.
Senate Race
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The final Senate debate is tonight, but the election is in all likelihood already a done deal. Meanwhile, Rob Portman releases yet another demonstrably true attack on the stimulus, which will make Lee Fisher’s populist fearmongering harder to pull off. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the majority of attack ads running in the race.
House Races
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Marcy Kaptur of OH-9 is trying to keep the “Rich Iott is a Nazi” attack on point, despite allegedly having nothing to do with it, after tonight’s debate. This probably means the attack’s effectiveness is fading, and Kaptur is worried.
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Speaking of Kaptur, her opponent does not have the market on crazy things cornered. This is the congresswoman, after all, who compared Al Qaeda to America’s Founding Fathers.
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Tom Ganley, Republican challenger in OH-13, is canceling some of his ads, leading to speculation that he’s bowing out prematurely. If he is, he shouldn’t be. Local radio hosts think he has a decent shot, despite the district’s liberal tilt.
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At this point, we can consider Steve Driehaus of OH-1 a premature casualty — the DCCC is backing out of his race.
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Mary Jo Kilroy of OH-15 attacks her Republican challenger Steve Stivers…while he’s not there to respond. But he doesn’t need to be — his cash flow has practically put her out of commission. Stivers is also back in the spotlight for his views on the 17th Amendment. Bravo, Mr. Stivers. Not so with Kilroy, who is one of several Democratic women who looks to be losing her seat. Unsurprising, given that she’s fallen behind chili recipes in terms of searches on Google.
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The Daily Record has some fascinating video of John Boccieri and Jim Renacci of OH-16 squaring off in a debate. Boccieri makes the very foolish move of saying he likes Obamacare. And Jim Renacci is closing so fast that the media is starting to get worried. As such, Politifact moans about one of the NRCC’s attacks in the race.