Senator Portman tried to pump up the crowd here in Columbus, but they were having none of it. It’s remarkably downbeat here: All eyes are glued to television screens and smart phones, and the aides and staffers aren’t saying anything. A few people are sitting glumly on the sofas, and the general mood is pretty tense.
State chairman Bob Bennett is speaking now, predicting that Issue 2, the Democrat-backed redistricting amendment, will be defeated. Let’s hope that is not the best news from Ohio tonight.