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UPDATED with O’Brien, Husted responses - Husted, Portman and two others to get GOP primary endorsements
State Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, and former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman on Friday, Sept. 11, are expected to receive endorsements from the Ohio Republican Party’s Central Committee in 2010 primary races, Jason Mauk, Ohio GOP executive director said.
Husted is running for the GOP nomination for secretary of state against Sandra O’Brien, the former Ashtabula County auditor and unsuccessful 2006 Republican candidate for treasurer.
Portman faces Cleveland-area auto dealer Tom Ganley in the U.S. Senate primary.
The committee also is expected to endorse former U.S. Rep. John Kasich of Westerville for governor and state Rep. Josh Mandel of Lyndhurst for treasurer in uncontested primaries.
The committee is not expected to endorse in the primary for attorney general between former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine of Cedarville and Delaware County prosecutor Dave Yost.
A party leadership summit in June decided to recommend the endorsements, said Mauk. To wait for the results of the May 2010 primary would be a “recipe for disaster,” Mauk said.
“The election is too important. We feel we have superior candidates in these races,” said Mauk.
O’Brien, in an e-mail, lashed out at Husted’s endorsement, calling it “much ado about nothing.” She said the same committee had endorsed Jennette Bradley, the Republican O’Brien beat in the 2006 primary for treasurer.
“Last winter (State GOP Chairman) Kevin DeWine made some very unfortunate comments which offended many conservatives across the State. The split in the Party that his comments have created will be the focal point in next May’s Primary,” she said.
“… Try as they might the Ohio Republican State Central Committee is not going to be able to hold back the rising tide of conservatism within the Party. I wish Mr. Husted well but I will be proud to carry the conservative banner in the secretary of state race.”
Husted responded that as speaker of the Ohio House he passed the “most fiscally conservative budget in 40 years” in Ohio and also passed the “largest income tax cut in Ohio history.”
He said that he hopes to build “confidence and trust in the election system” and that means making sure Republicans, Democrats, independents and others are treated fairly.
Jeff Longstreth, Ganley’s campaign manager, blasted the endorsements and criticized the committee for meeting on Sept. 11, the date of the 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States.
“This thing stinks,” said Longstreth.
He said that at a time when Ohioans are yearning for new voices, “the Ohio Republican Party is choosing to promote the old Washington voices of the past.”
Ganley will not be campaigning on Friday out of respect for what happened in 2001, Longstreth said.
State Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine, responded in an e-mail:
“Our committee is carrying on its normal business on Friday, like thousands of other organizations throughout the country. We have profound respect for the significance of September 11, and our members thought a meeting on that day would offer a unique opportunity to renew our commitment to fighting and winning the war on terror.
“It’s unfortunate that certain people want to politicize a tragic event in our nation’s history, and I think that’s what’s motivating some of this protest. It’s being stirred up by a candidate who doesn’t like the fact that he won’t be endorsed by our committee.
“I think this is nothing more than an effort to create a distraction.”
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Comments
By Carrie H.
September 11, 2009 4:07 PM | Link to this
I don’t believe for a second that DeWine did not pick Sept 11th as a strategic move. I just really don’t understand why they are endorsing anyone this early. Shouldn’t they wait to support the candidate that the voters choose? Given the ORP’s track record, if they really want to control who wins perhaps they should withhold their endorsement or endorse the other candidate!
By who cares
September 11, 2009 8:49 AM | Link to this
Both need to avoid the endorsement of the Mont. Co. Rep.Chair gregg gantt. If he gets on your train u have a great chance of LOSING.
By Jack
September 10, 2009 7:39 PM | Link to this
Neither one lives in the Miami Valley, much less the Dayton area. Hustead is R- Upper Arlington, not Kettering. I live in Kettering and I sometimes travel to Columbus. I can attest that the two are not the same, although he seems confused about it.