Moments after ex-Rep. Rob Portman jump in to the Ohio Senate race, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released a statement comparing him to President Bush. It remains to be seen whether Bush's unpopularity remains a driving force in our politics across the span of the next two years. Portman was not only Bush's OMB director and trade representative; he was one of the president's closest friends and chief congressional lieutenants. Aimiable and serious, he developed a reputation as the Bushie Democrats could work with. Portman will probably look to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels's 2008 re-election for a model on how to successfully deal with the Bush connections. He will not be an easy candidates for the Democrats to dispatch, especially if there is a backlash over the Obama Administration's Keynesian intervention. Portman's got the credentials, the personality, and the chops.
Former Sen. Mike DeWine's name is being circulated, although he will probably run for governor or attorney general. (He might have been John McCain's attorney general had McCain won.)
Another outside name for GOP Senate run would be Auditor Mary Taylor, because she's the only other Republican to hold statewide office except Voinovich. On the negative side, she hasn't been a great fundraiser. And Portman's district includes two of the GOP's biggest money bears: Carl Linder and Mercer Reynolds.
An uber-dark horse Republican: Ohio Supreme Court justice Maureen O'Connor, who won more votes in Ohio than Barack Obama did. If not Senate, there'll be another office the party will want her to run for eventually.
As for the Republicans: John Kasich is running for governor, come hell or high water. Gov. Strickland's going to be very tough to beat, but Kasich is probably the Republican's best best.
The word from Ohio Democrats is that Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher is itching to run, but watch out for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a friend of Sen. Sherrod Brown and a recognizable statewide quantity. (She might see this as her chance to get out of the secretary of state's office.) Democrats split on whether Reps. Tim Ryan and Betty Sutton are likewarm about the race.
(Thanks to Justin Miller for some of the info.)
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