The Columbus Dispatch, as with most Ohio Papers, is jumping the gun as it relates to the US Senate Race:Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, left, and Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, are expected to wage an aggressive campaign for DeWine’s U.S. Senate seat.
That quote was from the caption of the photos. I do have to give the Dispatch credit in actually naming DeWine's challengers:
DeWine’s ads are among the first unveiled by an incumbent senator across the country and are a clear sign that, unlike in 2000, when DeWine defeated Ted Celeste without breaking a sweat, the two-term Republican senator expects a difficult reelection campaign.
First, DeWine must deflect a GOP primary test from challengers David Smith and William Pierce at a time when some Ohio conservatives have doubts about DeWine. Assuming DeWine wins the primary, he would then have to defeat Brown, a congressman from Avon and a seasoned campaigner who represents a political party eager to win its first nonjudicial statewide office since 1992.
The Dispatch is partially right. DeWine is worried. However, I believe he is worried about Bill Pierce. I don't believe he is worried about the 'other challenger' (check out WMD archives for thoughts on the supposed "legitimate" candidacy of this carpetbagger), I believe he is worried about Bill Pierce. Look at the story we had the other day about Fulton County. No mention of the carpetbagger, but a mention of Pierce. Hmm....
Oh, and the Dispatch had a nice gem about the topic of DeWine's Commercial: the supposed "beneficial" child protection legislation that voters in Ohio need to remember:
What the commercial does not mention is that DeWine co-sponsored the bill with Democratic Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, of Massachusetts, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, of New York. It would be difficult to imagine two senators more disliked by the Republicans expected to vote in the May 2 primary.
DeWine: cozying up to unpunished DUI murderers and enablers of rapists. Nice company he keeps, right Ohio GOP? What a great guy for you to endorse, Ohio GOP. Yep, they endorsed Mike DeWine as soon as they found out Bill Pierce was running. Hmm...can you say GOP voters betrayed by the party? Hmm....
Disclosure: Matthew Hurley, a contributor at WMD, is blog administrator for Pierce for Senate. HE CONTRIBUTED NOTHING TO THIS REPORT.
