It really is SAD that we have to rely on the Cleveland Plain Dealer's blog for news on a candidate that is in the Enquirer's back yard, but here we go again:Republican Senate candidate Bill Pierce has laid claim to the support of anti-DeWine Republicans by attacking conservative rival David Smith as a carpetbagger who has run in three states since 2002.A confirmed three-time loser who has ZERO county endorsements thinks he has a chance to knock off Mike DeWine. Bill Pierce, on the other hand, has two county endorsements and has been the key factor in denying Mike DeWine several other endorsements all over the state. Let's talk about THAT David.
Pierce says Smith, a Procter & Gamble finance manager from Cincinnati's suburbs, ran for Congress in Utah in 2002, Tennessee in 2004 and Ohio's 2nd District last year. He wants Smith to drop out of the GOP Senate primary, which would give him a solo shot at Mike DeWine. A third anti-DeWine Republican, John Mitchel of Beavercreek, quit the race late last week.
Smith, who is en route to the Lake County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner tonight, confirmed during a cell-phone conversation that he ran in Tennessee in 2004. He said he never appeared on the ballot in Utah in 2002, but did flirt with running for Congress in that state.
Apparently, David promised the Columbus Townhall group that he would drop out of the race if another challenger had a shot at taking out DeWine. Clearly Pierce has more of a chance at doing that than Smith does. Will Smith keep his word? Or will he insist on being a four-time loser while stiffing Ohio with another six years of Mike DeWine?
Why hasn't Mr. Smith taken the time to answer Mr. Pierce's questions?
1) If the Central Committee of a Republican County Party does not deserve the benefit of a straight forward response to a simple question, how can all the voters expect more if he were to be elected?The facts that are behind these questions can be found on the Pierce campaign blog here. Where are Smith's answers?
2)If he should be the lone challenger to Mike DeWine in the May primary, and the nominee to challenge Sherrod Brown in the general election, how will be respond to the charge that he is a "carpetbagger" when both men unleash millions of dollars in TV commercials leveling the charge based on his factual history?
While we're on the subject of asking questions of Mr. Smith, I have a personal question for Mr. Smith: Did you personally approve smearing my name on the Columbus Townhall forum? I have some evidence to suggest that you were consulted, but I figure I should give you the opportunity to answer the question before I make the allegation.
DISCLOSURE: I am the blog administrator for Pierce or Senate.
