If you are a Republican, you have to love hearing news like this from PolitickerOH:Portman began raising money for his Ohio's Future PAC in November. Ohio's Future has already reported $220,000 and will report another $60,000 in funds for the most-recent FEC quarter, according to PAC executive director Andrew Ciafardini.If I'm George RINOvich, I'm keeping an eye on my rear-view mirror...because I am pretty sure Ham Sandwich would step aside for Rob Portman.
The PAC donated to the Ohio Republican Party, the Cuyahoga and Lucas County parties, as well as three U.S. Reps: Steve Chabot (R-Cincinnati), Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) and Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green). Congressional candidates Steve Stivers (R-Columbus), Fred Dailey (R-Mt. Vernon), Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) and Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) have also received donations, Ciafardini said.Portman is putting some money into this year's fight over a closely-divided state House, contributing $1,000 from his PAC to the state House Republican Campaign Committee and planning to hold fundraisers for state Reps. Nan Baker (R-Westlake), Bob Mecklenborg (R-Cincinnati) and Shannon Jones (R-Springboro), Ciafardini said.Portman will also hold a fundraiser for Highland County Commission candidate Tom Horst (R- Hillsboro). Portman was the keynote speaker at a fundraiser for the Ohio Christian-conservative Family First PAC this year.[7/13/08 - See update below.]
And this is really great news for some campaigns that could use a little help without really draining resources that are more vital to be deployed elsewhere.
I could do without the Lori Viars/Family First PAC stuff, but Rob is doing all the rubber chicken dinners, so it doesn't really surprise me.
Somebody else who ought to be mindful of Rob is John Kasich... Either way, we're going to have some really good candidates when you have these two guys on the field.
7/13/08 UPDATE: In a rather impressive move, PolitickerOH's Justin Miller, who wrote the piece I quoted, contacted me to alert me of a correction. In the original, Nan Baker was identified as a state representative when in fact she is a candidate for that seat and not an incumbent. He has corrected his piece and here is how that paragraph looks now:
Portman is putting some money into this year's fight over a closely-divided state House, contributing $1,000 from his PAC to the state House Republican Campaign Committee and planning to hold fundraisers for state House candidate Nan Baker (R-Westlake), state Reps. Bob Mecklenborg (R-Cincinnati) and Shannon Jones (R-Springboro), Ciafardini said.Portman will also hold a fundraiser for Highland County Commission candidate Tom Horst (R- Hillsboro). Portman was the keynote speaker at a fundraiser for the Ohio Christian-conservative Family First PAC this year.
