Ohio Senate nominee Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat, will not appear alongside President Joe Biden during his visit to Cleveland on Wednesday as the president battles low approval ratings.
Ryan will not meet with the president due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict, according to his campaign. The same explanation was given for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Nan Whaley’s absence as Biden visits a state he lost in 2020 to former President Donald Trump, according to Just the News.
Ryan’s refusal to appear alongside Biden was slammed by GOP Ohio Senate nominee J.D. Vance.
“Tim Ryan has consistently refused to stand up to Biden to protect Ohioans from his inflationary and job-killing economic agenda,” Vance wrote on social media. “Ryan has worked in lockstep with Biden to destroy our economy and Ohio’s middle class is suffering today because of it. But now, for the second time in two months, Ryan is refusing to be seen in public with his own party’s president.”
DEMOCRATS TO FUND KEY GOVERNORS’ RACES IN STATES WHERE ABORTION ACCESS IS AT RISK
‼️NEW: @JDVance1 Slams Tim Ryan’s Absence From Joe Biden’s Cleveland Visit #OHSen
“Joe Biden’s time in office has been a disaster for working-class Ohioans…Notably, Biden did all of this with the unquestioned support of 20 year career politician Tim Ryan.” pic.twitter.com/9SlNG9Syxm
— JD Vance for U.S. Senate Press (@JDVancePress) July 6, 2022
The president is expected to be joined by Ohio lawmakers and fellow Democrats Sen. Sherrod Brown, Reps. Shontel Brown and Marcy Kaptur, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh during his visit. Biden’s address will primarily be aimed at appealing to blue-collar voters.
Last month, Biden’s job approval rating plummeted to 38% for the first time since he became president, polling showed. Those who disapprove of Biden totaled 57.5%, roughly in line with the net approval rating of -19% the president is seeing in Ohio.
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Vance, who is endorsed by Trump, won the state’s GOP primary election on May 3. The race is expected to be among the most competitive as both parties vie for control of the Senate.
Ryan’s campaign has not yet responded to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
