Sen. Rob Portman released a new ad Friday morning set to coincide with the kickoff of the Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, in which the Ohio senator touts the state’s manufacturing force and his stance against China’s trade practices.
The ad, which will run statewide and throughout the games of the 31st Olympiad, features Portman speaking throughout the 30-second spot, with him saying that no country can “out work” or “out inovate” the U.S. as American flags are featured throughout.
“Nobody can compete with the United States of America when we are given a fair shot,” Portman says. “No country can out work us, out innovate us, or out perform us.”
“That’s why China and other countries have to cheat to steal Ohio’s manufacturing jobs,” he says. “And that’s why I’m fighting every day to level the playing field for Ohio workers, standing up to my own party on trade, and fighting back against China when they threaten Ohio jobs.”
Portman’s stance against China has been a constant talking point for his campaign, talking up his work as the U.S.’s trade representative and work in Congress, particularly his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Lately, the incumbent Republican has been on the receiving end of some major endorsements from unlikely sources, particularly from union groups. Over the past two months, Portman won the support from the United Mine Workers of America, the Ohio Conference of Teamsters, as well as the state’s Fraternal Order of Police over his opponent, former Gov. Ted Strickland.
At the moment, Portman holds the edge in polling over the former governor, leading by 4 points (44.7-40.7 percent) according to the latest RealClearPolitics average.
