In a year in which Republicans have had an interesting relationship with Hispanics, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman showed off his bilingual speaking skills and targeted the community in a new ad as he grows more confident about his chances of winning re-election in November.
In a new 30-second ad released Monday, titled “Mi Prioridad,” Portman makes an overt appeal to Hispanics in Ohio, touting his work for small businesses and work to help the Hispanic community economically.
“As your senator, my priority is to create better jobs. I know how hard you work to pay your bills. I want every family to have access to a good-paying job. I’d be honored to have your vote,” Portman says before approving his message in Spanish as well. “Soy Rob Portman y apruebo este mensaje.”
The new ad will run on Ohio’s lone Spanish-speaking channel — WQHS-TV, a Univision affiliate in Cleveland — and on Telemundo and Univision, the two major national Spanish stations. It will also target the state’s Spanish-speaking population online. The campaign is putting $250,000 behind the ad as part of the $15 million ad buy the campaign reserved in late May.
Overall, Ohio’s Hispanic eligible voting electorate is not particularly big (about 200,000) as it accounts for only two percent of the state’s vote.
This is not the first time Portman has put his fluency in Spanish to use. In his 2010 Senate campaign, he released radio ads targeting Hispanic voters and pitched the same message — about jobs and the economy.
In recent weeks, Portman has seen his lead balloon over former Gov. Ted Strickland in what was thought by many to be a tight battle through to election day. At the moment, the incumbent Republican leads by 13.4 points, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average.
