Sen. Rob Portman on Wednesday will announce endorsements for his re-election to the Senate from up to 190 Republican officials spread across Ohio’s 88 counties.
The announcement comes on the heels of former President Bill Clinton revealing his support for Portman’s likely Democratic challenger, former Gov. Ted Strickland. Portman has moved aggressively in Ohio, a swing state that could become the focal point of the 2016 presidential election, to coral the support of Republican activists and the party Establishment.
The senator aims to quell any rumblings of discontent on the right and discourage Democrats from pouring too much money and energy into challenging his bid for a second term.
“We’re fighting to expand opportunity for all Ohioans and support for our campaign is growing,” Portman said in press release shared with the Washington Examiner. “Our campaign will field a superior ground game across Ohio and each of the county chairs will play a vital role in that effort. These leaders from each of Ohio’s 88 counties are joining our fight to move Ohio forward and prevent Governor Strickland from taking us backward.”
Portman’s press release added: “These 190 Portman for Senate County Chairs will volunteer as the campaign’s eyes and ears on the ground in every country across Ohio. They will play a vital role in the campaign’s county-level grassroots activities, helping with volunteer organization, voter contact, and get out the vote efforts.”
Portman entered 2015 with $5.8 million in his campaign account. Last month, he unveiled endorsements of over 500 key Ohio Republican leaders, including the entire Republican congressional delegation, all statewide elected officials, and nearly 90 percent of GOP state legislators serving in Columbus.
On Tuesday, Clinton issued a statement of support for Strickland. The former president is likely to be a regular visitor to Ohio in 2016 in support of his wife’s expected bid for the presidency. Hillary Clinton, President Obama’s former secretary of state, is considered a shoo-in for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“Ted Strickland offers a unique blend of qualities we need more of in Washington today: a proven record of service to hard working Ohioans, energy, determination and idealism,” Clinton said. “He knows how to reach across the aisle to find common ground and when Ohioans need him to stand his ground. No one will care more, know more, and work harder for better opportunities for every Ohioan than Ted. I’m proud to support him.”
