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Updated - Portman announces for U.S. Senate, to start statewide campaign tour
Former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, made it official today, Jan. 14 - he’s running for the U.S. Senate in 2010. He made the announcement that he will seek the Republican nomination in a press release.
“My heart is in public service,” Portman said. “Just as it was an honor to serve the people of southern Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years, so it would be an honor to serve Ohioans in the U.S. Senate. At a difficult time in our state and national economy, I believe I can make a difference in the lives of people throughout Ohio.”
He will launch his campaign with a statewide tour.
The tour follows the announcement on Monday, Jan. 13, by U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, that he won’t seek re-election in 2010.
Portman will kick off the tour at 11 a.m. at the Golden Lamb restaurant, 27 S. Broadway, in Lebanon.
Next will come a 5 p.m. stop at Tony Packo’s Front Street Restaurant, 1902 Front St., in Toledo.
On Thursday, Jan. 15, Portman has scheduled a 9 a.m. stop in Cleveland, followed by a 12:30 p.m. stop at the Statehouse in Columbus.
The tour is to conclude at a 6 p.m. event at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse in Cincinnati.
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Comments
By TRS
January 14, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this
Rich - based on today, you assumptions may be true; but, two years is a long time. With everyone lining up at the trough - a 700B to 1 Trillion spending package in the works over and above the TRAP funds much could happen. As with the private sector, where the money flows, so does waste and corruption. In the minds of people, Obama will own this recession about mid year ‘09. The damaged Republican Brand is primarily attributed to Bush and the ‘00 to ‘06 Congress which did not hold true to conservative principles. The American public has a short memory and both will be gone and forgotten in a month or two. Actually I would expect Obama to hold up pretty well because he’s a smart guy; but, the loons you have in charge of the Senate and Congress, Reed and Pelosi is the soft underbelly of the Democratic Party and it will be the Congressional elections we’re talking about in ‘10, not the Presidency. The campaign could be that after spending over 2 Trillion and having a deficit equal to that, the economy is still floundering and people view spending out of control. The only thing the Democrats can run is another tax/spend guy and the Republicans a 21st Century fiscal conservative who can campaign on the fact that the Congress needs greater balance. I guess I would say don’t count your chickens before their hatched. ‘10 will not be like ‘08. Conservatism didn’t fail - it was those that represented it poorly who did. The conservative brand can be easily resurrected; but, it requires folks true to its principles to represent it. ‘10 could well be the beginning of that.By Rich
January 14, 2009 2:34 PM | Link to this
Um, there’s a reason that a PROVEN vote-getter like Voinovich won’t even try for re-election, and it isn’t the old “I want to spend more time with my family” excuse he offered. He knows the Republican brand is damaged far beyond any possibility of short-term repair. His prospects for 2010 didn’t look good, even though he’s one of the few GOP moderates still in office. He’s leaving because he can stick his finger into the wind as well as anyone else — he knows which way the wind is blowing, and it’s NOT in his direction.By G Kerns
January 14, 2009 1:37 PM | Link to this
Portman is pure Reaganite and the darling of the Cincinnati Country Club set. Low taxes on the rich; regressive taxes for middle and working classes; deregulation of government as an absolute and strong support for every move Bush made abroad. Who in their right mind wants more of what has gotten us into this debacle? He may be smooth but he is a neo-conservative, neo-Hooverite.By Democratic Party
January 14, 2009 1:36 PM | Link to this
Mr. Portman is an excellent choice and will serve well since he does not and will not drink the Obama Kool-Aid. For this reason, alone, he is the right choice for the Senate.By william
January 14, 2009 1:23 PM | Link to this
Oh, great. Another Republican running for office. Just what we need.By TRS
January 14, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this
Based on the spending proposals we’re seeing, in 2010 a Budget guy may look pretty good. I like Portman and believe he will represent us well.By TRS
January 14, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this
Based on the spending proposals we’re seeing, in 2010 a Budget guy may look pretty good. I like Portman and believe he will represent us well.By Bring a Little Truth
January 14, 2009 12:49 PM | Link to this
It’s amazing how quickly Democrats forget their history. It was actually President Bill Clinton that signed NAFTA that sent our jobs to Mexico in 1993, and it was also President Bill Clinton who sent our jobs to China when he gave China “most favored nation” trading status in 2000.By papa gino
January 14, 2009 11:54 AM | Link to this
Calling Ken Blackwell, Calling Ken Blackwell. Step up Mr Blackwell, we need you.By Pat
January 14, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this
Rob Portman: He sent your job to China!By Barry
January 14, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this
Joe and Pat The article didn’t say anything about him working with Nixon, Carter, or Clinton. And those are the three worst presidents we have had in the last 40 or 50 years anyway. Most of our current problems can be traced to those guys, they “got the ball rolling”. Granted the current president didn’t do much to fix anything and the next one will probably make things worse, but I have some hope for the future anyway.By VietVet
January 14, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this
Think about Portman for a minute. Recall what he has done for Ohio and for the people he represented. Having a hard time recalling anything significant? Me too. Same thing with Boehner. He has constantly occupied some office in government since his days as a West Chester trustee. Can you think of anything he has done for us in Southwestern Ohio? I can’t.Why keep recyling old used political trash like Portman or Boehner? Forget these career politicians.Kick ‘em out. Elect some new faces when the time comes.Electing “do nothings” will only get us more worthless performances from these clowns.By Sally
January 14, 2009 11:08 AM | Link to this
No Pat! The unions sent our jobs to China!By Jim 5
January 14, 2009 11:08 AM | Link to this
Portman has already been a congressman, and served in the cabinet of George W. Bush. I can see myself voting form him, too.By dave
January 14, 2009 11:07 AM | Link to this
If it is a republican or democrat who cares. Wake me up when the revolution starts.By John F
January 14, 2009 10:36 AM | Link to this
Awesome. I love to see Republicans lose.By jack
January 14, 2009 10:30 AM | Link to this
Lets see Joe, perhaps because our current Ohio leadership is losing more and more and more jobs in Ohio. Who will you blame once Barack takes the Presidency?By Pat
January 14, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this
Rob Portman was George W’s ‘Budget Director’ and you can see how great the economy is now. This is the guy that sent your job to China, do some research Ohioans!!! Rob Portman: He sent your job to China!By Joe the Plumber
January 14, 2009 9:38 AM | Link to this
Why on earth would Ohioans vote for someone who worked so closely with the worst President ever?By Registered voter
January 14, 2009 9:32 AM | Link to this
I’m glad to hear he’s going to run. Of course I’ll wait to see who else runs, but Portman is someone that I could definitely see myself voting for.