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Monday, May 23, 2005

Nuclear Option: DeWine Getting a Free Pass

Posted by Tim Tagaris

It's too late now, but imagine how much more pressure we could be putting on Ohio Senator Mike DeWine had the Democratic Party already recruited a candidate to run against him in 2006. Ted Strickland is running for Governor, Michael Coleman the same, and Sherrod Brown looks like he is going to simply retain his seat in the House. That leaves Jerry Springer, who could make the race interesting and can self-finance, and then there is potential placeholder Lee Fisher.

DeWine knows the nuclear option would be a disaster for the insitution of the U.S. Senate, but there is no challenger to hold him to account:

"It is in the best interest of the country and the Senate, as an institution, if we can avoid this confrontation," DeWine said. "It would poison the relations between the senators if it comes to a vote."

Amazingly, DeWine is getting some pressure, unfortunately, it's the Republican interest groups that are promising him a challenge should he side with the Democrats on the nuclear option.

Phil Burress, president of the Cincinnati-based Citizens for Community Values, which is affiliated with Focus on the Family, said DeWine shouldn't even consider a compromise on the issue. [...]

"If Mike DeWine goes the wrong way on this vote, I promise that he will have strong opposition in 2006," added Burress, who was in Washington last week to lobby the senator.

And it's probably a threat that DeWine should take quite seriously. All one needs to do is rewind to last year when the Club for Growth "primaried" Arlen Specter and pushed him to the absolute brink with Pat Toomey.

Posted at 01:04 PM in Nuclear Option | Technorati

Comments

Not that it matters for this discussion, but at Saturday's State Democratic gala, I spoke with Frank Szollosi who seems to have been the one to begin the whole Martin Sheen For Ohio Senator rumor.

He stands by it and said that it is definate that Martin Sheen is seriously considering moving back to his native Ohio and getting into this race. A political colleague of mine is working to track down a contact phone number or email for his publicist. We have this woman's name but nothing else.

An interesting fact was pointed out to me this afternoon ... Martin Sheen is pro life.

Paul
Bring Ohio Home

Posted by: bringohiohome at May 23, 2005 03:49 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment