From Roll Call:
Rep. Tim Ryan (D) will run for re-election to his House seat next year instead of running for lieutenant governor in Ohio, reversing what had been widespread speculation that he was headed for the exits.
A Ryan aide confirmed a local report Monday that the four-term Democrat would not return to the Buckeye State to be Gov. Ted Strickland’s (D) running mate on the statewide ticket in 2010.
“It’s definite,” Ryan told a local newspaper. “I just don’t see a scenario in the near future where I’ll be leaving” Congress.
This seems like a pretty unexpected about-face. Earlier reports suggested that Ryan’s candidacy was pretty much a done deal. In the end, we keep a pretty good Rep. in the House, and Governor Ted has to keep searching for a new running mate to replace Lee Fisher.
We don’t know all of the circumstances here, but I think he should have gone for Senate. This is too bad because Ryan would be a great senator, and he likely won’t have the chance to run for a long time now.
Kind of surprising, but maybe Strickland wants a running mate from a more GOP area, as he is from Athens and Ryan is from Youngstown.
Which is a swing area, but pretty close geographically to Ryan’s Youngstown.
Probably figures he doesn’t need to be Lt. Gov. for a term to move up in four years. It will be good to keep him in the House, at least for a little longer.
Why so much love for Ryan? He’s awful on many issues ranging from abortion to guns.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Brunner drop out of the race for Senator and go for the Lt Gov job being vacated by Lee Fisher. I’m afraid she’ll lose the primary, and I’d like to keep her in statewide office. She’s young enough, born 1957, to look down the road at other openings in the future.