WP: GOP Pullout in Ohio Could Have Ripple Effect

[DeepModem Mom]

WP political blog, "The Fix," by Chris Cillizza
10/27/2006
GOP Pullout in Ohio Could Have Ripple Effect

After weeks of press reports indicating that the Republican National Committee would end its advertising buys in Ohio's Senate race, the committee, amid much internal debate, finally pulled the plug on Thursday.

Spin it as they may, the pullout can only be read one way: National Republicans no longer believe Sen. Mike DeWine (R) can beat Rep. Sherrod Brown (D). With millions being spent in Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia and now New Jersey, the RNC and the National Republican Senatorial Committee decided that no amount of money could save DeWine.

Considering the Buckeye State's primacy in the last two presidential elections, the fact that national Republicans have effectively ceded the Senate and governor races there shows the damage done to the GOP brand by the ethical questions surrounding Gov. Bob Taft (R), who will retire after his current term, and Rep. Bob Ney (R), who faces sentencing for a bribery conviction stemming from the Jack Abramoff scandal.

It also raises questions about whether the handful of targeted Republican House members can withstand the double whammy of a difficult national political environment and a state political landscape where having an "R" after your name is akin to wearing a scarlet letter.

Both parties acknowledge that Ney's seat -- the 18th -- is a likely Democratic pick-up. State Sen. Joy Padgett (R), Ney's replacement on the ballot, has proven a somewhat flawed candidate, dogged by questions surrounding her personal finances....Beyond the 18th, Democrats believe they have strong chances in three other seats currently held by Republicans: the 1st, 2nd and 15th districts.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix /
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[WCGreen]

1. Also, that frees up some of Sherrods money to be spent elsewhere...