Democrats have both a presidential primary and a contest for the party’s nomination for US Senate on the March 15 ballot – and they used the first day of early, in person voting to promote those primaries.
Endorsed Democratic US Senate candidate Ted Strickland voted in Columbus shortly before 8 a.m. The former governor has a big lead over his primary opponent, Cincinnati City Council Member P.G. Sittenfeld, who picked up the backing of another former governor, Richard Celeste. Strickland says he’s not concerned.
“When I consider the endorsements I have across the state, hundreds of them, I not intimidated by a handful of endorsements for my opponent. I’m really not. But people have the right to make their choices and I respect that.”
Polls show Strickland is in a dead heat with Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman but is far behind Portman in fundraising.