http://daytonos.com/?p=1908Former U.S. Rep. John Kasich is the first prominent Republican to make the jump from inter-party discussions to a publicly declared definite-maybe in terms of his aspirations for the 2010 statewide ticket. However, several other names are being bandied about in party circles and are likely to make their intentions known sooner rather than later especially given that campaign season is now seemingly a year-round event.
Although party leaders will not publicly confirm names at this point, those who have emerged as ranging from possible to likely statewide candidates in 30 months include: Mr. Kasich; former U.S. Rep. and Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman; former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine; Speaker Jon Husted; and a handful of Republican county prosecutors.
Already a fixture on the Republican rubber chicken circuit, Mr. Kasich, currently the host of a Fox News Channel show Heartland, last week broke the ice for the party formerly known derisively by Democrats for its “one party rule” by acknowledging to The Columbus Dispatch that “the success I’ve had in the private sector is not going to keep me from doing this,” should he decide to run for governor.
If his favorable poll numbers hold up, the state economy doesn’t totally collapse, and he decides to run again as expected, Gov. Ted Strickland could be a handful for whoever emerges as the GOP gubernatorial nominee in next couple of years.
Another GOP heavyweight eyeing a 2010 statewide bid, Portman, has logged just as many local Lincoln Dinner appearances - about 15 according to party officials - as Kasich.
Portman, an attorney who has signed on to do some teaching at the Ohio State University’s John Glenn School of Public Affairs, has also been mentioned as a gubernatorial candidate or U.S. Senate prospect, perhaps depending on whether or not incumbent Sen. George Voinovich opts to seek reelection.
Some Republicans worry that the former governor is a potentially ripe target for Democrats given the scandalous implosion at the Bureau of Workers Compensation in 2005. Voinovich was long gone for the Senate by then, but he had pushed for the restructuring of the BWC administration in the mod-1990s and Democrats will not hesitate to make linkages between the lawmaker and the structure and personnel faulted for the investment scandals.
Among the victims of the near Democratic sweep of the 2006 statewide ticket, former U.S. Sen. DeWine could be among several Republicans angling for an attorney general or gubernatorial candidacy, party officials acknowledge.
DeWine, who after losing his Senate seat in 2006 joined the Cincinnati Keating Muething & Klekamp as part of its corporate investigations team, is the Ohio chairman of Sen. McCain’s presidential campaign. Portman has been noted as a vice presidential option given the state’s historic election clout.
Portman and DeWine, both of who have been mentioned as potential John McCain administration officeholders Arizona senator win the presidency in the fall, have put off publicly discussing their statewide ambitions until after the fall elections.
Also keeping mum about his statewide plans for now is Speaker Husted (R), who is on the ballot this fall for the open 6th Senate District seat. The likeliest slot for the speaker at this point appears to be for secretary of state - a scenario that would pit the Republican against incumbent Jennifer Brunner.
Brunner’s policies, including her proposed voting machine overhaul and handling of county election board administrative changes, has become heavy fodder for the Ohio Republican Party.
ORP also views Attorney General Marc Dann as vulnerable given what Republicans characterize as multiple public missteps by his administration, several involving his personnel.
As such, aside from former Sen. DeWine - once rumored to be on the short list for a U.S. attorney general appointment - there is reportedly some depth to the pool of potential candidates to oppose Dann in 2010.
Those hopefuls would likely surface from the GOP farm team of county prosecutors, with the following individuals reportedly dipping their toes in the statewide political waters to gauge interest: Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper; Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost; Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien; and Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel.
Sen. Tim Grendell (R) lost a primary bid for attorney general in 2006 to Betty Montgomery. He is also expected to consider another run for the statewide office.
The one no-brainer for the next GOP statewide slate is Auditor Mary Taylor, who is expected to seek reelection and gives Republicans a strong hold of one seat on the ever-important Apportionment Board that redraws state legislative seats every 10 years. Other members include the governor, secretary of state and two appointees of different parties chosen by legislative leaders.
Notably absent thus far on the Republican radar screen is a likely candidate to face State Treasurer Richard Cordray.
Cordray has thus far avoided becoming an ORP political target and, based on his easy win in 2006 and success at fund-raising, looms a formidable candidate again two-and-a-half years from now.
Former U.S. Rep. John Kasich is the first prominent Republican to make the jump from inter-party discussions to a publicly declared definite-maybe in terms of his aspirations for the 2010 statewide ticket. However, several other names are being bandied about in party circles and are likely to make their intentions known sooner rather than later especially given that campaign season is now seemingly a year-round event.
Although party leaders will not publicly confirm names at this point, those who have emerged as ranging from possible to likely statewide candidates in 30 months include: Mr. Kasich; former U.S. Rep. and Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman; former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine; Speaker Jon Husted; and a handful of Republican county prosecutors.
Already a fixture on the Republican rubber chicken circuit, Mr. Kasich, currently the host of a Fox News Channel show Heartland, last week broke the ice for the party formerly known derisively by Democrats for its “one party rule” by acknowledging to The Columbus Dispatch that “the success I’ve had in the private sector is not going to keep me from doing this,” should he decide to run for governor.
If his favorable poll numbers hold up, the state economy doesn’t totally collapse, and he decides to run again as expected, Gov. Ted Strickland could be a handful for whoever emerges as the GOP gubernatorial nominee in next couple of years.
Another GOP heavyweight eyeing a 2010 statewide bid, Portman, has logged just as many local Lincoln Dinner appearances - about 15 according to party officials - as Kasich.
Portman, an attorney who has signed on to do some teaching at the Ohio State University’s John Glenn School of Public Affairs, has also been mentioned as a gubernatorial candidate or U.S. Senate prospect, perhaps depending on whether or not incumbent Sen. George Voinovich opts to seek reelection.
Some Republicans worry that the former governor is a potentially ripe target for Democrats given the scandalous implosion at the Bureau of Workers Compensation in 2005. Voinovich was long gone for the Senate by then, but he had pushed for the restructuring of the BWC administration in the mod-1990s and Democrats will not hesitate to make linkages between the lawmaker and the structure and personnel faulted for the investment scandals.
Among the victims of the near Democratic sweep of the 2006 statewide ticket, former U.S. Sen. DeWine could be among several Republicans angling for an attorney general or gubernatorial candidacy, party officials acknowledge.
DeWine, who after losing his Senate seat in 2006 joined the Cincinnati Keating Muething & Klekamp as part of its corporate investigations team, is the Ohio chairman of Sen. McCain’s presidential campaign. Portman has been noted as a vice presidential option given the state’s historic election clout.
Portman and DeWine, both of who have been mentioned as potential John McCain administration officeholders Arizona senator win the presidency in the fall, have put off publicly discussing their statewide ambitions until after the fall elections.
Also keeping mum about his statewide plans for now is Speaker Husted (R), who is on the ballot this fall for the open 6th Senate District seat. The likeliest slot for the speaker at this point appears to be for secretary of state - a scenario that would pit the Republican against incumbent Jennifer Brunner.
Brunner’s policies, including her proposed voting machine overhaul and handling of county election board administrative changes, has become heavy fodder for the Ohio Republican Party.
ORP also views Attorney General Marc Dann as vulnerable given what Republicans characterize as multiple public missteps by his administration, several involving his personnel.
As such, aside from former Sen. DeWine - once rumored to be on the short list for a U.S. attorney general appointment - there is reportedly some depth to the pool of potential candidates to oppose Dann in 2010.
Those hopefuls would likely surface from the GOP farm team of county prosecutors, with the following individuals reportedly dipping their toes in the statewide political waters to gauge interest: Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper; Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost; Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien; and Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel.
Sen. Tim Grendell (R) lost a primary bid for attorney general in 2006 to Betty Montgomery. He is also expected to consider another run for the statewide office.
The one no-brainer for the next GOP statewide slate is Auditor Mary Taylor, who is expected to seek reelection and gives Republicans a strong hold of one seat on the ever-important Apportionment Board that redraws state legislative seats every 10 years. Other members include the governor, secretary of state and two appointees of different parties chosen by legislative leaders.
Notably absent thus far on the Republican radar screen is a likely candidate to face State Treasurer Richard Cordray.
Cordray has thus far avoided becoming an ORP political target and, based on his easy win in 2006 and success at fund-raising, looms a formidable candidate again two-and-a-half years from now.
