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Portman From Congress-USTR-OMB-...Senate?
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Politico reports that Rob Portman intends to run for Ohio Senator George Voinovich's Senate seat when he retires in 2010, and the early word out of Ohio suggests that it may be difficult for Democrats to find a formidable challenger.
Portman certainly knows his way around Washington - he represented Ohio's 2nd District for twelve years before serving as the United States Trade Representative during the unsuccessful Doha Trade Round. His most recent stint was as president of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Portman's tenure at USTR provided him with experience dealing with big picture global issues, and his reputation is one of a capable and pragmatic public servant, but he hasn't offered enough public commentary to know whether he would embrace bold, game-changing policies in the national security and global economic policy arenas.
Thus far, he offers only this boilerplate, vague explanation of the 2008 election.
--Ben Katcher
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Reader Comments (5) - post a comment
"... but he hasn't offered enough public commentary to know whether he would embrace bold, game-changing policies in the national security and global economic policy arenas."
But he has offered enough public commentary to make clear his position on the Middle East. While he was in the House, Portman was one of the most ardent supporters of Israel. He addressed the AIPAC convention on at least two occasions and when he was head of the OMB, his chief deputy was a former legislative director for AIPAC.
Can't find a challenger? Democrats simply don't want to run one. This is nonpluasible Democracy at its finest!
Where is the Obama machine? Conceding ground already!
Yes, this big time supporter of 'free trade' agreements ought to go over big time in Ohio. What is their unemployment? What will it be in 2010? And this is a guy the Dems can't find a challenger against? Ha!
Portman main suggestion: communicate Repugnic policies better. The only problem is that no matter how well you communicate stinking policies, they still stink.
You would have thought that Repugnics would have learned this after Bush tried to promote "freedom and democracy" while occupying two countries and "human rights" while presiding over the deaths of a million Iraqis.
The only way Repugnics can "communicate better" is to hide their agenda, create a fantasy agenda, and promote that. They succeeded in fooling the American people once, and their only hope is to succeed at it again. You can count on the Repugnics to bet on the sheer stupidity of the American people (not that Democraps are all that different).
To those above laughing that the democrats haven't announced a candidate for the senate seat. The election is two years away and Portman announced now because Voinovich announced his intentions now. Portman has never run for a state wide election so he needs to cut off any serious competitor before the republican primary. And, he needs to build relationships with northern Ohio.
Did I mention the election is in two years?
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