The Senate race between incumbent Democratic Sen Sherrod Brown and Republican State Treasurer Josh Mandel appears to be tightening. Brown enjoyed leads as large as 15pts earlier this year but has seen those reduced to single digits.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf ... _single.ht

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls ... -2100.html

Young Josh is getting some traction with the ads touting his military service: Marine, Iraq War veteran. That's really about all he's got to tout. Sherrod Brown far outpaces him in public service and Ohio loves it some veterans. Josh is also as big of a Republican Party darling as Steve Stivers. He's going to have lots of money behind him to unseat a genuine liberal.

Should Sherrod Brown run on his own record or does he pound on Mandel's inexperience and problems handling the job of State Treasurer?

The above ad is a very good "get to know the person" ad for Josh Mandel. It's short, gets to the point immediately and leaves no doubt on his claim (no one is pushing this Marine around). Any opposing candidate who follows an ad such as this with a bunch of negative crap will deserve all the unflattering press he receives for it.

Sen Brown has a record, one he should be proud of. His initial advertisements should focus on it and tell the listeners he will continue to represent his constituents as he has in the past.

PACs and/or Super PACs can offer negative ads at a later date when Mandel is running ads about what he would do differently as a Senator from Ohio (that's a must for a challenger). That's when you go negative, not now.

I don't live in Ohio and am not in a position to comment favorably or not about his performance as state treasurer.

RCP has moved this race from "Leans Dem" to "Toss Up". The only poll added this month is one from PPP. Their May poll shows Brown +8 down from +11 in January.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls ... e_map.html

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls ... -2100.html

Recent poll results for Ohio's US Senate race don't appear to offer much hope for Republican Josh Mandel although the political IOUs he receives for running against Brown will help him later.



http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls ... -2100.html

Even Rasmussen has Sen Brown +8pts. Anyone want to bet that Rasmussen is saying thank doG for Gravis the way folks in Alabama say it for Mississippi (sorry Sugar)?

Joshie tried to get a little rough with his democratic tracker in an elevator. Josh's tale about what happened was so untrue, the Columbus Dispatch reporter who witnessed it felt he needed to write a report about it to set the record straight I think Joshie suddenly remembered there were 2 other people in the elevator and one of them was a reporter. What a little asshole.

Update:

Sen Brown is maintaining some distance between himself and Josh Mandel. I believe it's safe to paint the Ohio Senate race light blue at a minimum.


http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls ... -2100.html

Update from Public Policy Polling:

And a mention of Ohio's head election official:

I'm sure Sherrod Brown is a perfectly nice man and is good to puppies, but I somehow wound up on his mailing list and he is pissing me off. I get a constant barrage of emails from him and his campaign. Some of them go straight to spam, but they come from a bunch of different people so about half of them get through to my inbox. Do politicians not realize how irritating these constant emails are? If I didn't give them any money 6 times yesterday do they think I'm going to give them more today? A reminder once or twice a week wouldn't be so bad if I lived in Ohio.

I gave a small donation to Act Blue to divide among several Dem. Cong.members 2 years ago ($3 each) and it got me not only on their list but a bunch of others. Now, I get 20 to 30 e-mails a day asking for money for their campaigns. It discourages campaign donations from the little guys when they do this. Yes, I want them to win, but unless you use a throw-away address, you can't do it.

I've given what I could to the Obama campaign, and now I'm getting 6 emails a day telling me how much trouble they're in and how Romney has $45 million more than they do.

'Course, I'm also getting emails from Romney telling me he really really really needs $7 million in 7 days just to keep up with Obama's spending.

At that point did you respond saying "Tap into one of the cayman island accounts"

No, I'm not responding to either of them. I'm doing GOTV five of the next seven days, and that's my limit.

I get millions every day, too. Act Blue. I just ignore them usually, but last week I got one from someone claiming to represent the O campaign saying that at this point I had given $0 dollars and I really should give at least $75 right this minute or he will lose.

Oh, yes i have. So I wrote 'em back. Haven't heard from them again.