Ex-primary opponent endorses Strickland in Ohio
Former Democratic Senate primary challenger P.G. Sittenfeld is throwing his support behind Ted Strickland, saying the former governor “whooped my butt at the polls” and is well positioned to become Ohio’s next senator.
{mosads}”I’m glad to support Ted Strickland this November, and I hope all my supporters will, too, not just because I share his vision for building a fair economy, but I’m also glad to support Ted Strickland because of who he is as a person,” Sittenfeld said in a YouTube video released Monday.
He noted the two recently spoke for approximately 90 minutes, calling it a “display of graciousness and thoughtfulness and humility.”
The endorsement comes after Strickland defeated the long-shot candidate in March. Sittenfeld said at the time that he would do “everything I can to help [Strickland] beat [Sen.] Rob Portman [R] in November.”
He added in Monday’s video: “There’s a season for highlighting your differences and then there’s a season for coming together to champion a Democratic vision for the future, especially given the current stakes with the Supreme Court.”
Democrats have homed in on Senate Republicans’ refusal to move Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland’s nomination, suggesting it could give them an edge in the November election.
Portman’s seat is a top target for Democrats as they focus on a handful of GOP senators running in states previously won by President Obama.
Monday’s video comes as a survey from the left-leaning Public Policy Polling shows Portman and Strickland locked in a tie. Both candidates got 38 percent support, while 23 percent said they were undecided.
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