GOP senator’s camp to woo Clinton fans

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) is courting Hillary Clinton supporters at the Democratic nominee’s Ohio rallies this weekend.

Portman is dispatching a dozen volunteers to Clinton’s stops in the state on Saturday and Sunday, Cincinnati.com reported Friday.

{mosads}Portman’s staff will hand out fliers highlighting support for his bid from three labor unions: the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, the Ohio Conference of Teamsters and the United Mine Workers.

“Rob Portman is fighting for Ohio workers and families,” reads one of the fliers. “Support Portman for Senate.”

Corry Bliss, Portman’s campaign manager, said Friday the incumbent senator would get a “great reception” at Clinton’s events because of his fiscal policies.

“Of course, on many, many issues, Rob Portman disagrees with many of the attendees at these rallies. But … if you care about jobs and the economy, there’s only one candidate to support in this race.”

Clinton is stopping in Columbus and Youngstown over the weekend. She will be joined by running mate Tim Kaine and former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, Portman’s Democratic Senate rival.

“Senator Portman’s campaign is welcome to waste their time on this laughable stunt,” said Strickland’s campaign manager David Bergstein Friday.

“After Portman said just last week that he was ‘all in’ for Donald Trump, I don’t think he’ll find much support at this event,” he added.

Portman is facing an uphill reelection battle in his home state, which backed President Obama in both 2008 and 2012. The race could prove decisive to which party controls the Senate next year.

Portman leads Strickland by about 4 points in Ohio, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls.