Major union opts out of endorsing in critical Ohio Senate race

The Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council is staying out of the contentious Senate race in Ohio, declining to endorse either Republican Sen. Rob Portman or his challenger, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D).

{mosads}The labor union’s neutrality is another political blow to Strickland as he continues to slip in the polls, especially since the group had backed the Ohio Democrat in his previous races.

According to The Columbus Dispatch, Dennis Duffey, secretary treasurer of the nearly 100,000-member organization, said Portman “has been very helpful to us on a number of causes over the past three years. He understands our industry.”

Duffey also said Strickland “has been a good friend for a long time” and the union’s board decided “not to insult either one of them who have been very helpful to us.”

Portman has clinched several union endorsements this cycle from groups that have supported Strickland in past runs, including the Ohio Conference of Teamsters, the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, and the United Mine Workers of America. Strickland’s campaign has countered with endorsements from more than three dozen other unions.

Strickland’s campaign brushed off the union’s neutrality on Thursday, noting that the group has endorsed Republicans in the past.

“Ted is proud to have earned an overwhelming amount of support from Ohio unions and labor leaders because of his proven record of fighting for working families,” spokesman David Bergstein told the Dispatch. “This organization supported Governor Kasich and the building trades were the second largest contributor to Republican candidates last cycle, so this isn’t a surprise.”

Strickland continues to slip in the polls, and some Democratic groups, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Senate Majority PAC, canceled some TV advertising in the state.

The GOP senator leads by more than 13 points, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average.

The race will likely be pivotal in determining which party controls the Senate next year. Democrats need to net four seats and retain the White House to retake the upper chamber. They are defending 10 seats, while Republicans have more of an uphill battle, with 24 seats to defend.