Columbus, OH – Yesterday, Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan “came out swinging” during an “hourlong clash” in this “increasingly hostile” and “heated” race.
The nasty attacks and infighting – which forced the moderator to cut-off the candidates’ microphones several times – proved once again that the field is more focused on fighting each other and exchanging “damaging cross-blows” than fighting for Ohioans.
Watch the must see moments here and read/watch more about what Ohioans are saying about last night’s debate below:
NBC News: “The three Republicans competing in Ohio’s March 19 Senate primary met tonight for their final debate — an hourlong clash…”
AP: “A fractious three-way Republican primary for the chance to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown this November is culminating in Ohio, where candidates are divided more over their pasts than their policy positions…Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan all favor some level of federal abortion restriction, a position they don’t see as running counter to Ohio voters’ resounding approval last year of constitutional reproductive healthcare guarantees.”
Columbus Dispatch: “But the primary has become more heated in recent days as the candidates near the finish line, with no clear frontrunner in sight…Moreno, LaRose and Dolan traded barbs over inconsistencies in each other’s histories.”
WBNS: “Dolan, Moreno and LaRose sprinkled barbs at each other throughout the 60-minute debate at Miami University in Oxford…”
Toledo Blade: “The candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat Wednesday accused each other of shifting positions for political expediency, sometimes called each other names, and argued…Despite Ohioans’ adoption in November of a constitutional amendment barring government interference in abortion prior to the point of fetal viability, all three candidates generally voiced support for federal intervention…”
Dayton Daily News: “All three candidates support a federal abortion ban.”
Cleveland.com: “All three candidates had slightly different sales pitches for voters as they accused their opponents of not being truthful about who they are.”
Dan Sewell, Cincinnati Enquirer: “But Moreno’s business record has drawn scrutiny, after reports surfaced that he settled more than a dozen lawsuits over employee overtime pay and destroyed records. He’s also shown some unsteadiness in debates, such as saying the markets should determine minimum wage and following a question about reproductive rights with an anecdote about strangers helping his daughter load a stroller on a recent flight.”
Stephanie Haney, WKYC: “And it did not seem like those candidates really wanted to answer that question [about reaching across the aisle]. They did not want to talk about collaborating.”
AP: “A fractious three-way Republican primary for the chance to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown this November is culminating in Ohio, where candidates are divided more over their pasts than their policy positions.”
NBC: “But with less than two weeks until the primary, the race has turned increasingly hostile as it remains in a competitive haze.”
Ohio House of Representatives Minority Leader Allison Russo, WKYC: “We just listened to an hour long debate where we had three rich guys who essentially offered absolutely no solutions to Ohioans, they spent most of the time calling each other liars. Frankly I’m not sure any of them should be trusted.”
Allison Russo, WKYC: “When directly asked about their support of a national abortion ban, not a single one of these candidates actually directly answered that question. All three are on-record for saying that they do support an abortion ban and I think what is clear is that none of these candidates will actually work to uphold the will of the voters who just in November voted to keep politicians out of the doctor’s office.”
Allison Russo, WKYC: “I think the last time Mr. Moreno talked about [reproductive rights] his solution was to have really nice people help with strollers on airline flights. That is cold comfort to women in Ohio who are making real decisions that impact themselves and their families, and Ohioans have already spoken on this.”
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