#OHSEN SLUGFEST: “All-Out Brawl” In “Bloodbath” GOP Primary Keeps Getting Worse
March 15, 2024
Howard Wilkinson, WVXU: “Whoever wins the GOP primary will have an uphill climb.”
Columbus, OH – With just four days left until this “all-out brawl” finally comes to a head, this primary has become a total “bloodbath” that is getting nastier and more expensive by the hour. No matter who claws their way across the finish line, they’ll be bruised and battered with substantial baggage, and will face a steep “uphill climb” after making it clear they won’t fight for Ohioans.
Here’s a recap of what happened last week in what has been called one of the “messiest,” “most expensive,” and “bruising” primary battles in the country – and has now become an “all-out brawl.”
THE MESSIEST, NASTIEST, MOST EXPENSIVE SENATE PRIMARY IN THE COUNTRY
There’s been months of messy attacks, non-stop infighting, and increasing nastiness in the #OHSEN Slugfest. Let’s open the dictionary on how this race – the nastiest Senate primary in the country – has been described.
This “slugfest” is “messy,” “bloody,” “bruising,” “expensive,” “heated,” “nasty,” “fractious,” “increasingly hostile.” The field “came out swinging” and have “sparred,” “clashed bitterly,” “traded jabs,” “traded barbs,” “turn[ed] up [the] heat,” and “continued their attacks” every single day of this “fierce battle,” “three-way brawl,” “clash,” of a primary – and it’s now become an “all-out brawl.”
SLUGFEST DEVOLVES INTO “BLOODBATH”
For months, Ohioans have watched non-stop attacks between the field with more than $41 million spent so far on TV – and that number grows by the hour.
Politico: “The Republican Senate primary in Ohio has turned nasty, negative and…has become an all-out brawl in the final leg of the race.”
Politico: “Moreno compared Dolan to anti-Trump Republicans Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney, and said LaRose will “lie through his teeth to get political power.” Dolan called Moreno a “phony” and he concluded that LaRose’s mishandling of a constitutional amendment on abortion rights “dismisses” him from the race. LaRose said Moreno is “very liberal” and is part of the “corporate elite” and that Dolan is an “anti-gun guy” with a “very shoddy” abortion record.”
What Ohioans are seeing:
Understatement of the cycle: whoever comes out the other end of this brawl will be brutally damaged.
💰 MONEY MONEY MONEY: #OHSEN MEGA-MILLIONAIRES *STILL* TRYING TO BUY OHIO’S SENATE SEAT 💰
The #OHSEN field is *still* trying to buy this Senate seat.
On Tuesday, Matt Dolan dumped in another $1 million of his personal fortune into this race, bringing the total he’s self-funded so far this cycle up to $10.2 million.
And don’t forget: Bernie Moreno is *also* trying to buy Ohio’s Senate seat – he’s a multimillionaire who’s put more than $4 million of his own money in to try to buy this race.
Plus, new reporting from Axios detailed that Moreno would be “one of the wealthiest senators if elected” – the 6th wealthiest, in fact – with a net worth of up to $106 million and properties spanning from Costa Rica to New York City to the Florida Keys.
Live footage of the #OHSEN Field trying to buy Ohio’s Senate seat:
SLUGFEST COUNTDOWN
4 days left until this Slugfest – which has devolved into an “all-out brawl” – comes to a head.
CLEAN UP ON AISLE 5: WHAT OHIOANS ARE READING ABOUT THIS MESSY, NASTY “ALL-OUT BRAWL”
Politico: Republicans are worried as the Ohio Senate primary breaks out into an all-out brawl
Axios: Democrats attack Senate GOP’s wealthy “carpetbagger” candidates
Cleveland.com: Ohio Senate race: Millionaire Republican candidates dip further into personal funds to bankroll campaigns in election’s final weeks
Statehouse News Bureau: Filings show Dolan, Moreno loaned themselves millions for US Senate race’s final leg
AP: Republicans running to face Ohio’s Democratic US Sen. Sherrod Brown this fall vie for voters’ trust
NBC News: Ohio’s GOP Senate primary turns nasty as Trump’s candidate tries to fend off rivals
🙁 FINAL FRIDAY SLUGFEST 🙁
It’s the final Friday of the Ohio Senate Slugfest! We know you’ll miss us…
But one thing is clear:
No matter which untested rich guy makes it through this expensive slugfest, they’ll enter the general election damaged, with substantial baggage, and a steep hill to climb after making it clear to Ohioans that they’re only out for themselves.
This isn’t a goodbye – it’s a see you later. We’ll be back real soon… so stay tuned!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Howard Wilkinson, WXVU: “Whoever wins the GOP primary will have an uphill climb.”
J.D. Vance (yes, we know): “Unfortunately, we’re at a phase where there’s a lot of negative advertising. I think, obviously, that will eventually harm the nominee. The more negative dollars you spend attacking each other, the more it makes it harder.”
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