DeWine, Taylor sling mud as primary election approaches

Blade, The (Toledo, OH)

May 05--COLUMBUS -- As the two Republican candidates for Ohio governor tear into one another in TV ads, fighting over who is more anti-abortion, more pro-Trump, and more against sanctuary cities, Democrats are biding their time to resurrect those statements later.

There's been no official televised debate between Attorney General Mike DeWine, the party's endorsed candidate, and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, so the debate has taken place in the form of TV commercials ahead of Tuesday's primary election.

She accuses "DC DeWine" of being "too liberal for too long" and pointing out his past votes as U.S. senator for the federal assault weapons ban and immigration reform.

VIDEO: Ad produced by Mary Taylor campaign

He calls her a "career politician" who is "unfit and unqualified" and they both sling accusations about when and how strongly the other jumped on the Trump train.

"What I think about is how damaging it is to both of them, particularly DeWine," Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper said. "I assume he's going to win...

"The positions that each one is taking in their own ads -- besides the name calling, which is bad enough -- at the end of the day will be difficult to recover from," he said. "They've been embracing toxic political positions for months by running so far to the right."

The same level of vitriol has not been seen on the Democratic side -- at least not in TV ads.

But Blaine Kelly, spokesman for the Ohio Republican Party, noted that apparent frontrunners Richard Cordray and Dennis Kucinich have gone at each other in the field as they've both tried to appeal to the Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders left.

Mr. Kucinich, a former Cleveland mayor and congressman, points to Mr. Cordray's past support from the National Rifle Association. Mr. Cordray, most recently President Obama's federal consumer financial watchdog, has pointed to Mr. Kucinich's acceptance of a $20,000 speaking fee from a group that has defended Syria President Bashar al-Assad, a fee he said he will return.

"There have been some misleading ads about Mike DeWine," Mr. Kelly said. "After he wins on Tuesday, and we're confident he's going to win, these were still misleading ads. Democrats may take notes, and we'll be happy to answer them.

"Mike DeWine has plans for Ohio's future that he's talked about on the campaign trail about opioid addiction, the skills gap, and the education gap," he said. "He wants to make sure every Ohioan has a brighter future."

VIDEO: Ad produced by Mike DeWine campaign

Marc Clauson, professor of history and law at Cedarville University, said he doesn't see the on-air battle between Ms. Taylor and Mr. DeWine inflicting long-lasting wounds.

"They are both doing what they need to do," he said. "It's commonplace to have these kinds of ads. They may have talked about staying above the fray, but once one side begins an attack, from a strategic viewpoint, you should respond in kind in order to keep or gain an edge on the other."

Both Mr. DeWine and Ms. Taylor oppose abortion rights, although Mr. DeWine carries the endorsement of Ohio Right to Life. But in a recent ad, Ms. Taylor cites the former U.S. senator's support for the confirmation of a federal judge who years later struck down Ohio's law blocking Planned Parenthood from receiving public funding for health-care services.

Ms. Taylor vows to end the Medicaid expansion championed by her boss that has provided health coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act to an additional 700,000-plus Ohioans. Mr. DeWine, meanwhile, is less clear about the controversial expansion's fate in a DeWine administration. But he says the expansion is financially unsustainable and would not be the same under a DeWine administration.

The winner's positions on Medicaid expansion, perhaps even in their own words in these ads, would definitely be highlighted by Democrats come fall, Mr. Pepper said.

In addition to the two Democratic frontrunners, state Sen. Joe Schiavoni (D., Boardman) and former state Supreme Court Justice William O'Neill have participated in the that party's official debates. Also on the ballot are Alliance political newcomer Paul E. Ray and perennial Dayton candidate Larry E. Ealy.

Contact Jim Provance at: jprovance@theblade.com or 614-221-0496.

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