New Print Edition: Ohio Senate & West Virginia 1

Subscribers already have the March 1, 2010 print edition of the Rothenberg Political Report. Here are the introductions to the full stories in this edition:


Ohio Senate: Bush League
By Nathan L. Gonzales

Democrats and Republicans envision former President George W. Bush being a factor in this year’s Ohio senate race, but in very different ways and with two different outcomes.

In the face of a deteriorating political climate, Democrats remain confident that they can use the Bush connections on likely GOP nominee Rob Portman’s resume to place the blame of the country’s economic situation firmly on the two Republicans’ shoulders. Meanwhile, Portman is trying to use Bush’s blueprint in order to win the Buckeye State just as the former president did twice.

Portman caught a break when his wealthy primary opponent dropped out leaving Democrats with a primary between Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. Fisher is the favorite to hold the Democratic mantle in November.

Sen. George Voinovich did Republicans a favor by announcing his retirement early, but his seat remains one of GOP’s most difficult holds this year. Republicans are looking to close the door on Bush for good and a victory in Ohio could be the difference between a good night and a great night for national Republicans.


You can read the whole story by subscribing to the print edition of the Report.

West Virginia 1: Major Pain
By Nathan L. Gonzales

The voters of West Virginia’s 1st District have been sending a Mollohan to Congress for over three decades, but this year, Republicans are making a very serious run at breaking the streak.

Former state legislators David McKinley and Sarah Minear and others are battling for the GOP nomination and right to face incumbent Alan Mollohan (D) in November, though the congressman must get past state Sen. Mike Oliverio in the Democratic primary first.

Mollohan usually doesn’t raise a lot of money or start his campaign until late in the cycle, but unless he starts getting his act together, the fourteen-term Democratic incumbent could well lose a seat that has been in his family for two generations.


You can read the whole story by subscribing to the print edition of the Report

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