In a surprising turn of events‚ Bob Taft – former Ohio governor and member of a well-known Republican family – has given his support to Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in the upcoming Senate race. Taft‚ who is 82 years old made his intentions clear in a letter to the editor of the Dayton Daily News on 10/13/2024
Taftʼs endorsement comes as a shock‚ given Ohioʼs recent shift towards conservative politics. The ex-governor cited Browns collaboration with Rep Mike Turner on Dayton-area issues‚ his quarter-century of public service experience and his important committee positions in the Senate as reasons for his decision.
“Although not in agreement with Senator Brown on every policy issue I believe Ohioans very much need a highly effective experienced advocate in the U.S. Senate – someone who is squarely focused on both Ohioʼs and Americas needs“ Taft wrote in his letter
The endorsement raises questions about its potential impact on voters‚ considering Ohioʼs right-ward lean in recent years. Browns campaign is trying to attract independent and Republican voters in this high-stakes race‚ which has seen record-breaking spending (over $400 million)
Its worth noting that Bernie Moreno‚ the GOP nominee‚ has the backing of Donald Trump – a factor that has proven crucial in recent Ohio elections. Trumps endorsements have often overshadowed those of mainstream Ohio Republicans‚ as seen in the primary victory of Moreno and the Senate win of JD Vance
Interestingly‚ Taft is the only politician to have ever defeated Brown in an election beating him in the 1990 secretary of state race. This historical context adds a layer of significance to Tafts current support for Brown
The Moreno campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment on this unexpected development in the race