Tension in the room as P.G., Ted Strickland speak
COLUMBUS – Both P.G. Sittenfeld and Ted Strickland earned applause from Democrats Friday night, but one moment illustrated the tension in the U.S. Senate race.
Immediately before the Ohio Democratic Party dinner started, Sittenfeld and some aides stood near their table, looking around, talking with the occasional passerby.
Meanwhile, in the anteroom, Democrats surrounded Strickland. Many wore "Ted Strickland" stickers. Someone passed out campaign posters, which some supporters waved during the party's annual dinner, attended by roughly 800 people.
The two Democrats are running against each other for the chance to take on incumbent Republican Rob Portman of Terrace Park in the 2016 race for U.S. Senate. But party officials have divided unevenly between the two candidates.
Sittenfeld, a Cincinnati councilman, launched his campaign in January, but had told Democrats he'd drop out if Strickland entered the race. But after Strickland kicked off his campaign, Sittenfeld decided to stay in the race.
Most of the state's prominent Democrats – many of whom attended Friday's dinner – have since endorsed Strickland, Ohio's former governor. Sittenfeld, meanwhile, is focusing on connections in Cincinnati and out of state in an attempt to keep pace with Strickland in fundraising.
"There is boldness in my candidacy. There is boldness in my being on this stage tonight. But we also know that new leaders ... challenging the way things are -- that is in our DNA as Democrats," Sittenfeld said to applause, which was muted at times when Strickland's supporters sat on their hands.
"There is boldness in what Democrats stand for. ... I'm ready. I'm ready to make the case for the things that we believe."
Despite the tension, the two candidates said hello Friday night, Strickland told The Enquirer.
"There's no hostility that I've experienced or felt toward P.G. ... But there's been no substantive talk for quite some time," Strickland said. "I don't think primaries are helpful, but I've gone through primaries before and I've come out OK, so I feel confident."
Sittenfeld said he told Strickland he felt honored to be speaking at the dinner. "I think there were a ton of energized, motivated Democrats, ready to make Rob Portman a one-term senator," he said.
And is Sittenfeld in the race to stay? "I don't know how many times I have to say it. Yes," he said.
So to the Democrats gathered at the dinner, Strickland said: "Tonight, I'm asking you to join me on this journey to reclaim the great American dream. Because, my friends, this is our seat, it's our Senate and it's our fight."
More than 800 people paid $100 to $500 apiece to attend the dinner, themed largely around electing a Democrat – either Democrat – to the U.S. Senate instead of Portman.
"Rob Portman must go!" said Congressman Tim Ryan, a northeast Ohio Democrat. "It's the responsibility of the Democratic Party, for us, to unite the electorate of Ohio and take back control of the Senate."
Ryan has endorsed Strickland and directed part of his exhortation toward the former governor.
Ohio Republicans clearly believe Strickland represents a greater threat than Sittenfeld. Ahead of the dinner, state party spokesman Chris Schrimpf said in a statement:
"Ted Strickland is beholden to the liberal special interests in Washington, DC and tied to his disastrous record as governor when Ohio lost 350,000 jobs and had an $8 billion budget hole."
Campaigns will release fundraising totals as soon as next week. Strickland's supporters hope a fat bank account will persuade Sittenfeld to drop out of the race, while Sittenfeld's allies hope an impressive number will quiet the naysayers who wonder if he has the stature for a statewide campaign.
Of his fundraising report, Sittenfeld told reporters: "We're going to keep campaigning as we always have. ... Elections aren't won in a day, even in a quarter. They're won by connecting with voters on the issues that matter to them over the long term."
Washington reporter Deirdre Shesgreen contributed.