A few weeks after Toledo Blade columnist Keith Burris charged that “Retread” Ted Strickland has been “largely invisible” and “disappointing, to put it mildly” – he’s back at it today saying that Strickland “has been AWOL in his own campaign,” also adding, “Mr. Strickland’s stealth campaign has scarcely engaged issues, reporters, or citizens.”
In case you missed it, you can read more here:
Sittenfeld elevates himself
Toledo Blade | Keith C. Burris
This is not the U.S. Senate race in Ohio that many expected it to be.
Many people told me, some months ago, that P.G. Sittenfeld would be a good scrimmage partner for Ted Strickland — toughen and sharpen him up and then go quietly.
But Mr. Strickland never came out for the scrimmage. He has been AWOL in his own campaign. And Mr. Sittenfeld has emerged as a contender. He has done it with issues and guts.
He has made a particular issue of gun violence in America.
Now P.G. Sittenfeld has come up with a proposed constitutional amendment, announced in Columbus late last week.
It would rock the state as much as his nomination. And both are possible.
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And, if nominated, he may well be a stronger candidate for the fall than the Ted Strickland we have seen so far this year. Several Democratic operatives have told me so.
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Mr. Sittenfeld thinks Ted Strickland’s refusal to debate is a political mistake and, really, an affront to voters. “This is for the record,” he said: “I pledge to always debate, incumbent or challenger. That’s our system.” That’s respect for democracy — robust democracy.
Mr. Strickland’s stealth campaign has scarcely engaged issues, reporters, or citizens. He appears only occasionally to try, unconvincingly, to play both sides of the gun issue. He has not helped his reputation as either a statesman or a politician.
By virtue of the robustness of his campaign, many Dems may feel, come March 15, that Mr. Sittenfeld has earned their votes. Win or lose, he has elevated himself.