This week, Strickland’s democratic allies are pulling funds from his race…with more than two months until the election.
As Jennifer Duffy, an analyst with the non-partisan Cook Political Report, told he Columbus Dispatch, “You can’t spin it: That’s not good news.”
In case you missed it, here’s what they are saying about Strickland’s national allies abandoning his campaign:
“Democrats nervous that Portman has built an insurmountable lead in…Democrats have grown increasingly concerned about Strickland’s candidacy. The campaign has struggled to raise money and has badly lagged behind Portman in most public polls.”
“In a sign national Democrats are worried about Senate Democratic candidate Ted Strickland, a campaign committee operated by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has cancelled $191,000 worth of TV commercials scheduled to air nearly next month…’You can’t spin it: That’s not good news,’ said Jennifer Duffy, a Senate campaign analyst with the non-partisan Cook Political Report in Washington.”
"This is bad news for @Ted_Strickland and a positive sign for @robportman"
“The main super-PAC backing Senate Democrats is canceling about two weeks’ worth of broadcast TV time in several Ohio markets. The Senate Majority PAC’s move is a sign that Democrats are growing increasingly pessimistic about former Gov. Ted Strickland’s chances of ousting Sen. Rob Portman…Taken together, the cancellations are an indication that Strickland’s bid against Portman is not catching fire.”
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza:
"Why Ted Strickland’s struggles could cost Senate Democrats dearly wpo.st/FCSv1"
“Major national Democratic political groups are canceling ad spending in the Ohio Senate race as Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland fails to get traction…Democrats viewed Ohio is a prime pickup opportunity in their quest to retake Senate control and celebrated luring Strickland into the race, but the aging former governor has run an underwhelming campaign.”
The Columbus Dispatch’s Darrel Rowland:
"Political death rattle? Democratic group cancelling ads supporting Ted Strickland for U.S. Senate share.es/1wCLeE via @DispatchAlerts"
"Another sign of trouble for Strickland: Dem outside group Senate Majority PAC also cancels $200K in Ohio TV time"
“A Democratic outside group is canceling the first two weeks of its advertising in the Ohio Senate race, a sign that national Democrats are increasingly pessimistic about Gov. Ted Strickland’s campaign…The wave of advertising delays from Democrats is a sign that Ohio is looking increasingly difficult to flip in their favor this year.”
“The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) cancelled a week of TV ads scheduled to begin airing in mid-September in the critical Ohio Senate race…”
The Washington Post’s Sean Sullivan:
“More signs of Dem pessimism in #OHSEN”
TPM:
“…it fuels speculation that Strickland has proven to be far less competitive than the party had hoped…”
“The Democratic Party’s top committees focused on winning Senate races canceled more than a week of television ads that were set to run next month in the key battleground of Ohio…Super PAC officials were more blunt about its decision, citing it as a move to best position money in order claim the five seats Democrats need to take back the majority in November.”
“The Senate Democrats’ campaign wing has canceled about $500,000 worth of television ads next month on behalf of Ted Strickland, who has fallen behind in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race, sources said.”