Ohio GOP Senate candidate pushes Congress reforms

Associated Press

DAN SEWELL, Associated Press

Updated: Sep 28, 2012 8:39 AM

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Republican challenger in Ohio's Senate race says he is going after "career politicians" in both parties.

State Treasurer Josh Mandel is headed Friday to an appearance in Lima, in northwest Ohio. The region has gotten a lot of political attention this week. Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan spoke in Lima on Monday, while presidential nominee Mitt Romney was in Toledo on Wednesday and Democratic President Barack Obama campaigned in Bowling Green.

Mandel has been going around the state this week promoting proposals for changes in Washington he says are needed to push action on the budget deficit and national debt.

Mandel told a small gathering of supporters Thursday at a downtown Cincinnati hotel that plans for term limits, halting congressional pay if a budget hasn't been passed, and stopping pensions for those who become lobbyists after leaving Congress would make politicians from both parties more accountable.

"Career politicians in Washington have let us down," Mandel said, saying the measures are aimed at both Democrats and Republicans. But he then focused on his opponent, who was first elected to the state Legislature in 1974.

"When you look in the dictionary under 'career politician,' you see a picture of Sherrod Brown," said Mandel, who turned 35 Thursday. Brown is 59.

Brown's campaign has dismissed Mandel's appearances this week as a belated effort by him to talk about issues. Some recent polls have indicated Mandel is trailing in his bid to unseat first-term Democrat Sherrod Brown.

The Democrat's campaign portrays Mandel as opportunistic for running for Senate less than two years after his election as treasurer. Its latest campaign ad about Mandel concludes: "He's just a politician we can't trust."

Brown campaigned in southwest Ohio on Wednesday, including rallying with union workers in Middletown while touting the auto industry bailout he supported.

The closely watched Senate race has been dominated by negative advertising, but the two candidates will debate the issues in a series of three meetings next month. They are Oct. 15 in Cleveland, Oct. 18 in Columbus and Oct. 25 in Cincinnati.

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