U.S. Sen. Rob Portman on Tuesday called on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to retract his comments about the judge presiding over lawsuits against Trump University.
However, the Ohio Republican, speaking with reporters, said he's continuing to support Donald Trump for president, even after another Republican senator seeking re-election retracted his endorsement of Trump.
Portman said he strongly disagreed with Trump's assertion that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel has an "inherent conflict of interest" because of his Mexican heritage.
"I think it's offensive to say what he said," Portman said of Trump. "I believe it's wrong to say someone can't do his or her job because of their heritage."
But Portman said he wouldn't join fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois in withdrawing his endorsement of Trump.
For all you basketball fans in the community, you might appreciate this courtesy of former Governor and U.S. Senate candidate Ted Strickland (D. OH):
The Cavaliers performance in the NBA finals could delay access to the Quicken Loans Arena for those planning the RNC.
“Well, it’s going to be the Cavs, obviously,” the former governor told WAKR radio this weekend. “And get what this going to do if they go all the way to the end? It’s going to throw a monkey wrench into the plans, I understand, for the Republican convention.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you,” the host interjected.
“Well, I appreciate the community’s enthusiasm for the convention. A lot resources are going to come in. I hope it’s a wonderful experience for everybody, including local folks. But, I would prefer to see the Cavs win the championship then to give the Republicans an extra two weeks to prepare for their convention.”
You can listen to the whole interview on BuzzFeed. In other related news, Ohio Democrats may have found a way to turn U.S. Senator Rob Portman’s (R. OH) coal backing from a strength to weakness:
On Tuesday, the Ohio Democratic Party – supporting Ted Strickland, the former governor and congressman – planned to unleash a new attack, hitting Portman over his opposition to 2003 legislation that sought to limit the amount of land that was eligible for federal coal leasing.
“By voting to allow Western coal to further an unfair advantage over Ohio coal, Senator Portman is hurting Appalachian workers, families and the entire regional community of Southeast Ohio,” said Daniel van Hoogstraten, a spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party. “It’s another example of how disconnected Portman has become from the concerns of Ohio’s working families after spending decades pushing the agenda of the wealthy and well-connected in Washington.”
The issue provides a clean point of contrast for Strickland, who supported the measure sponsored by Rep. Nick Rahall, a West Virginia Democrat. During the floor debate, Rahall said without his amendment, the bill would “give rise to a monopoly controlling Federal coal leases, primarily in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.” Rahall’s amendment, backed mainly by Democrats, failed 208-212, and the bill passed.
Even before joining the Senate race, Strickland had raised the issue of coal leases. In February 2015, then a counselor at the Center for American Progress, he urged the Department of Interior to charge more for leases and direct some of the proceeds to the struggling Appalachian region.
Strickland’s work at the Center for American Progress has been a key contention in Portman’s case that he is “bad for Ohio coal.” After endorsing Strickland twice, the coal miners union endorsed Portman this year. Portman’s campaign has criticized his support for President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, and comments that “the coal industry in Ohio has actually done pretty well under Mr. Obama.”
We shall see if this angle plays off. Either way, we need to win this race if we’re going to take back the Senate. Click here to donate and get involved with Strickland’s campaign.