Cincinnati City Council Member P.G. Sittenfeld is the latest Democrat to express interest in running against Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman. But other Democrats with more name recognition are also being considered as possible Portman opponents.
U.S. Representatives Betty Sutton and Tim Ryan as well as former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland are on the short list. David Pepper, the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, says it won’t back anyone right now.
“The serious candidates are going to have to decide in the coming months if they are going to do it. Because if you don’t get a head start on the amount of money you raise, you are just not going to be a viable candidate," Pepper said. "I think by summer... it will become clear who is out, beginning to try to put together the kind of campaign that gives them the chance to compete and win.”
Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman had roughly $5.5 million cash on hand available in his campaign war chest at the end of September.