Former Ohio Gov. and Senate candidate Ted Strickland says he supports a short-term pause in accepting Syrian refugees to the U.S. as national security experts review the program.
In a campaign statement provided in response to a request Tuesday, the Democrat said it's clear there are "deep concerns" about whether the current vetting process is sufficient to protect individual and national security. He said those are best handled by "Homeland and National Security leadership."
Strickland seeks to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman next year. The GOP has criticized him for failing to take a stand earlier on the Syrian refugee issue following the terrorist attacks Friday in Paris.
Strickland said he doesn't want to see the question turned into "a political issue full of the usual fear-mongering and demagoguery."
Strickland: Pause In Syrian Refugee Program 'Reasonable'
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