Ohio’s Senate contest is shaping up according to the top of the ticket—with incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown’s need for distance from Kamala Harris coming into sharp focus.
With the DNC less than two weeks away, and the race between former President Donald Trump and VP Harris yet to clarify Harris’ distinction from the Biden administration, Ohio’s critical down-ballot race has followed suit.
Brown appears to be seeking breathing room from Harris, as his opponent, republican challenger Bernie Moreno, zeroes in on policy issues. Here’s a look at what’s ahead from Ohio’s Senate candidates.
The Story
With the Kamala Harris campaign yet to clarify policy positions, the Vice President remains functionally identical to the Biden administration in voters’ outlook.
Ohio is one of two critical down-ballot races that could shape the face of the Senate for the next Presidential administration. Brown has enjoyed a comfortable lead over Moreno, but faces the challenge of unshackling himself from Harris, with whom he voted in lockstep over the past four years.
Harris’ “hot swap” to grab the mantle from President Joe Biden, in an unprecedented nomination-process in which she did not receive a single primary vote, enjoyed a post-announcement media bump.
Weeks later, as Harris has yet to sit for an interview with media or clarify any of her potential administration’s policies, down-ballot contests appear to be girding for what could be functionally a second Biden campaign.
Brown Distancing from Harris
In Ohio, Brown stumbled over the prospect of campaigning with Harris. Will Harris prove a liability for Brown’s current, and potentially narrowing lead?
Manu Raju: Will you campaign with Kamala Harris.
— Mike Berg (@MikeKBerg) August 4, 2024
Sherrod Brown: Word salad, we both have schedules
Sherrod voted with Kamala 100% of the time. Now he’s afraid to campaign with her. pic.twitter.com/MSZfBC9nTy
A Democratic candidate in a red state has the challenge of focusing on retail politics, of which Brown is a master. Yet the multi-term incumbent has so far enjoyed tailwinds from popular top-of-the-ticket candidates like Barack Obama and weathered the energy of Trump in 2016.
This election will be the first in which Brown’s reelection coincides with one of the least popular presidents in generations, and a new nominee who imploded in her only primary campaign.
While Harris will have the challenge of unshackling herself from the Biden administration, its disastrous open-border policy, historic inflation, weak job growth, and an economy on life-support, Brown will have the challenge of unshackling from Harris.
Brown voted with Harris with perfect consistency, and proved his loyalty to President Biden’s agenda on the Senate floor, though notoriously kept quiet on unpopular new Biden policy roll-outs.
Instead, Brown has focused on pet retail issues like jobs, including the recently-passed CHIPS Act.
Ohio will continue to be a national leader in technology for years to come because of the infrastructure investments made by the CHIPS Act. https://t.co/VLys73aVzl
— Sherrod Brown (@SherrodBrown) August 3, 2024
Intel recently made headlines for slashing 20,000 jobs. Its stock dipped 10%, even before the weekend's bloody selloff.
Ouch.
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) August 1, 2024
Intel, $INTC is suspending its dividend, and cutting up to 19,650 employees.
The stock collapses down over -10%. pic.twitter.com/oj0PN5bE3n
Its new Licking County manufacturing facility will allegedly not be affected, but the project has been beset by delays and rumors of the semiconductor maker continuing to play overseas prospects.
Brown has been otherwise quiet on key issues like immigration and inflation, which have energized GOP nominee former President Trump’s contest for a second term.
Moreno seeking Trump energy, sticks to Brown’s record:
2024 Ohio Senate GE:
— Political Polls (@Politics_Polls) August 1, 2024
Sherrod Brown (D-inc) 46% (+4)
Bernie Moreno (R) 42%
Impact Research/@Fabrizio_Lee/@AARP, 600 LV, 7/23-28 https://t.co/flVdTUIKTc
Brown’s Republican challenger, Bernie Moreno, has made his best showing in polls this week, whittling Brown’s ten point lead to four. Moreno has campaigned on the economy and immigration, critical issues for 2024. Whether Brown’s retail politics acumen can overcome his record as a stand-in for Harris and Biden, Moreno has continued to hit the highlights, focusing on issues like gun confiscation and the economy.
Sherrod Brown votes with Kamala and Biden 99% of the time. An endorsement for Kamala is an endorsement for gun confiscation.
— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) July 31, 2024
That is what Sherrod Brown supports. https://t.co/3dq7cL8IG5
Notably, GOP wunderkind Vivek Ramaswamy has hit the trail with Moreno. Ramaswamy grew to his stature as the most formidable Republican candidate in generations, barring Trump, pointing out the function of the current U.S. political establishment and democratic machine politics.
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Sherrod Brown - at a certain point, it stops mattering who the puppet is. We’re not up against individual Democrats. We’re up against a machine. Strong day for @berniemoreno here in Ohio. He’s ready for the fight. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/VeT4OKoQ4e
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) August 5, 2024
Ohio Stakes
Whether Harris’ post-announcement bump sticks and media energy surrounding her candidacy proves organic, Moreno will be looking for MAGA energy focusing on the border, trade, and the economy. Economic turmoil, inflation, and weak jobs numbers will likely drive voters, with recession indicators flashing in the wake of Sunday’s bloody stock rout.
Whether Brown’s jobs messaging will resonate enough to maintain his lead leading up to the home stretch, and his hush on unpopular Biden immigration policies or his quiet campaigning with Harris, the economic headwinds facing Ohioans continue to mount, and immigration remains the linchpin of the cycle.
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