In response to Phil Ewing's guest commentary on Feb. 15, Dumping Hackett seals Dems' fate
Congressman Sherrod Brown offers Ohio Democrats the only opportunity to unseat Sen. Mike DeWine in November.
The more experienced candidate that Ewing spoke of was a two-term Secretary of State and has represented Ohio's 13th Congressional district since 1992. Brown has the polished political skills and a message that resonates with the statewide electorate, both of which the inexperienced, and often brash, Paul Hackett has lacked as a candidate.
Through his experience, Congressman Brown has established an elaborate fundraising network that will be necessary to defeat the undoubtedly well-funded campaign of DeWine. On the other hand, the Democrats could have nominated Hackett, who was able to raise only $250,000, most of which came from supporters residing outside of the state of Ohio. Ohio Democrats have chosen for themselves, much to the chagrin of the Hackett supporters in Hollywood, the nominee that can truly defeat DeWine.
Ohio Democrats have also selected a principled nominee in Brown, instead of choosing another Republican-lite candidate that is a Democrat in name only, running for office by attacking the party establishment. And instead of being a team player and running for Congress, as he was urged for months by both the DCCC and DSCC, Hackett refused, lessening the Democratic Party's chances of retaking the House of Representatives in 2006.
Sherrod Brown has fought for the ideals that we, as Democrats, believe by leading the charge against the exportation of American jobs as a result of free trade agreements such as CAFTA and helping to provide health care coverage for America's most vulnerable of citizens, and he will continue to be a voice for all Ohioans in the U.S. Senate.
- Chris Downey is President of OU Students for Sherrod Brown and is a junior education major. Will Wemer and Mark Stovell are sophomore pre-law majors. 17
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