Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) issued a trio of commercials that seek to generate support for his re-election bid by focusing on his efforts to fight his state’s epidemic of heroin and prescription drug problems. The spots, which began airing in Ohio on Wednesday, are part of a larger GOP strategy to bolster the first-term senator’s standings among voters, and in turn, control the Senate by winning one of its key seats. State Democrats nominated former Governor Ted Strickland to oppose Portman in the race.
In a spot called “Wildfire” Portman talks about his own efforts to combat drug addiction through legislation, including co-sponsoring a bill that authorized Congress to spend $725 million to enhance drug treatment programs, including those for prison inmates.
The bill, which enjoyed broad bipartisan backing, was approved in March by a 94-to-1 vote. In the ad, Portman said, “By investing in prevention, treatment and recovery, empowering law enforcement and stopping the over-prescribing of painkillers, we can turn the tide.” The other two ads feature Ohio residents who have struggled with aspects of heroin addiction, and who praise Portman for his legislative efforts to impact the problem.
But Portman’s voting record on drug-related issues has not always broken towards the consistent support he touts in his ads. In January 2016, it was reported that he voted against the $1.1 trillion “omnibus” spending package passed by Congress in December 2015, even after he lobbied to include funds to fight heroin and support addiction treatment in the bill. Portman later claimed that the bill contained too many gimmicks to prove effective.
Portman also faces an uphill battle for the Senate seat on two fronts: he lacks widespread recognition among registered voters, 42% of which said in a Quinnipiac University Poll that they didn’t know enough about him to express an opinion. The same poll currently ranks Portman and Strickland as virtual equals, with 43% supporting Strickland over 42% for the Republican senator.
Democrats are also expected to attempt to link Portman to Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, a strategy that Senate GOP officials have sought to counter by encouraging peers in seat races to focus on local issues, as Portman has done. A 60 Minutes report from April stated that at least 23 Ohioans are dying from heroin-related issues every week.
