OH-Sen: State Treasurer Josh Mandel earned special contempt from us for his campaign against Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown four years ago, which set new records for mendacity and chutzpah. It was therefore no surprise when the hyper-ambitious Mandel, who regularly ignored his duties as treasurer, dusted off his federal campaign committee early this year, with an eye toward a rematch with Brown.
Mandel was a prodigious fundraiser last time out, and while he has yet to kick into high gear, he'd start with almost $1.4 million in the bank. He also hasn't formally confirmed he'll try for Senate again, though since he's term-limited in his current post (and has shown such little regard for the treasurer's job in the first place), we'd be shocked if he didn't. However, he could have company in a potential GOP primary if Rep. Pat Tiberi decides to run as well.
Like Mandel, Tiberi also hasn't said much publicly, though earlier this year, he refused to rule out a bid, and a Republican consultant described as a "close ally" said that Tiberi "is very seriously considering" a Senate campaign. Tiberi was once tight with fellow Ohioan John Boehner, but that's not worth a whole lot in the House anymore, as Tiberi found out when he lost a bid for the chairmanship of the powerful Ways and Means Committee last year.
One thing a Mandel-versus-Tiberi primary would lack is much of an ideological angle. Both are establishment figures, which could leave an opening for either a conservative true believer in the tea party mold, or a Trump-esque nativist—or perhaps we'll start to see outsider fusion candidates who try to meld both types of rage. Don't imagine for a second, though, that we'll ever participate in the normalization of Trumpism.
And regardless of who the GOP nominates, Brown will be in for another very difficult race. He beat Mandel 51-45, but Barack Obama carried Ohio that year 51-48. Hillary Clinton, however, lost the Buckeye State by a painful 52-43 margin. Brown has to hope that result was either an aberration or can be turned around in time for the midterms.