I am running for Ohio’s State Senate District 2 and my campaign is really gaining some momentum. I have been endorsed by an Ohio favorite, Senator Sherrod Brown, Planned Parenthood, and I am a Moms Demand Action gun sense candidate. Although it might not be surprising, I am even peeling off union support from my opponent, who was installed by the Republicans in a temporary appointment.
But things must be getting too close for comfort….
Last week a resident in my district, who wished to remain unnamed, received a polling call. After several minutes on the call, she grew suspicious of the poll’s intentions.
“After a while, I definitely had the feeling it was a pro-Gavarone call, as opposed to random, bipartisan, neutral polling poll,” she said. She then reached out to her local Democratic party to see if there was any bipartisan polling happening in her county. There wasn’t. The Democratic Party of Erie County reached out to my campaign team to let us know we were a topic of discussion.
The poll initially asked about Trump vs. Biden, name recognition for Rob Portman, and her general voting tendencies. The pollster then asked targeted questions about me, even mispronouncing my name as “Joelle.” The caller message-tested a few attacks, and then falsely praised Theresa Gavarone’s involvement in the CARES House Bill 481.
Denise Zephire, a Bowling Green resident, also received the poll: “I was appalled. Everything about O’Dorisio was SO negative… Then the person asked questions about Gavarone, all in a very positive light.”
She told us, “I tried to tell the person that I had not liked the way Gavarone conducted her campaign the last time, and it looks like I won't like it this time, but this was just a survey and they only wanted me to answer the questions within the narrow selected answers. I have never declared a party but running campaigns like this really gets me steamed.”
We knew this race would be competitive, we’ve had several local and national organizations tell us this will be a tight. But Theresa’s push poll is the first indication of how contentious this race will be.
Gavarone has a long history of dirty politics. We expected this race to be no different. But I wish she would focus on serving the people of this district instead of slandering me. Everyone is tired of nasty politics, but her mudslinging tactics can still be effective, especially if I can’t get my message out. Please help me flip this Senate seat blue.
Learn more about my campaign by visiting: www.joelforohio.com
Or donate directly to help me return balance to Ohio’s Senate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/committee-to-elect-joel-o-dorisio-1