Renacci: Give Trump strategy time

Ohio Senate candidate says business owners need to be patient.

One candidate in the Ohio Senate race says business owners need to be patient with President Donald Trump’s approach.

On trade, U.S. Rep. JimRenacci — the Republican running against incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown — asks that Trump be given time to pursue his negotiating strategy.

With Ohio sending some 38 percent of its exports to Canada, Renacci was asked Monday in a meeting with Dayton Daily News editors whether picking a trade war with Canada is good for Ohio.

“Let’s seewherewe end up in all of this,” Renacci said. “The president negotiates in a different style than any other president has in the past — andwe’ve fallen behind with every other president in the past, Republicans andDemocrats.

“I think in the end, let’s give this individual an opportunity to negotiate the way he does.”

Therace for Ohio Senate seat has started aggressively, with Brown trying to define Renacci as early as last month with dual ads, aired just days afterRenacciwonhisprimary.

One early Brown ad attacked Renacci, referring to his time registered as a lobbyist. But Renacci insists that he has never worked as a lobbyist.

Adecade ago, before he became a congressman, Renacci worked as an accountant for Smokerise International, a consulting firm, and he was registered as a lobbyist while with that firm. He deactivated his status as a lobbyist in 2009, but did not file an official follow-up form with the U.S. Senate office until this year.

Renacci soon hit back with an ad of his own.

The congressman told Dayton DailyNews editors that he will not let his opponent define him.

“We put a commercial up already,” the former mayor of Wadsworth said. “In the end, this is about just getting two visions. Look, people know me.”

Brown — a former state representative and congressman — “has been around” for more than 40 years, Renacci said.

“When Iwalk into a room, even a Democrat, even a union leader, even union workers, I ask them: ‘Are you better off today than you were 12 years ago?’” Renacci said. “Most them say, ‘No.’”

Unionmembershipandblue-collar jobs have fallen over the past 12 years, he argues. “Are youbetteroff today than youwere 12 years ago?”

Brownisseekinghisthirdsix-year term in the Senate. The Northeast Ohio Democrat unveiled another ad Tuesday.