It could be now or never for O’Connor

NDarrel Rowland

o matter how Tuesday’s nationally watched special election turns out, Republican Troy Balderson and Democrat Danny O’Connor will do it all over again in three months.

The special election will decide who serves out the remaining few months of former Congressman Pat Tiberi’s term. The November vote will determine who gets the full two-year term beginning in January.

However, various Democrats have quietly said it might be now or never for O’Connor. If he doesn’t win —or at least come very close Tuesday — the national money and support he got this time could dry up in November, when Balderson would be a sitting congressman and a more traditional midterm electorate is expected in the district that Donald Trump won by 11 points.

Unless Balderson unexpectedly gets blown out, most expect Republicans to re-commit their resources for the general election.

Of course, Balderson also is unlikely to benefit in November, as he has in recent weeks, from the personal attention of Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Foot-in-mouth disease?

Balderson has turned down several news media interview requests, but did allow Wall Street Journal reporter Reid Epstein to tag along with him at the Ohio State Fair last week.

Perhaps now we know why he’s been media-shy.

When asked about trying to tie O’Connor to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Balderson strangely said, “I never brought her up.” That’s obviously contradicted by numerous public statements, TV ads and a fundraising solicitation as recently as Saturday.

Balderson spokeswoman Jenna Knepper said it was “O’Connor who made this campaign about Nancy Pelosi.”

Epstein also reported that U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers of Upper Arlington, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, called Balderson and told him to spend less time on state Senate business and more on fundraising — an account all involved deny.

Pelosi power

There’s a reason that Republicans have repeatedly gone through Pelosi to attack O’Connor: Her approval rating in the 12th Congressional District is anemic.

How do they know? Because survey after survey tells them so.

One 12th District resident had counted 16 calls this past week from pollsters. Aside from the usual questions, he said, the callers always asked about Trump, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Pelosi.

Christine Leeti, a Clintonville retiree who said she and her husband already have voted, vented to Assistant City Editor Jim Wilhelm last week about the glut of polling calls they were getting, many of them of the automated variety.

“I feel like it’s harassment,” she said.

The campaigns call it “targeting.” The poll questions often are used to test messages or probe for weaknesses in an opponent that can be exploited in the tsunami of ads airing in the district.

More voter shaming

Last week we told you about “voter shaming” in the special election campaign.

The effort is continuing. Here is the Republican National Committee’s latest:

“Did you know voting is a matter of public record? If you don’t vote...

“Your neighbors will know you didn’t defend for our future.

“Your friends will know you didn’t stick up for our values.

“Your community will know you didn’t fight for Ohio’s future.”

In contrast, Democratic efforts are pretty genteel:

“Thank you for voting in 2016. When someone checks your updated voting record, make sure they see you voted on Aug. 7, 2018.

“Remember: Who you vote for is private, but whether or not you vote is public record.”