Staff Reports
Joe Biden’s latest debate flop hasn’t just tarnished his already shaky presidency; it’s dragging down the whole Democratic ship, including vulnerable incumbents like Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Brown is sweating it out in a neck-and-neck race against Republican Bernie Moreno and wants nothing to do with Biden’s trainwreck performance. One could almost hear the collective sigh of resignation among Democrats as Brown dodged questions about the debate at a campaign event in Cleveland.
Rather than address Biden’s dismal showing, Brown pivoted faster than a weathervane in a hurricane, claiming he’s focused on his own job and fighting for women’s rights. It’s a classic Democratic move—shift attention to their favorite talking points when cornered. Brown emphasized that his campaign’s focus is on the supposed contrast between him and Moreno. Naturally, that focus conveniently sidesteps the fact that Biden’s performance is hard to defend.
Vulnerable Democratic Incumbent Refuses to Say What He Thinks About Biden's Debate Performance
https://t.co/m9fadfD1ya— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 1, 2024
Moreno’s campaign wasted no time highlighting Brown’s avoidance tactics. Moreno didn’t mince words, pointing out that Brown’s near-perfect alignment with Biden’s policies has helped create the current litany of disasters: open borders, a tanking economy, and international mayhem. Moreno hammered home the point that Brown and Biden are two peas in a pod, with a combined century of bureaucratic bloat weighing down Washington. Ohioans, it seems, will have the final say this November.
To drive the point home, the Moreno campaign released a 30-second ad featuring Brown and Biden on a tandem bike, emphasizing that Brown is always “Ridin’ with Biden.” The ad underscores the almost laughable longevity of their careers and criticizes their policies on immigration and the economy. In a masterstroke, the ad encourages viewers to visit JustLikeBiden.com, making it crystal clear that a vote for Brown is a vote for more Biden blunders.
Moreno has been leveraging his outsider status since the primary, and the debate debacle gave him ample ammunition. On social media, Moreno drew attention to how Brown often votes in lockstep with Biden and receives glowing endorsements from liberal heavyweights like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. One repost from Punchbowl’s Andrew Desiderio noted that Schumer was in Cincinnati to bolster Brown, pointing out the steep uphill battle Brown faces, especially post-debate.
This Ohio Senate race is pivotal for control of the Senate, as Republicans aim to unseat Democratic incumbents. Biden’s plummeting popularity in Ohio only worsens the outlook for Democrats. With Trump poised to win Ohio once again, as he did in previous elections, this race is a perfect storm brewing against the Democrats. Brown’s attempts to outpace Biden in the eyes of Ohio voters might be as futile as rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
