CLEVELAND – Former President Donald Trump will take on Ohio’s old-guard Republican establishment in the state’s closing days. competitive GOP Senate primary.
Trump announced late Monday that he would hold a rally near Dayton on Saturday to promote his nominee. Bernie Morenoacross the finish line.
Buckeye Values PAC, a pro-Moreno group, will host an event three days before the primary featuring Moreno, state Sen. Matt Dolan and Ohio Secretary of State Frank Larose. Several independent polls have been conducted assessing the state of the race, but campaigns are calling it a dead heat, with millions of dollars flooding the Buckeye State’s airwaves and nasty attacks between the candidates intensifying.
A source close to Trump’s team told NBC News earlier this month that the rally was “very difficult” for Moreno. It was unclear Monday what changed the political calculus. But the announcement comes after several high-profile endorsements for Dolan. A few hours ago on Monday, they announced their support for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and his wife, Fran Dolan. Former Sen. Rob Portman, who raised money for his wife Dolan, offered her support last week.
“Matt Dolan has a vision for the future. He listens. He fights. He knows how to get results for Ohio,” DeWine said in a public statement to Ohio voters. “We’ve worked to bring business to Ohio and create an environment that will continue to grow jobs in the state and move Ohio forward. Matt has been a true partner in making Ohio a national leader in economic growth, job creation and innovation. He is fighting and winning to bring jobs to Ohio and ensure a prosperous economic future for our children and grandchildren.”
DeWine has not tied his political identity closely to Trump. The former president has endorsed his bid for re-election in 2022 — but only after a primary in which DeWine faced a challenge from the right. Dolan also avoided getting too close to Trump. He presents himself as a champion of Trump’s policies, but admitted that the two are not compatible in terms of personality.
“His personality? It’s not me. His political style? It’s not me,” Dolan said in a debate last week With LaRose and Moreno. “But his policies that make your life better, America stronger, Ohio stronger? This is me”.
Andy Surabian, a GOP strategist close to Trump who advises Moreno, cast Tuesday’s primary as a battle between Trump’s MAGA coalition and RINOs, or Republicans in Name Only. One Type in Xhe Trump, Ohio Sen. JD Vance and another prominent Ohio conservative, Rep. Moreno. Jim Jordan.
“The Ohio Senate race,” Surabian wrote, “is officially Team America First vs. Team RINO.”