Ohio Rivals Begin Senate Campaign
Democrat Joel Hyatt and Republican Lt. Gov. Michael DeWine kicked off their U.S. Senate campaigns in Ohio’s most populous region Wednesday, with Hyatt pledging to focus on abortion rights and health care.
“I think that the battle this fall is going to be on the issues on which Mike DeWine and I disagree,” said Hyatt, who supports abortion rights and comprehensive health care reform.
“That will make it a tough campaign, because on virtually every issue of importance to Ohio, he and I have a difference of opinion.”
DeWine, who opposes abortion except when medically necessary or in cases of rape or incest and favors conservative approaches to health care reform, was less willing to forecast the tone of the race.
“It’s the first day of a six-month campaign. I don’t know what we’re going to see,” he said at a news conference. “I can tell you what people want us to talk about: They want us to talk about the issues.”
Hyatt, retiring Sen. Howard M. Metzenbaum’s son-in-law and choice as successor, won a narrow primary victory Tuesday.
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