COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Sen. Rob Portman said Saturday that what he said was an incomparable ground game for Ohio Senate candidate GOP Jane Timken days before the primary, arguing that the undecided could reverse the race.
“She has a secret weapon that no one talks about much in the media, namely that she makes a huge amount of money,” Portman, Ohio, told Fox News. “She knocked on more doors – not personally, but her volunteers, she knocked on a bunch of them herself – and made more phone calls than all her other campaigns combined.
This mass enthusiasm was demonstrated at Friday’s event, in which Portman participated in the Timken campaign headquarters in Columbus. Approximately 50 close supporters, campaign members and volunteers gathered for what looked like an enthusiastic rally, with enthusiastic speeches by Portman and Timken.
Ohio Senate nominee Jane Timken addresses supporters with Senator Rob Portman, Ohio, April 30, 2022, in Columbus, (Tyler Olson / Fox News)
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!
HOUSE FIREBRANDS GAETZ, GREEN SAY VANCE IS THE ALLY IN THE SENATE, WHICH NEEDS TO STOP THE CAMPAIGN
“What time is it?” Portman shouted at the crowd.
“Time for Timken,” they replied.
The event contrasts with rallies held by other candidates across the state, where many voters present have not decided and want to hear from a candidate before making a decision.
But according to Timken, voters who are reached by her campaign at their front doors and by phone can put her above the top.
“We don’t stop and today I was outside knocking on doors,” Timken told Fox News. “We’re all over Ohio. We spoke to nearly 1.5 million Republican voters in the primary who knock on doors and make phone calls … We’ll review the tape until the May 3 election.”
The figures support the idea that there are still many convincing voters, according to Portman.
Senator Rob Portman R-Ohio and Ohio Senate GOP candidate Jane Timken pose with volunteers at Timken’s campaign headquarters on April 30, 2022 (Tyler Olson / Fox News)
Ohio Senate nominee DOLAN “DOESN’T LOOK BACK” IN THE PRELIMINARY GOP, dominated by Trump
“If you look at the early voting in Ohio and the absent vote, this year is extremely low, which for me is an indication of two things. First, we have relatively low turnout in general. But secondly, many people are still wondering, you know who they should be for, “he said. “I have not seen a poll in which at least 25% are undecided.”
A recent Fox News poll found that exactly a quarter of voters did not decide – more than even the percentage of voters who support Vance, who leads the poll.
FOX NEWS poll: VANCE TAKES FIRST PLACE IN OHIO Senate PRELIMINARY ADVANTAGES
Also for her, Timken is backed by more than 200 elected officials in Ohio and has high-ranking GOP national endorsements in GOP Chamber President Elise Stefanik, RN.Y., and GOP Senate Vice President Johnny Ernst , R-Iowa
However, Timken faces a difficult task if he wins this race.
WITH CRUZ’S SUPPORT, MANDEL REJECTS RHINO’S ATTACKS, AFTER THE BOOK ACCUSES OF INJUSTICE
She has struggled to break the top three in most polls in the Republican race, with investment banker Mike Gibbons and former Treasurer Josh Mandel leading in recent months, most recently with State Senator Matt Dolan. Timken’s campaign also suffered a major blow when former President Donald Trump, whose approval she aggressively courted, instead chose opponent JD Vance, ejecting him into the race.
Supporter of Ohio Senate GOP candidate Jane Timken waved to her as she went out to address volunteers at a sen rally. Rob Portman, Ohio, at Columbus Campaign, April 30, 2022 (Tyler Olson / Fox News)
Timken and other non-Vance candidates say most Ohio voters are still suspicious of Vance, who was highly critical of Trump in 2016, despite approval.
“They are skeptical. We see it every day. I hear from voters every day,” Timken said of what he heard from voters about Vance. “Obviously JD Vance not only made some humiliating comments about President Trump, but more importantly, he made humiliating comments about Trump’s electorate.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
And with his sprawling team of volunteers whose T-shirts are adorned with Trump’s name as well as hers, Timken says he can still come out on top in the first night.
“I played rugby in college. No pads, no helmets and a lot of mud. I am ready for Washington and I am ready to deal with the Democrats. So let’s win this and with all your help we will, “Timken said.
Fox News’s Mark Meredith contributed to this report.
Add Comment