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Subscribe to RSSCOLUMBUS, OH -- Even though he is not yet on the Republican presidential ticket, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman already feels the burden of delivering his home state for presumptive nominee Mitt Romney.
"I already feel the pressure," Portman said when asked whether he felt he would be responsible for ensuring the Buckeye State is red this November if chosen as Romney's running mate. "I'm chairing the effort here in Ohio and again I'm feeling good about things because there is a just a lot of volunteers who are stepping forward. I haven't seen energy like this in past elections, presidential or otherwise... My focus is going to be Ohio. And I do believe that this year, Ohio could make the difference again."
The freshman Ohio senator was on hand at Romney's Ohio headquarters to mark the 1 millionth voter contact in the state. He made calls and spoke to volunteers who he believes will make the difference in this close battleground state.
"We're not a red state, we're not a blue state. We're a purple state. Ohio is a classic swing state. And I think at the end of the day, the difference is going to be grassroots," he said, later adding, "The leader of the free world is really determined by our state."
Portman is considered by many to be a leading contender for Republican vice presidential nominee. One reason is the presidential importance of his home state. Ohio GOP chairman Bob Bennett was quoted last week saying the senator would give Romney three to five points in the state if he were to join the ticket.
Asked if he agreed with that assessment, Portman said, "I don't know. What I do know is I'm going to work my heart out for him and help him, you know, and I'm going to be chairing the campaign here in Ohio."
While addressing volunteers, Portman picked up on Republicans' most recent attacks on President Barack Obama's recent "you didn't build that" comment. Portman said he has read the speech transcript three times, and does not think the president's words have been taken out of context.
"I've heard the media push back on that and some of them have questioned me and said 'Boy, it was taken out of context.' So today on the ride up from Cincinnati I looked at the speech again. I've now looked at it three time," he said. "And not only do I believe the president was speaking the truth and it's kind of a -- I think -- a view into his soul and his thinking."
"What the president was saying to these businesses is: 'You know what? You need to pay higher taxes because you didn't build it.' "
Portman will head to neighboring Pennsylvania on Monday to stump for Romney.
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well living in Ohio, I am the only poll that matters, along with as many of my neighbors and friends I can convince that @!$%#t Romney would not do anything for them unless they have a Swiss bank account. If the GOP had ANY concern for us they wouldn't be spending so much effort to make sure things ONLY work for the rich.
Unfortunately for Obama - we've seen what he has done!
The tax increase on the wealthy would pay for 8 days operations for the Federal governmment the way Big O is spending. Find a real solution, like a broader tax base. Everyone should pay at least something! When half of "taxpayers" pay nothing there is little hope of any practical way to raise revenue.
I'm so tired of hearing "half the tax payers pay NOTHING". REALLY? How is paying outrageous interest rates due to low credit rating NOTHING? How about sales tax, when you already have less to live on than it costs to survive? It's NOTHING?
People who are exploited, working for never-increasing "minimum", slave wages some Republicans want to LOWER, so even more people can work for even less....while their big bosses put away millions in foreign tax havens.
Stop rationalizing the GREED that got us into this mess! There are no suffering millionaires...by definition, they have it made! Their income ROSE by 127% in the past 10 years, despite the DEPRESSION we're still in! Someone who earned minimum wage 10 years ago did BETTER than he's doing today, because the buying power has DROPPED.
Give people a LIVING WAGE and do it NOW! Then they won't need food stamps, welfare or any "hand outs", because a LIVING WAGE is exactly what it says...wages that allow a full-time worker to LIVE. It would still be rough, but it would certainly be better than the "status quo" which Republicans still want to make even more miserable for those struggling.
Stop defending the evils of the ultra-capitalists. Stop defending the BAIN CAPITOL-ISH CEOs, the ones who don't care at all about the people, but only about how much money they can squeeze out of them.
This is 2012, not 1912. We've come a long way, and we refuse to go back to the days of the Robber Barrons. It's time for another Teddy Roosevelt who says ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Our Teddy Roosevelt is President Obama...and we will NOT stand by and allow a corporate whore like Willard "Mittens" Romney to stroll in and purchse his election with dirty cash from the filthy rich elite.
Ready for the right wing spin on THAT. (This oughta be GOOD!) I'm not holding my breath, because the best a right winger ever has in form of a rebuttal is ...hot air and sheepish giggles. Surprise me. Give me something of substance as a response. Good luck!
Half the tax-payers pay nothing!
We are talking about federal income tax, not to ordinary purchases! Obama keeps saying to pay your fair share. So how is paying nothing your fair share? If all Alericans were vested by having to pay taxes they would not allow Obama to spend so recklessly. So long as you people take instead of make, this country will continue to decline!
Portman/Shmortman...does any of this dog & pony show even MATTER?
If there were no Republians (or if Republicans REALLY cared about America)....
We would have a PUBLIC OPTION
Decriminalized possession of small quantitites of marijuana
The DREAM ACT
Legalized regulated and taxed prostitution
Millionaires and billionaires paying a FAIRER SHARE IN TAXES
Separation of Church and State
WHITE COLLAR criminals would face the same justice the average Joe Shmo would face when committing crimes
Reasonable Gun restrictions that make sense to anyone with sense
Shifting a portion of the wasteful DEFENSE spending to programs that actually serve the people, instead of corrupted corporations.
Minimum Wage would be a LIVING WAGE adjusted for cost of living (like Congress Pay)
All Americans would have the SAME RIGHTS and PROTECTIONS under the law
...and a whole lot more.
Republicans are actively working AGAINST the good of the nation. If this was Star Wars, Republicans would represent the Dark Side.
Show these two clips to Ohio. That state has people who love America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Hai7ZcF6U&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJgWMI0hch8&feature=related
Dr. Seus says:
Gawrsh! I didn't realize they allowed kids to post on here!
In business, Mitt Romney's firms shipped jobs to Mexico, and China. (SEC 3/26/1993, 3/29/2002, Los Angeles Times 6/2/2000)
As Governor, Romney outsourced jobs to India. (The Boston Globe 5/1/12)
He had millions in a Swiss bank account (abc News 1/26/2012) in tax havens in Bermuda (Vanity Fair, August 2012) and in the Cayman Islands (abc News 1/18/2012).
Rob Portman is not an Ohio Senator. He is Ohio's Junior US Senator. He is also ultra-conservative to the point of being fringe right ploitically. He better feel the pressure because here in Ohio the Republican party took every statewide post and now controls both the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives. They have the whole shebang yet are on the losing end of the polls. Their treatment of teachers, policemen, firemen and cuts to the schools to give money for failing voucher-supported private crony-run schools has allowed the electorate to see what scoundrals they really are.
I don't believe neither Portman or Gov. J. Kasich can deliver Ohio's electorial college votes to Mitt.
LL
Ohio is all Romney. Ohio voters are way to smart for idiots like Obama who think he has it in the bag. You need to learn how to spin.
Ohio is not all Romney - it went for Obama in '08, and destroyed Kasich's SB 5 this past November. You could work on your own "spinning skills" a little bit yourself. And this educated (Master's degree) Ohioan will vote for Obama in November.
PS - It's "way too smart"... How ironic that you insult the intelligence of Obama supporters with incorrect grammar.
On the subject of obama saying you did not build that. Look if you read what he said, it is meant to suggest that people never built their business government built them. If you cant comprehend what you read then listen to what was said and if you still think he did not mean YOU DID NOT BUILD THAT, meaning your business your are either being dishonest to yourself or an IDIOT.
We already know it is just Liberal ignorance. Obama has been running ads for two weeks trying to back track. He meant just what he said.
*Obama *that... *said: *business: *can't *said, *you
Yep, I'm the idiot.
America doesn't care about his Taxes you dumb asx Liberals.
We care that Ostupid has created zero jobs and crashed the economy. That's what this election is about. The loser in the WH being removed is the #1 mission of America.
It's not looking good for Obomber. He is trailing in every poll across the country.
One thing we know about Obama for sure.
That he hates America & Americans.
He's the biggest threat to America we have ever had sitting in the WH.
It's time to vote Romney in Nov. 2012.
Obama – 79 percent of the 2.2 biillion dollar stimulus went to out
sourced jobs.
It's Romney Time.
Obama - 500 billion in new taxes.
Obama - added 6 trillion more to the deficit in just 3 years
Obama - doubled welfare in 3 years
Obama - running TV & Radio ads telling people to sign up for welfare. He thinks this is the American way..
America doesn't think so and will show him in Nov. 2012 when they vote Romney.
Obama – responsible for highest poverty level since 1960’s
Obama - has put 28 million people out of work in less than 3 years.
LUCKY- that is the biggest LIE I have ever seen on this board. Where are your facts? Obama has had 28 months of straight job growth that is verifiable unlike your lie which is not. BTW Romney has put far more people out of jobs at Bain Capital. Also I have never seen Obama on a TV ads signibg people up for welfare nor is he responsible for the highest poverty rate since the 60's. Lets see where's your proof about your lies . Mine are the Gov't accounting office.....and are easily checked . WHERE'S YOUR PROOF or do you just like to fling crap and see what sticks. You have ben listening too much to Rush Limbaugh,Glenn Beck or Faux News...
It funny that the only one's worried about his taxes are Obomber's welfare bunch. Working America doesn't give a damx. It's about jobs and economy. Lets hear Obomber talk about that.. ya Right!
Lucky....better take your Prozac or get your head out of your rear would work better...
Debates, put a cork in it until then you bunch of juveniles see the reality.
Portman would do better to try and save Agent Orange Boehner's job as Weeper of the house". He's up for reelection like all other members of the House...There is a good chance he may lose ---many,many Buckeye's HATE Boehner and the negativity he has brought on the GREAT state of Ohio.
When the Ohioans get done with this cat, he'll have to find another way to steal from them! They read him like a comic book! Useles to his people, ONLY to the ONE-PERCENTERS and their corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY that has MADE SLAVES of the 99% American People!
Vote 100% STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC, and let's rid our selves of their corruption ONCE & FORVER! The lives you save WILL be YOURS & your CHILDREN! BELIEVE IT!!!
"Deliver"?? What does that mean? People are supposed to be able to vote in this country. The Republicans, along with a right-wing Supreme Court, have decimated part of our democracy already. I hope and pray the Justice Department and FBI are looking carefully at software manipulation and corruption in all of the states. Voter disenfranchisement is very overt and may be masking sophisticated software installed in many states.
Mr. Portman could deliver a bill to stop production of the Abram's tanks in Lima, Ohio that the Pentagon/Army says it does not want. Voters will immediately be in awe and respectful. It would clinch Ohio for the Conscientious Objector candidate, Mr. Romney.
Jerry W. I believe it's called the Privacy Act. I can't get your college transcript either!
No way is Portman going to swing Ohio to Obama. Obama has been maintaining a lead there and it has been widening lately. Romney is simply not palatable to most working class voters, or much of anyone else for that matter. There are now only 99 days until the election and I don't see Mitt being able to reinvent himself into a winner.