The Democratic National Committee weighs in

This release came from the Democratic National Committee


DeWine Ducks Bush, But Takes Campaign Cash

Washington, DC - One week after refusing to stand with President Bush during a major policy speech in Ohio, Republican Senator Mike DeWine today is more than willing to accept campaign cash from the President's special interest friends. Of course, DeWine's attempts to keep President Bush at arms length might have something to do with the President's paltry 38 percent approval rating in Ohio. [New York Times, 2/16/06]

President Bush has earned his dismal approval ratings. Because of President Bush's misplaced priorities and budget cuts supported by Republicans like DeWine, Ohio has lost 186,400 jobs since 2000, 34,000 more Ohioans lack health insurance, and 52,362 Ohio schoolchildren have gone without after-school programs.


"President Bush's policies may be political poison for Mike DeWine, but apparently his money is still good as gold," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "As much as DeWine tries to distance himself from the Republican record of corruption, cronyism and incompetence, Ohio voters know that Senator DeWine has consistently joined President Bush and the Republicans in Washington in putting special interests ahead of Ohio's working families.

"Ohio voters deserve strong Democratic leaders like Sherrod Brown, who they can count on to fight the Republican culture of corruption, refocus our government on creating jobs that stay in Ohio, improve access to affordable health care, and promote a strong public education system that restores opportunity and optimism for everyone."