DeWine's opponent weighs in on Bush visit

Rep. Sherrod Brown, the leading Democrat running against Sen. Mike DeWine, issued this statement Thursday about President Bush's visit to Indian Hill today for a DeWine fundraiser:

“President Bush is in Ohio tonight to thank Mike DeWine for his vote on the Medicare privatization bill written by the drug companies, his vote on the energy bill written by the oil companies, and his support for privatizing Social Security,” said Brown.

“But when I travel across the state, Ohioans thank me for fighting on the other side of every one of those issues.”Brown is returning home to Lorain County today after a statewide tour earlier this week. He met with senior citizens, students, teachers, workers, and labor and community leaders. "2006 is a year for change," Brown said.

"For too long our government has been used by Republican leadership as a pay-to-play profit center." On Wednesday, Brown toured a factory in Putnam County that produces armor plating for U.S. Military vehicles in Iraq. Some of the plant’s operations are slated to be moved to Mexico. Earlier in the week, he met with seniors devastated by the Medicare Part D program and with students who have seen student loan programs drastically cut.

“I’m sure President Bush appreciates Mike DeWine’s help with job-killing trade agreements like CAFTA, but the people of Ohio don’t feel the same way,” said Brown.

“Maybe that’s why DeWine doesn’t want to be seen with President Bush in public.” DeWine failed to appear at health care event last week with the president at the Wendy’s Headquarters in Dublin, Ohio. Tonight's fundraiser is reported to include a photo opportunity with the president for $10,000 a photo.

The President will not be appearing in public during his visit to Ohio today.