DeWine launches first TV ad

It’s never too early to start campaigning, especially if you’re Republican Sen. Mike DeWine, who faces a potentially tough re-election this November against Democrat Sherrod Brown, a longtime congressman from northern Ohio.

DeWine also has a few GOP challengers for the upcoming May 2 primary, including Bill Pierce, who has started to get attention for picking up support among county Republican parties. Pierce won an endorsement from the Knox County Republican Party, tied with DeWine in Preble County and got almost enough votes – more than DeWine – to be endorsed in Clermont County.

“We’ve had three counties rebuke a two-term sitting senator. I think that says a lot,” Pierce said. “It says that there’s a level of discontent and dissatisfaction with the two-term senator.”

So DeWine, who had $4.3 million in his campaign account at the end of 2005, got to work, dropping his first TV ad this week. It’s a spot produced by Stevens-Reed-Curcio-Potholm called “True Champion” that praises the Cedarville Republican for his work on a new law that requires drug companies to test medications for children.

Democrats wasted no time in criticizing DeWine for the ad, saying it’s ironic that DeWine is bragging about being an advocate for children after he voted earlier this month for a bill (S.1955) pending in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that makes it easier for insurance companies drop health benefits for children.

“When it comes to Mike DeWine, you need to watch what he does, not what he says,” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Phil Singer said in a release.

But DeWine spokesman Mike Dawson said the bill - Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act - would provide lower-cost health insurance plans than are available now so that small businesses can afford to offer some coverage instead of no coverage. A recent story in The Enquirer delved into the growing number of Ohioans who don't have access to health insurance. This bill would address that, Dawson said.

What do you think? Watch the ad for yourself here.