At the Sherrod Brown party

Cleveland -- Some info on Ohio's next U.S. Senator, according to exit polls:

Sherrod Brown was raised in Mansfield, Ohio. He and his wife, Connie Schultz, a columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, have three daughters and a son and live in Avon, Ohio.

From 1974 to 1982, he served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Before joining the US House of Representatives in 1992, he served two terms as Ohio Secretary of State.

He was defeated for a third term in the Secretary of State's office when his Republican opponent, Bob Taft -- now governor of Ohio -- adopted the slogan, "Sayonara Sherrod." Taft was critizing of the international travel Brown had taken while serving as Secretary of State.

Brown, 53 (his birthday -- he'll be 54 -- is Thursday), is best known for his opposition to both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, leading the fight against NAFTA and CAFTA.

Although CNN has declared him the winner of tonight's contest, Brown is not expected in the auditorium until 10:30 PM. He is said to be at a near-by hotel.

Annie Hall
Enquirer Statehouse Reporter