Cincinnati City Council Member P.G. Sittenfield is the latest Democrat to express interest in running against Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman. Sittenfield has set up a fundraising account. But other Democrats with more name recognition are also being considered as possible Portman opponents, including former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton and current Rep. Tim Ryan, as well as former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.
David Pepper, the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party said the party won’t back anyone right now. He said the serious contenders will be known soon enough.
“The serious candidates will have to decide in the coming months if they're going to do it. Because if you don’t get a head start on the amount of money that needs to be raised, you're just not going to be a viable candidate," Pepper said. "So I think you will get a sense, let’s say if there is a Democratic field of more than one, I think by summer at the latest and probably sooner, I think it'll will become clear who is out, beginning to try to put together the kind of campaign that gives them the chance to compete and win.”
Portman had roughly $5.5 million available on hand in his campaign war chest at the end of September.