It looks like the Ohio GOP needs to hurry and get those ethics courses up and running.

While looking for signs of life at the various Republican candidate’s web sites I did find this tidbit from May 14 over at Tom Brinkman’s campaign site. Brinkman send an e-mail to the Blue Chip Review alleging that Pat DeWine was indulging in the highly questionable practice of push polling:

Pat DeWine is at it again.

This weekend he has paid phone solicitors to call thousands of Republicans throughout the district and asking them who they are going to vote for. If the person says, “I do not know,” they are told the virtues of Pat DeWine. It the person says another candidate, they are told all sorts of BAD things about that candidate.

All of these BAD things have already been developed through previously conducted push polls. Rather than promote himself and his ideas, Pat has already proven that he will engage in negative campaigning.

Pat is proving once again why he is not suited to be our Congressman. Please let your friends and neighbors know what Pat DeWine is doing. Ask them to spread the word that Pat DeWine is NOT suited to be our Congressman. This has nothing to do with how he has conducted himself in the past, this is about how he is conducting himself NOW.

Tom Brinkman, Jr.


Push polling is just about the scummiest technique that a political campaign can employ. A push poll is when a voter gets a call from someone saying they are doing a poll but in reality the questions are veiled highly negative attacks against an opponent.

The most famous example of push polling was the one reportedly employed successfully by supporters of President Bush during the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary against Senator John McCain. Voters reported being asked “Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?” There is no substance to that allegation. In fact Senator McCain had adopted an Asian child.

We’ve asked the DeWine campaign yesterday for comment. but as of now have not received a response. We’ll pass it along to you if and when we do.

AND, if you or anyone you know are the victim of a push poll, or any other campaign technique that you find questionable, please drop a line to your friends at the Ohio 2nd blog.