4. Ohio Senate
Sen. Sherrod Brown vs. Josh Mandel
$14 million vs. $22 million = $36 million logged so far
Most outside money supported Mandel, the Republican candidate
Did money = victory? No.
Left: Democrat Sherrod Brown, left, celebrates with family at the Ohio Democratic party election night celebration in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Right: Republican Senate candidate Josh Mandel concedes the race to Sherrod Brown on election night in the ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Mike Munden)
Liberal Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown
retained his Senate seat in Ohio, defeating Republican Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel. Despite more than $22 million in outside spending that promoted Mandel or attacked Brown, Brown maintained a slight lead throughout the race. Mandel’s work to cut the Ohio state budget while treasurer appealed to conservatives, but Brown, who received about $14 million in help from outside sources, argued that his opponent was inexperienced and often made inaccurate statements. Brown cited Mandel’s six “Pants on Fire!” ratings from Politifact —
the most of any Ohio politician. (Brown has one “Pants on Fire!”). For his birthday in September, Ohio Democrats gave Mandel
a new pair of khakis. Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
spent the most to help Mandel; Brown got the most money from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee PAC and the Democratic Majority PAC.
