Portman Leads Strickland In Fundraising

Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland continues to lag in cash as he seeks to unseat Republican incumbent Rob Portman in one of the year's most closely watched U.S. Senate contests. The Democrat reports raising 1.5 million dollars during the quarter ending March 31st. Portman raised 2.4 million for the period. Strickland reports 2.7 million cash on hand, a fifth of Portman's total. Portman raised more than any other targeted Senate candidate in 2015. Strickland's campaign says his online donations tripled after Portman expressed opposition to holding Senate hearings on President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland. They say the surge shows Strickland's message is resonating with Ohioans. Portman's campaign says Strickland's lagging far behind his own fundraising goals because Ohioans remember his record as governor.