Rob Portman for president in 2016

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

A little more than four years ago, Rob Portman easily defeated Lee Fisher for a seat in the U.S. Senate by winning 82 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

Portman’s 18-point margin of victory was astounding for several reasons.

For one thing, Ohio had, in 2008, secured the White House for Democrat Barack Hussein Obama. For another, Ohio had elected Democrat Ted Strickland during that same 2010 campaign season. Add the fact that, politically speaking, there really are two Ohios divided by Interstate 70: The conservative south and the liberal north.

For Rob Portman – or anyone else – to win 82 of Ohio’s 88 counties against former Lt. Gov. Fisher is, indeed, politically impressive. (This was not, to be sure, a campaign like Kasich's against The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.)

Perhaps a little more background is in order.

Rob Portman served in Congress, representing Ohio’s Second Congressional District for 12 years, beginning in 1993 when he won a crowded primary that included former congressman Bob McEwen. During those 12 years in the Second District, Portman never received less than 70 percent of the vote.

In 2005, Portman left Congress to serve as the U.S. trade representative in President Bush’s Cabinet. Under his leadership, U.S. exports increased and successful legal challenges were filed against international trade law violators.

Next, Portman was named director of the Office of Management and Budget. Again, he made his mark by proposing a balanced budget, fighting irresponsible earmarks, and putting in place new transparency measures for all federal spending.

After winning the 2010 senatorial election, Portman was appointed in 2013 to the Senate Finance Committee, becoming the most junior senator to join the powerful committee in more than 30 years.

Prior to entering politics, Portman was a lawyer in Cincinnati. (Well, nobody’s perfect.)

Last month, the senator’s campaign released his list of endorsements for the 2016 Senate race. To call the list impressive is an understatement.

The Toledo Blade called it a “daunting list of endorsements for re-nomination.”

Paul Wohlfarth of The Blade call it “the longest and most comprehensive list of endorsements I've ever seen.”

You’ll recognize many of the names, too. And you can read the ever-growing list at: http://www.robportman.com/endorse_rob?gclid=CJilkdeI08MCFSMV7Aod7VQAoA.

After perusing the senator’s list of endorsements, a thought or two came to mind.

• First, given that Rob Portman’s Senate seat is safer than … well, safer than a good metaphor about safety, why the possible political overreach with all these endorsements?

• Second, and in answer to the previous question, the Republican National Convention will be in Ohio next year.

(One can hope that Lady Karma is smiling on Cleveland, for once.)

There are three politically powerful Ohio Republicans who will be a part of that GOP convention. One of them is Gov. John Kasich. Another is U.S. House Speaker John Boehner. The third is Sen. Rob Portman.

The most popular of the three in Ohio and nationally – by far – is Rob Portman.

Kasich’s popularity and Boehner’s – such as it is – rely on political payoffs such as committee appointments and “leadership” roles for the perceived support. Those most loyal to Kasich and Boehner seem to be so for less than noble reasons. At least that’s the appearance.

Not so with Sen. Portman.

While we all ought to understand that there exists a ridiculous level of arrogance among many – I think “most” – of today’s public officials, if there’s one public servant whose record would warrant some arrogance, Rob Portman does not display it.

Is he different with his staff or associates? I don’t pretend to know. But I do know where some politicians come across as wishing (almost demanding) to be served by the public for whom they work, Rob Portman does not.

From what I have witnessed over several occasions, he is always gracious and respectful to those around him. I have watched then-Congressman Portman face serious criticism – and up-close confrontation – for a number of Washington missteps not of his own doing during the Clinton administration. He handled each question and each criticism with honest, straightforward responses without a demeaning or disparaging word to anyone in the room.

That wasn’t in Washington or Columbus or Cleveland. That happened in Adams County, in the county seat of West Union. Few in Congress could have handled it as well. No one could have handled it any better.

And speaking of the Clinton years, a former Cabinet member for President Clinton, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, said this about Portman in a 1999 interview with National Review: “I hope he’s president of the United States in another 12 years. He’s one of the finest public servants I’ve met in America.”

A week or so ago, Sen. Portman delivered the Weekly Republican Address in which he pointed out: “American families have to balance their budget. American businesses do, too. There’s no reason the American government shouldn’t have to do the same.”

It’s a simple concept to most of us but it gets all tangled up in Washington. If there’s one person out there who can untangle it, I believe that person is Rob Portman.

As recently as Feb. 6, his name was still “part of the discussion” for the 2016 campaign. And although he says he is focusing on his re-election to the U.S. Senate – to which he can add our endorsement, I can’t help but think the nation would be better served if the once Grand Old Party would endorse a Portman for President banner at the 2016 convention.

Like I said, one can hope. Oh, and lastly, the GOP cannot win the presidency without Ohio.

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.