Mike DeWine has lost the Miami Co. GOP’s endorsement to Mary Taylor, somehow. This is doubly odd, because in additional to Taylor’s general lack of traction, Miami Co. is in DeWine’s home region.
Perhaps Sir Haggard was right?
The DeWine brand is definitely strong within his home region (Although I would definitely look at Greene County to see if his support is absolutely cratering)....
I actually met Mike DeWine back in the early '90s, when about thirty fellow environmental activists arranged a meeting at his family home to discuss some of our concerns regarding Toxic Waste Incineration permitting changes with a significant local impact.
Him and his wife spent some time with us on their Front Porch and provided homemade Lemon-Water/ Ice-Tea, and Cookies while we spent a few hours discussing our concerns with our Representative in the US House.
Still, Miami County isn't really as much of his "old stomping grounds", as much as places like Clark County (Springfield, OH), the Eastern "Suburbs" of Dayton in Montgomery County, as well as rolling into some of Northern portions of Warren County....
Spent quite a bit of time in Union Halls around those parts a few decades back, and although the older Mike DeWine doesn't seem nearly as much of the nice "Heartlands Guy" that he was 20 years back, I wouldn't underestimate him in SW-OH just because of a GOP County level coup, in a State where Party Structures are much stronger than in places like the West / Mountain Midwest / Upper Midwest / New England, etc....
Sounds like an attempted "palace coup" effort in Miami County, and unless I am mistaken the Primary in Ohio allows voters regardless of Party registration to choose the candidate they want to vote for....
Still, would be shocked if DeWine lost the 'Pub Primary, unless a ton of Primary voters switch over to voter in the Dem Primary (Reverse 2016 Scenario).... In certain states like Ohio negative attack ads for Statewide Elected Office, can frequently create major Post-Primary issues for whomever the winning Candidate is once it comes to a General Election environment.
Sounds like the 'Pub 'Gov bloodbath might cause some GE damage for whomever the victor of the battle is....
