Final Debate Brought More Of The Same Ridiculous, False Charges Against Sherrod, Lies About Time As Treasurer

Through three debates, Josh Mandel has done absolutely nothing to shed his well-earned reputation as a politician who can’t be trusted.

Ohioans have again witnessed the real Josh Mandel: reciting carefully crafted sound bites and campaign slogans; delivering lofty platitudes lacking real substance; peddling countless previously debunked lies about his own record and the record of Sherrod.

Josh Mandel’s goal for tonight was simple: rebrand himself as anything other than a consummate political climber, and distract Ohioans from his record of blowing off work to raise money and campaign, hiring unqualified political cronies and friends in the Treasurer’s office, opposing the auto rescue and opposing Sherrod Brown’s bipartisan jobs bill that would protect Ohio workers and manufacturers by punishing China for cheating trade laws.

But he failed. In Josh Mandel tonight, Ohioans witnessed the “cartoon candidate” who has made a mockery of his run for Senate since launching it from the empty halls of the state Treasurer’s office.

With fervor that no doubt pleased the secretly-funded special interest groups that have poured more than $27 million into Ohio smearing Sherrod’s record of fighting for the middle class, Josh repeated the same partisan talking points without offering any ideas to help Ohio’s middle class.

Unfortunately for Josh Mandel, not even his most well-rehearsed talking points or lofty platitudes were enough to distract Ohioans from his true record as treasurer.

Josh Mandel promised to serve out his full four-year term as treasurer, but weeks after his swearing in began traveling across the U.S. and abroad to places like the Bahamas to raise money and campaign for senate. 

Josh Mandel campaigned furiously against cronyism, promising to hire qualified financial professionals, if elected, but when he became Treasurer he hired numerous unqualified political cronies and friends, instead. He has since promised these cronies plum jobs in Washington, at taxpayer expense.

Josh Mandel opposed the auto rescue, he called Sherrod “un-American” for leading the charge to pass it and he opposes Sherrod’s bipartisan bill that will create thousands of jobs and level the playing field for American workers by cracking down on Chinese currency manipulation.

That’s why, through three debates, the choice in this election could not be more clear:

In Sherrod Brown, Ohioans have a fighter for the middle class who led the charge to pass the auto rescue package, helping to protect nearly 850,000 Ohio jobs, who is fighting to protect Ohio workers and manufacturers by punishing China for cheating trade laws and who will stop at nothing to protect Social Security and Medicare.

In Josh Mandel, Ohioans have the consummate political climber, a politician who can’t be trusted to show up for work, hire qualified staff or fight for Ohio jobs.

Make no mistake, Josh Mandel’s special interest backers will stop at nothing to secure their preferred rubber stamp in Washington, but Sherrod will win this race because Ohioans know that he fights for them, while Josh fights only for himself.