U.S. Senate candidates Brown and Moreno rally across Ohio in final election push
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio's race for U.S. Senate is expensive, pivotal and razor-thin.
The race is between incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican businessman Bernie Moreno. This is the most expensive non-presidential race in the country right now, with nearly half-a-billion dollars spent on TV ads. It's drawing so much attention because whoever wins will play a key role in determining whether Republicans or Democrats hold control of the U.S. Senate.
On Friday, Moreno rallied alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in central Ohio.
“I think this is one of, if not the most important, Senate races in the country,” DeSantis said.
“We’re up in the polls right now, I don’t even want to say the number because it’s a lot,” Moreno said.
Moreno did not take questions from the media on Friday, but talked to an enthused crowd about what he says is at stake.
“Sherrod Brown is just too liberal for Ohio. That’s the whole race,” Moreno said. “This is an election that we're going to talk to our kids and grandkids about in the future. This is the election where we decide who are we really as a country.”
Moreno also brought up remarks that President Joe Biden made about supporters of former President Donald Trump.
“The other day, did you watch Joe Biden? He actually finally said the quiet part out loud. Right? That he thinks that most of us are garbage,” Moreno said. “But actually, if you think about it, it makes sense because they kind of treat us like garbage.”
Brown also responded to a question about the remarks from Biden.
“I don’t know what that means,” Brown said. “What presidents do, it's not my concern, what they do in campaigns. And you're going to hear all kinds of rhetoric from presidents and from their supporters. And my job is to continue to represent Ohio.”
Brown has also been campaigning across the state and said he feels a good momentum coming from his side.
“I just see lots of excitement,” Brown said. “I’ve been very impressed by the size of the crowds and by the enthusiasm.”
Brown said he stands for Ohioans but that the same can’t be said about his opponent.
“He’s clearly looking out for himself and his rich friends,” Brown said. “It's about whose side are you on? And I've been on the side of workers. There's no question about that. In terms of wages and pensions and fighting against bad trade agreements, standing up to presidents of both parties.”
Most of Moreno’s crowd on Friday had already cast their ballot, but voters like Lad Dilgard said events like this are still critical.
“I think it’s a good reminder to [attendees] to say, ‘Hey make sure your grandmothers voted, make sure your college-aged son or daughter has voted,’ things like that,” Dilgard said. “Control of the Senate matters and it’s on the line right now.”