NEWS

Ohio Democrats spar over gun control

Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Is P.G. Sittenfeld trying to drive a wedge between Hillary Clinton and Ted Strickland?

P.G. Sittenfeld

It sure looked that way Monday, when Sittenfeld’s Senate campaign distributed a press release highlighting Clinton’s push for gun control — and contrasting that with Strickland’s record opposing tighter firearms restrictions. Sittenfeld and Strickland are competing in the Democratic primary, with the winner likely to face GOP Sen. Rob Portman in the 2016 general election.

Clinton, the Democratic presidential frontrunner, made a forceful call for gun control at a campaign stop in Cleveland last week. At that same event, she also made a forceful pitch for Strickland.

“Nobody cares more deeply and profoundly about what happens to people,” Clinton said of Strickland at the Cleveland stop. “He did a great job as your governor, and he will be an important voice in the Senate.”

Clinton’s remarks on gun control came after two journalists were gunned down on live television in Virginia last week.

“When it comes to gun violence … a lot of people just basically say, ‘You know, it’s just too hard, we’re not going to try this again’,” Clinton said. “Well I am going to keep going. I am not giving up. I am not going to sit by while more good people die.”

Sittenfeld’s campaign said if Clinton wants an ally in the Senate on gun control, he is her best bet — not Strickland.

“Hillary Clinton should be careful what she wishes for,” Dale Butland, Sittenfeld’s spokesman, said in Monday’s salvo. “If reducing gun violence will truly be one of her top presidential priorities, Ted Strickland would not be ‘a strong voice in the Senate’ — except perhaps in opposition to whatever legislation she puts forward.”

From left, Sen. Rob Portman, leads former Gov. Ted Strickland and Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld in the effort to raise money for the 2016 U.S. Senate race.

Sittenfeld’s campaign highlighted Strickland’s A-plus rating in 2010 from the National Rifle Association and the Buckeye Firearms Association, along with the former governor’s poor scores from gun-control advocacy groups.

“The fact that as a candidate, Gov. Strickland will not even stand up for universal background checks aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of those with histories of crime or mental illness speaks volumes about what he would do as a senator,” Butland said. “On this issue at least, there would be little difference between a Sen. Strickland and a Sen. Portman.”

Dennis Willard, a spokesman for Strickland, said the former governor supports “common sense background checks, as do the majority of gun owners and the majority of NRA members. It’s Senator Portman who refuses to support common sense ideas that keep guns out of the hands of criminals, terrorists and the mentally ill.”

In 2013, Portman was among those voting against a bipartisan Senate proposal to expand background checks to cover sales at gun shows and on the Internet, but exempting private sales.

Willard did not respond to Sittenfeld’s attack. But Clinton and Strickland are longtime political allies, and Sittenfeld’s missive is unlikely to fray that rapport.

But the city councilman has highlighted a tough issue for Democrats, who are often torn on gun control between their liberal base and more centrist blue-collar voters.

Contact Deirdre Shesgreen at dshesgreen@usatoday.com or follow me on Twitter @dshesgreen.