Renacci says ‘liberal’ Husted running a ‘dishonest campaign’ – The Columbus Dispatch

Randy Ludlow The Columbus Dispatch @RandyLudlow

Jim Renacci launched one of the most-virulent attacks of the Republican gubernatorial campaign Thursday in targeting Jon Husted.

TheU.S. House memberfrom Wadsworth posted a video on Twitter thatclaimed Husted has a "liberal record"while portrayingthe two-term secretary of state as dishonestand "not as conservative as he pretends to be."

Renacci's campaign said the video was in response to a Tweet by a pro-Husted super-PAC, Ohio Conservatives for a Change, that questioned the congressman's support for drug education for children in Ohio schools.

"@JimRenacci just says 'no' to drug education for our kids! Ohioans deserve better. Our kids deserve better," the tweet said. In his video, Renacci called the allegation "a laughable false attack."

.@JimRenacci just says no to drug education for our kids! Ohioans deserve better. Our kids deserve better. #HustedforOhio #OHGov pic.twitter.com/vd3dLWO8YL

In his video, Renacci says, "... Career politicians like Jon Husted are already desperately slinging mud at me. If I were him Id be scared too. ... He tells people one thing in public and another in private, and has been desperately hoping no one would ever check under the hood and find out hes not the conservative he pretends to play on TV."

Ohio Conservatives for Change spokesman Thomas Norris said the group's anti-Renacci tweet was based on comments he made, apparently about Attorney General Mike DeWine, another GOP gubernatorial candidate in next year's race,before a Highland County tea party group Monday.

Norris said a super-PAC tracker recorded Renacci as saying, One of my opponents talks about education, and educating more, and more, and more. You know what, they laugh. They say, 'When we were in school, and the person would come and talk about drugs, wed start laughing and say weve already had those drugs, weve already done that, weve already been past that.' So, in some ways, what they tell you we have to do is look at opportunities. Its not about education, its about opportunities."

Renacci campaign spokesman James Slepian called the super-PAC's take on his candidate's words as "absurdly desperate."

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The "they" referencesin Renacci's statement in Highland County refers to his opioid epidemic advisory board that includes recovering addicts, Slepian said. "Jim was sharing that information and discussing the importance ensuring young people are aware of and have access toopportunities other than the world of drug addiction. He was clearly not saying that he opposes drug education in general."

Husted supports educating school children about the dangers of drugs, said campaign spokesman Joshua Eck. Husted's campaign is legally forbidden from collaborating with the super-PAC, which received a $1 million donation from Dayton-area billionaire Clayton Mathile.

Renacci also said in his video that Husted helped usher in Democrat President Barack Obama's Common Core curriculum into Ohio schools. Eck said that Husted, a former House speaker and state senator, opposed Common Core and helped create the first statewide school choice scholarships. Husted, Eck said, has the "most conservative record of anyone running for governor."

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow

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Renacci says 'liberal' Husted running a 'dishonest campaign' - The Columbus Dispatch