Does Bush Still Burden Ohio GOP?

I have an article on the subject over at Human Events:

Can George W. Bush still affect the outcomes of elections in 2010?  Democrats clearly think so in the battle for an open Senate seat in Ohio.

Rob Portman, former congressman and cabinet official under George W. Bush, is the Republican frontrunner in the race to replace retiring Sen. George Voinovich.  The GOP has rallied around Portman as an experienced candidate who can raise the money necessary to win. So far he has proven them right, raising over $3.4 million — more than both the Democratic candidates combined.

But the Bush connection attacks started immediately.  The Democratic Senate Campaign Committee has already released two web ads attacking Portman while Ohio Democrats launched a parody website — branding him as the “architect of the Bush economy” — to go with their endless stream of Portman equals Bush press releases.  Democrats are hoping that the current economic woes can still be laid at the foot of George W. Bush and the former president’s unpopularity undercuts Portman.

Portman, who spoke to HUMAN EVENTS last week, feels the election will be a referendum on the economy and what Democrats — from the White House and Congress to the Ohio Governor — have done with their time in leadership.

Read the rest.