OH-02 GOP: Jean Schmidt Gets Big Boost In Hamilton County

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Hamilton County Republican Party has voted overwhelmingly to endorse U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, a decision that likely dims chances two GOP challengers can knock her off in the March primary. A source who was at the meeting Friday evening sent this e-mail to The Daily Bellwether:

"I want to remain anonymous.2nd District: Schmidt got 69 votes. Heimlich got 33 votes. Brinkman got either 4 or 6 votes. I think 4, but somebody else reported to me that it was 6. It was overwhelming. Brinkman and Heimlich each went negative on Schmidt. She never mentioned either Tom or Phil and conveyed a positive message. Overall, a huge victory for Schmidt."

The endorsement means money and campaign workers. It is probably crucial for a GOP candidate, though some have bucked the party and won. Her opponents are Tom Brinkman, a term-limited state representative, and Phil Heimlich, a former Hamilton County Commissioner who lost a reelection bid in 2006 to Democrat David Pepper. Brinkman is leading a rosary procession today from Cincinnati City Hall to Fountain Square, an event that peacefully and prayerfully uses the Catholic tradition of seeking intervention from Mary to halt the practice of abortion in the United States.

Schmidt, meanwhile, campaigned in Cincinnati. She showed up for the swearing in ceremony of Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Dwane Mallory, heir to a Democratic political dynasty and was introduced to the throng. She stood and waved and got a nice round of applause. All in all, the Cincy GOP endorsement seems to have ended a good day for the Clermont County congresswoman.

Ohio State Rep. Tom Brinkman: Is He In The OH-02 GOP Race?

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- State Rep. Tom Brinkman appears ready to jump into the OH-02 Republican primary against Jean Schmidt. He's a term limited anti-taxer and straight shooting maverick Republican who refuses to accept or seek the endorsement of the Hamilton County Republican Party in his home base. Brinkman, who lives in Cincinnati, considers his independence a matter of principle. He is not everybody's cup of tea. But he is about as genuine and unvarnished as an elected official can be. With Brinkman what you see is what you get -- no new taxes, no abortion rights, no Big Brother government, no unions, no gay rights, no restrictions on the Second Amendment.

The Bellwether had a session with Brinkman last March, and he said he was interested in running for the OH-02 seat. Indeed, there seemed to be little doubt he was going to jump in the race with hopes of ending Republican U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt's congressional career. In the photo above (courtesy of Charles Foster Kane), Brinkman ceremonially cut off Schmidt's head at a 2006 fundraiser sponsored by COAST, a Cincinnati-area anti-tax group he helped found. COAST has been among Schmidt's sharpest critics.

Brinkman's own Web portal is here. It gives a sense of his political philosophy. A Brinkman campaign could have the aura of a Ron Paul type candidacy -- connecting with Republicans who feel their party has forgotten its roots, corporatized, and been swallowed by the RINOs -- Republicans In Name Only.

Matt Hurley at Weapons of Mass Discussion has more about Brinkman and OH-02. Matt's conservative-leaning blog seems to be turning into the semi-official GOP voice of Ohio as the 2008 election year approaches, which shows that his hard work and spirited interest in his own political party is paying off.