ProgressOhio

Here's part of the release "Bad Cop" ODP put out about the Republican nominee for the Ohio Attorney General Race:

Redfern: D. Michael Crites has all of the attributes you might expect to find in a third-tier Republican candidate

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Democratic Party responded today to the Ohio Republican Party's selection of attorney D. Michael Crites as their candidate for Ohio Attorney General.  After months of begging top-tier and second-tier candidates to enter the race, the Ohio Republican Party finally accepted rejection and settled on Mr. Crites.

In contrast to Ohio Treasurer and Democratic Attorney General candidate Richard Cordray, D. Michael Crites has never run for statewide office.  As a defense attorney, Crites stood up for a client who stole $10,000 from the Ohio Treasury by downplaying the crime as a 'one-time mistake.'  ("Theft gets supervisor one year in prison," Columbus Dispatch, January 2001)

"Michael Crites has all of the attributes that you might expect to find in a third-tier Republican candidate," said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern.  "Michael Crites chased headlines as prosecutor by going after baseball great Pete Rose, but he earned his paycheck as a defense attorney by standing up for an individual who stole $10,000 from the Ohio Treasury and downplaying the crime against Ohio taxpayers as a 'one-time mistake.'"

At least 12 potential candidates declined to seek the office under the Ohio Republican banner.  Excuses ranged from not wanting the job to not wanting to take a pay cut.  One would-be Republican candidate cited high gas prices as part of his excuse for not running.

And "Good Cop" Richard Cordray?

Here's what he had to say: 

"I have always considered my real opponent in this race to be the financial predators who are picking the pockets of hard-working Ohio families through unfair lending and business practices, companies who abandon jobs and workers in our home towns, and anyone who abuses power at a citizen's expense.

But I welcome my Republican opponent, too."

Now that's how you play as a team in politcal communications!