The Republican National Committee released a new ad on Wednesday, capitalizing on the Democrats’ characterization of Tuesday’s special election in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District.
Although the official results of the special election — which pitted Trump-backed Republican Troy Balderson against Democrat Danny O’Connor — are still too close to call, some Democrats are still claiming a moral victory. The RNC’s new ad reminds them that “moral victories” don’t cast votes in Washington.
Democrats are saying that because Ohio’s 12th district — which at one time belonged to current Republican Governor John Kasich — is normally deep red, the fact that any Democrat was able to make the race competitive may speak to much larger gains for Democrats in the upcoming midterms.
Frank Luntz explained the notion in a tweet on Wednesday, saying that Republicans appear to have won in Ohio, the fact remains that they should have won by a much wider margin.
I’m sure Republicans will celebrate tonight, but a 1-point victory in that district is nothing to commend. #OH12
The GOP have to do something really significant in September if they want to keep the House in November. https://t.co/lK93kxxE2c
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) August 8, 2018
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