Inferno Warning : Brunner Engages in ODP Endorsement War

As the ink dries on Lee Fisher's letter to ODP requesting its endorsement in the May primary, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (aka "The Velvet Inferno") today tapped into the growing rage many have sought to avoid since she and Fisher entered the Senate race a year ago.

While others took the Ohio Democratic Party's comments over two months ago as an indication that there would be no endorsement, OhioDaily warned that this could be coming.

And guess what?
Here we are.

The Brunner campaign, seeking to avoid a bloodbath that would certainly leave the party in a tailspin far worse than the one narrowly averted by the grounding of Jennifer Garrison's SoS candidacy, today called on supporters to fight back by launching HandsOffOurPrimary.com. The site is actually an extension of Brunner's campaign site but will serve as a central location for collecting petition signatures as well as the funds Brunner will need should this endorsement be taken up by ODP.

One thing to keep in mind as this endorsement moves to a horrifying conclusion is this: Lee Fisher has every single right to seek this endorsement. He's not doing something unprecedented or illegal. However, the fact that he is seeking it with full knowledge of the risks, is beyond troubling. Brown v. Hackett is nothing compared to what we're looking at post May. And telling people to "suck it up and get on the train" ain't going to play well statewide. Not this year.

Endorsements by individuals, groups, organizations, etc, should be part of any campaign. It's a way candidates show seriousness, political skill and organizational strength. But having parties endorse, and effectively deny the primary voters a voice, is something our state party should seriously reconsider going forward.

There are so many ways to show strength. Using a state party endorsement to try to close out a race is like chasing Roger Maris with a needle in your locker.