In 2010, Republicans across the country are going to be thinking about playing offense—looking to pick up seats in both houses of Congress from today’s majority Democrats. There is one important seat in Ohio, however, which we need to defend.

The Republican comeback in 2010 requires a strong slate of Republican candidates for every office. Ohio is setting the example with U.S. Senate Candidate Rob Portman. In a bid for an open seat currently held by Republican George Voinovich, Rob Portman has recently polled ahead of the leading Democratic contenders after trailing for some time. Gubernatorial candidate John Kasich is also faring well. This is all occurring a mere year after Obama carried Ohio by 5% and Governor Ted Strickland was featured as a major player throughout the Democratic primary.

The shift in the public mood cannot be discounted as a cause for Portman’s rise in the polls, but a strong candidate is necessary to capitalize on this trend. Rob Portman is a strong and compelling candidate. Portman is the son of entrepreneurial parents. In a beginning so resonant with many Midwesterners, Portman worked amongst his siblings in the family’s small business—a forklift dealership. With his family achieving success in business, Portman attended and graduated from Dartmouth and the University of Michigan Law School. He proceeded to distinguish himself as a business lawyer. Portman worked as Associate Counsel in the first Bush White House and in 1993 was elected to Congress. In 2005, Portman was appointed U.S. Trade Representative.  This is essentially the blueprint resume for Republicans—commitment to small business, competence in the private sector, accomplishment as a public servant, and proven understanding of technical policy, such as international trade.

In addition to playing up his roots in Ohio and his impressive resume, Portman is emphasizing the right issues to win the 2010 election. The campaign website stresses Portman’s positions on jobs, health care, energy, and the budget. These are the meat and potato issues that Republicans can win on. In a state such as Ohio, the energy issue may be the most paramount. Any sort of cap and trade energy tax would be crippling to budding industry in Ohio and the Midwest generally. Portman’s personal experiences in small business will certainly add credibility to any discussion of that issue. Furthermore, Portman’s extensive background in trade will help him articulate policies that benefit the domestic labor force and the domestic consumer. Unfortunately, we will have to deal with the Obama trade policies for a few more years, so it would be nice to have an informed voice of dissent in the Senate.

All of these traits make Portman a candidate to watch. The public mood is forever fleeting and unpredictable, supporting compelling candidates, such as Rob Portman, is vital for Republican success in 2010.

Sometimes, the best offense is a good defense. This is one of those cases—help Rob Portman in Ohio.