Plain Dealer endorses Josh Mandel in Republican primary for U.S. Senate

From Cleveland Plain Dealer (editorial)

This page has had serious issues with the way Josh Mandel seemingly puts election to higher office above every other consideration — from completing the jobs voters elected him to do, starting in Lyndhurst City Council eight years ago, to his judgment in allowing gutter attack ads against his Democratic opponent in 2010 when he was running for his current job as state treasurer.

Even so, none of the four opponents arrayed against him in the statewide Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Sherrod Brown has managed to mount a serious run at the nomination.

-Snip-

But Mandel, at 34 the youngest in the field, is the candidate with the money, the official party backing, the name recognition, the track record as a winner and the political experience — he served several terms in the General Assembly before becoming treasurer — to credibly oppose Brown.

Mandel will win the nomination, as he should, despite his flaws. He is intelligent, driven and a ferocious fundraiser. If the Republicans wish to mount a serious campaign to unseat Brown, the one candidate in this field with a chance is Josh Mandel.