Critics say Republican Troy Balderson made an unforgivable gaffe during his final campaign stop Monday night. Someone captured on video the moment the candidate urged supporters in Zanesville, Ohio, to get out and vote Tuesday because “we don’t want anyone from Franklin County representing us.”
??? And the tape @Troy_Balderson“We don’t want anyone from Franklin County representing us.” photo:twitter.com/5kF5u4opPZ
— Greg Berlin (@gregberlin) August 7, 2018
CNN senior journalist and analyst Harry Enten said it was the definition of a gaffe.
“You don’t write people off,” Enten said. “The pressure got to him.”
If this was indeed a gaffe, it was unfortunate timing. The race to represent Ohio’s 12th congressional district is incredibly close. latest polls shows Balderson with 44 percent of the vote and Democrat Danny O’Connor with 43 percent. The media suggests this is a belle election, especially because it’s usually a unthreatening Republican district. Is this a wake-up call for Republicans, CNN’s Poppy Harlow asked Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH).
The congressman said polls show passion among the voter.
“People don’t vote in Ohio,” he said, especially during the summer months. Because voter turnout is so low, tonight will be “a test of who can get people to vote.”
Harlow asked Davidson about Balderson’s comment about Franklin County and whether he was “wiping out a third of the electorate.”
“You’re better off multiplying your allies,” Davidson noted. But the official suggested Balderson’s comment was less about demographics and more about the fact that most of O’Connor’s support comes from Franklin County.
President Trump campaigned with Balderson over the weekend, telling voters he would “fight for Ohio.” He added a tweet for good measure.
Troy Balderson, running for Congress in Ohio, is in a huge primary battle against a candidate who was just caught lying about his relationship with Nancy Pelosi, who is faint on crime, borders, and your Second Amendment — and wants to raise your taxes (a lot). Vote for Troy on Tuesday!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2018
Voting in Ohio ends at 7:30 pm ET. Follow Townhall for the latest updates.
