Coughlin may seek GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, challenge anti-gun Sen. Sherrod Brown

by Chad D. Baus

Last week we reported that Ohio Treasurer of State Josh Mandel (R), who has earned the endorsement of Buckeye Firearms Association in several previous campaigns, is reportedly leaning toward a run for the U.S. Senate in 2012.

We are pleased to report that another former BFA endorsee is also considering a run.

From the Dayton Daily News:

Former state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, a Cuyahoga Falls Republican, this week plans to form a committee with the Federal Election Commission as Coughlin considers a run for the U.S. Senate in 2012, he said Monday in an email.

"This will allow us to accept donations, gauge support, conduct polling, and give careful consideration to a run for the United States Senate," Coughlin said.

"The rules require us to file a committee once we raise over $5,000. In order to conduct polling it’s necessary to create the committee."

During the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Coughlin brought the Second Amendment debate front and center in the Republican primary when he observed that "if John Kasich is the Republican candidate for governor of Ohio, the Democrat on the ballot will have the stronger pro-gun record."

Coughlin was proud to say that "unlike some politicians, my actions on protecting our Second Amendment rights match my words. ...I've voted with gun owners on EVERY Second Amendment vote I've cast. And I have been proud in past elections to have been supported by the Buckeye Firearms Association, the National Rifle Association, and others."

Another past Buckeye Firearms Association endorsee, NRA Board of Directors member Ken Blackwell, was recently named in a public opinion poll as the top Republican choice to seek the U.S. Senate seat.

Asked by The Cleveland Plain Dealer whether he plans to seek Brown's seat, Blackwell replied: "I was under the impression that I'm too conservative, too old & cantakerous for another run."

Although Republicans held both Senate seats for nearly a decade prior to Mike DeWine's experiment to see who could deliver more votes (the NRA or editorial boards) ended with the loss of his seat to Brown, the election of Sen. Rob Portman (R) last November marked the first time in recent memory that Ohio was represented in Washington D.C. by a pro-gun Senator. Should Republicans nominate another pro-gun candidate who is successful in unseating Sen. Brown, it would likely be the first time in at least a generation that both of state's U.S. Senators fully support the Second Amendment.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.