Brown, Mandel race for Senate will be tight - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Brown, Mandel race for Senate will be tight

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TOLEDO, Ohio -

The political ads are getting nasty in Ohio's US Senate race between incumbent Sherrod Brown and State Treasurer Josh Mandel, just one indication that it will be a tight race.

But the two candidates do have something in common. They both started their political careers very early, and, no matter who loses, it may not mean an end to either of their careers.

Senator Brown has come out with some tough ads against his opponent, and the Mandel campaign hasn't been shy to go after the democrat either.

If you're tired of the ads, which started running last October, turn off your TV, because more are coming. According to federal filing records, Brown has more than $6 million cash on hand. Mandel has more than $5 million.  

Despite different political philosophies, the two candidates do have something in common. They both started their political careers young.

Brown won his first election at age 20 to the Ohio House. At 29, he was elected to a state-wide office.

Mandel was elected to the Lyndhurst City Council at age 26. Three years later, he was elected to the Ohio House at 29.

But Brown is up in the polls, leading by six points in a recent poll taken May 10, and an improving economy in Ohio could help the incumbent, even if the Republican governor gets some credit for the turnaround.

If Mandel loses the race, he still has a couple years left to serve as Ohio state treasurer, and at age 33 he'll have plenty of time to run for another office.

If Brown loses, he could run for governor some day or serve in a Democratic presidential administration.

Either way, the race is a toss up, and plenty of campaign cash will insure it's a fight to the end.

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