Boehner and Latta Back Portman for Senate

Former Rep. Rob Portman (R), just hours into his campaign for Senate, is already picking up support from his fellow Ohio Republicans.

House Minority Leader John Boehner and Rep. Bob Latta endorsed Portman on Wednesday. Portman, the former White House budget director and U.S. trade representative, became the first candidate to announce a bid for Sen. George Voinovich’s (R) seat on Wednesday morning.

Boehner called Portman the “strongest candidate” to represent Ohio in the Senate. Boehner also stressed Portman’s fiscal conservative bona fides.

“Rob is a capable and principled reformer, well-liked throughout the Buckeye State and well-known for his commitment to policies that help create new jobs,” Boehner said in a statement. “With Congressional Democrats plotting to increase government spending to unprecedented levels, America will need an experienced public servant like Ohio