By Matthew Rink, IndeOnline

What’s next for Strickland, Portman

Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland riled up the Democratic base at the party convention on Sept. 4 when he accused Mitt Romney, via this stinging line, of having “so little economic patriotism that even his money needs a passport.”

“It summers on the beaches of the Cayman Islands,” Strickland said, his voice intensifying, “and winters on the slopes of the Swiss Alps.”

Strickland’s speech, wrought with zingers, was only part of his high-profile work on behalf of President Barack Obama. A national co-chairman of the Obama for America campaign, Strickland has been a frequent guest on cable television shows and has crisscrossed the state with Obama and Vice President Joe Biden throughout the campaign.

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman’s campaign credentials have been arguably more impressive. The former seven-term congressman, aide and cabinet member under both Bush administrations, Portman is far from a fresh political face.

Portman, for the third time in his career, helped the Republican nominee in his debate preparations. He played Al Gore for George W. Bush’s debate prep in 2000 and he’s been cast as Obama in both 2008 and 2012 opposite Sen. John McCain and Romney.

But even in his 2010 Senate race win, Portman still lacked name recognition outside of his former congressional district.

That should no longer be the case. Portman was on a very, very short list to be Romney’s running mate this summer and, given that he’s by Romney’s side at nearly every campaign stop in the Buckeye state, he could easily be mistaken for it.

So what’s next for these über important surrogates? Another run for governor by Strickland? Maybe the Senate? Is there a cabinet post in Portman’s future?

Strickland served as governor from 2007 to 2010. Before that, he was a five-term congressman from Ohio’s 6th District. He is 71.

Asked if it was the resurrection of Strickland’s political life, he said, “I don’t know, but it really can’t be a resurrection because I never died. I don’t know what I might do in the future. I have no definite plans to run for an office at a later time.

“I’m just trying to be a good soldier in what I think is a real battle for the future of the country,” he said. “I have no ulterior motives to promote myself at this point.”

Portman, 56, has no plans to leave the Senate, even if it is for a cabinet post under a Romney administration.

“I think that’s where I can help the most,” he said. “I have a reputation of being able to work across the aisle and get stuff done. It’s where I feel I can be most effective and I’m excited to continue to represent our state. I fought hard to be able to do that and I’d rather stay there.”

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