Ohio Republicans Against Trump Pin Hopes on Biden’s Debate Performance

A group of anti-Trump Republicans in Ohio, including former officeholders, party officials and military veterans, are hoping that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has a break out performance at the first presidential debate in Cleveland Tuesday night.

Standing in front of Tuesday evening’s debate venue, Michael Anne Johnson, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, is trying “to convince those Republicans that are on the fence that maybe have some misgivings about Trump, that it’s OK to change your mind this time.”

Organizing themselves into a nonprofit group that pays tribute to President Ulysses S. Grant, Operation Grant, the Ohio Republicans are trying to drum up support for Biden.

Johnson says if Biden “comes across very strong,” it will help recruit more Republicans to change their voting preferences in November.

In recent weeks the Ohio Republican Party has pushed back against the group’s effort.

“No one cares about these former Republicans,” spokesperson Evan Machan said in a statement. “Ohio stands firmly behind President Trump.”

Trump easily defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in Ohio four years ago, notably carrying traditionally Democratic areas around blue-collar Youngstown and in Appalachia, along with the state’s reliably red rural areas.

Each side hopes the debate in Cleveland will energize its own base of supporters even as the candidates compete over the slim slice of undecided voters that could decide the election.

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