Tiberi keeps moving the 12th off the Dem radar

In addition to adding two new Democrats to his list of competitive congressional districts, this week Charlie Cook also moved Pat Tiberi's race from "Lean R" to "Likely R".

"...in outraising his challenger $1.1 million to $392,000 last year, Tiberi proved that he is one of the hardest-working incumbents in the country and won't be caught asleep at the wheel. Brooks's predicament is further complicated by the fact that she doesn't live in the district, has a record in elected office to defend, and is running in a very Republican year when popular former Rep. John Kasich will be on the gubernatorial ballot and turnout in Columbus's heavily African-American precincts is likely to drop significantly."

We could have told him that months ago. Oh wait, we sorta did. Last August. But better.

Now remember, Brooks' only name recognition in the 12th district is within Franklin County. Since 2000, Tiberi has consistently far outpaced opponents in Licking and Delaware Counties. That means Brooks not only is going to need to outpace how Democrats did in Franklin County in 2008, when Dem turnout was through the roof for Obama, but she is going to need to raise vast amounts of money to create any semblance of a challenge in Licking and Delaware County.

Now, we can finally say that while Brooks doesn't live in the district, she has finally decided to define her campaign HQ as IN the 12th district. Sorta.

The campaign address she listed in her latest FEC report was 222 East 11th Avenue in Columbus....literally one half block from the 15th district in which she actually resides.

In fact, here is a picture of her campaign hq via google maps.


Can you say 'sketchy'? It sorta has a Sopranos meets an abandoned church kinda feel.

But, at the end of the day, props have to go out to Tiberi who has clearly worked his butt off to make sure this district that went for Obama just over a year and a half ago is so far off the radar that the DCCC won't even want to waste their time with it.

No wonder Paula Brooks never picked out a realtor.