Ganley switching to challenge Sutton

Republican auto dealer Tom Ganley has decided to abandon his underdog Senate primary campaign against former Rep. Rob Portman and run instead for the House seat currently occupied by Democrat Betty Sutton.

Ganley’s move, which was confirmed by two GOP operatives familiar with the decision, will allow Republicans to avoid an expensive Senate primary and gives the House GOP a credible recruit for Sutton’s Akron-area House seat.

Ganley, a wealthy first-time candidate, was already airing ads across the state touting his credentials as a fiscal conservative. While he had little chance of defeating Portman for the nomination, Republicans have been concerned that Ganley could use his personal fortune to damage their preferred candidate and drain Portman’s resources.

“It gives Rob Portman a clear shot at the Republican nomination and leaves vulnerable Democrats with a strong, well-financed opponent. It’s a win-win for Republicans,” said Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou, a close ally of Portman.

It would take a significant upset for Ganley to defeat Sutton, who took 65 percent of the vote in 2008 to win a second term in her solidly Democratic seat. Her district broke for the Democratic presidential candidate in both 2004 and 2008 by double-digit margins.

But Ganley can transfer the $1.6 million he lent his Senate campaign into the House race — a significant asset in a district that’s not cheap to advertise in. And given the souring national environment for Democrats, Republicans think they might have an outside shot at an upset.

Sutton ended last year with just $210,000 in her campaign account.