Strickland says Clinton wants on Ohio ballot

Ted Strickland, who spoke to reporters during a visit to the Cox Media Group headquarters in Dayton, said Hillary Clinton sent word to him through her campaign chairman John Podesta that she wants to be on the Ohio ballot with him.

Podesta could not be reached for comment. Clinton, former Secretary of State and the wife of former President Bill Clinton, has not formally announced she is running for president.

Strickland, a Democrat, is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Rob Portman. Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, a Democrat, is also in the race. The election is in 2016.

Strickland, a former U.S. congressman, was unseated by Ohio Gov. John Kasich in 2010.

Strickland said he has the best chance of beating Portman and is the best candidate to stand up for working people. Strickland said he supports raising the minimum wage, affordable health care, and workers’ right to bargain for wages, benefits and safety.

“I just think if you work hard, you work every day, play by the rules, you ought not have to live in poverty,” Strickland said.

Requests for comment are pending with the Sittenfeld and Portman campaigns.

Former Gov. Ted Strickland who is running for the US Senate is in Dayton for an event tomorrow and will be coming to the newsroom for an interview at 10 a.m. Lynn Hulsey is going to interview him and will budget a story in SCC with a photo assignment. The interview can also be recorded for TV, digital and radio use.

This is his first visit to the newsroom since announcing his U.S. Senate campaign.