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Randy Ludlow The Columbus Dispatch @RandyLudlow

The same thing that makes Mike DeWine the favorite to win the Republican gubernatorial nomination could come back to haunt him.

At least, that's the opinion of David Pepper, who became Ohio Democratic Party chairman after losing to DeWine in the 2014 attorney general race.

DeWine has signaled he finally will announce his candidacy on Sunday at his family's annual ice cream social at their home near Cedarville.

Since he has held elective office nearly nonstop since 1977, including stints as U.S. senator and lieutenant governor, DeWine "is the best-known name in the field, clearly the favorite in that primary," Pepper said Friday.

But, that same experience will prove a liability come the statewide races in 2018, which Pepper portrays as a "change election."

"Mike DeWine does not represent change in any way. He represents the status quo as much as any official could," the chairman said. "He is the worst-suited candidate to promise a change in direction when he has been on the scene so long."

Ohioans are thirsting for a change of power in Columbus amid below-average job growth, a "stagnant economy," a lethal opioid crisis and six-plus years of Republican leadership at all levels, Pepper said. "The overall model the Republicans have brought to Columbus is just not working ... it's the context for what 2018 will be about."

The Democrat candidates -- Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, State Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Youngstown, former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton of Barberton and former state Rep. Connie Pillich of Montgomery -- will talk change and promote their names. They need not spend time and money tearing down the other since they are not generally well known statewide, Pepper said. "It's going to be obvious who the change is."

For the Republicans, Secretary of State Jon Husted, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci of Wadsworth will have to spend some of their resources attempting to take down DeWine as the front-runner, he said. "It's ramping up to what could be a nasty primary."

The Democratic candidates will stage a series of regional forums/debates this fall to better introduce themselves to Ohioans, Pepper said.

"There still could be more (candidates) ... I just don't know, honestly. We have four good candidates so as a party, we are not our there recruiting anyone. But, I wouldn't be shocked," he said.

The names of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director and former AG Rich Cordray, former Congressman Dennis Kucinich, former Cincinnati mayor and shock-TV host Jerry Springer and former state Sen. Nina Turner (a Bernie Sanders disciple) remain on some Democrats' shopping lists.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow

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Democrat chairman takes aim at DeWine as 'status quo' - The Columbus Dispatch