Ohio Republican Party deputy chair Kevin DeWine hit back against Gov. Ted Strickland’s press conference earlier today that targeted Republican lawsuits challenge Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D).

Strickland, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman (D) criticized the ORP’s federal lawsuit challenging Brunner on voter registration mismatches, as well as a Republican fundraiser’s private lawsuit against Brunner filed last Friday. Democrats accuse these lawsuits of trying to scare voters from voting. DeWine said Democrats should look in the mirror.

"Jennifer Brunner is the only one in this election instilling fear in Ohio voters about whether they will be able to cast a ballot, and now she's raising doubts about the integrity of the entire voting process,” he said in a statement.

DeWine said Strickland was “conveniently silent” while Brunner spent tax money to “disenfranchise thousands of Ohio voters....”

However, DeWine said the governor may be better off staying away from the controversy altogether.

“Perhaps Gov. Strickland should spend less time on the campaign trail and more time dealing with Ohio's highest unemployment rate in nearly 20 years."