Fight at Ohio GOP Senate debate elevates military issue

COLUMBUS, Ohio —  A near-physical altercation in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Ohio led to a demand Monday from some military veterans that one candidate apologize for his seeming insult, while the target of their request said he respects and honors the military but stands by his statement.

The heated argument came during a debate Friday with five candidates running for the GOP nomination to replace Republican Sen. Rob Portman, who is retiring. Democrats view the open seat as among their best chances to flip a seat nationally.

The debate became intense almost as soon as it began, with former state Treasurer Josh Mandel criticizing investment banker Mike Gibbons’ business dealings in his opening remarks. Soon, the two were standing face to face on the debate stage, shouting at each other as the moderator tried to keep their argument from further escalating.

Mandel accused Gibbons of “making millions” off stock in a Chinese company, and Gibbons accused Mandel of not understanding how investments work.

“You’ve never been in the private sector in your entire life,” Gibbons said. “You don’t know squat.”

“Two tours in Iraq,” Mandel shouted after rising from his seat. “Don’t tell me I haven’t worked!”

“Back off, buddy, or you’re going to end up — ,” Gibbons told him, not finishing the sentence. “You’re dealing with the wrong dude.”

“No, you’re dealing with the wrong guy,” Mandel said. “You watch what happens.”

Candidate J.D. Vance, a venture capitalist and author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” appeared unimpressed.

“Sit down. Come on,” he said, sitting in a row with the remaining candidates. “This is ridiculous.”

Vance, who is also a military veteran, later critiqued Mandel as “disgraceful” for using the Marine Corps as a “political football,” drawing loud applause from the crowd. “What a joke,” he said.

Fifteen veterans who support Mandel wrote an open letter Monday saying they were “disgusted beyond belief” at Gibbons’ comments.

“Gibbons owes Josh and all veterans and those currently in the service an apology, (for) implying that ‘WE’ who served our country honorably and faithfully, never earned our way working in the private sector,” they wrote. “We all volunteered to serve our country away from our families, putting our lives in danger, so people like Mike Gibbons could make millions.”

Gibbons said Mandel initiated the physical aggression and made “several false, petty comments in an attempt to smear the new front-runner.”

“Josh Mandel is unhinged, unfit and flailing — because he’s losing,” Gibbons campaign spokesperson Samantha Cotten said. “He is only a professional at one thing: running for office.”

On “Always Right With Bob Frantz,” a talk show in Cleveland, Gibbons noted Monday that his son and daughter-in-law are active duty U.S. Navy pilots.

Gibbons told Frantz that whenever he questions Mandel’s credentials on the economy, “his response is always, ‘I’m a Marine.’”

“My son’s risking his life every day for this country; Josh risked his life for our country. I have absolute nothing but respect for that, but it’s not the answer to every single issue,” he said. “You should have some expertise in something that might apply to the economic problem in this country, because we have a huge one.”

Vance called Mandel and Gibbons “clown shows” in a statement after the debate.

“While others made a mockery of themselves with their phony tough guy antics, I focused on engaging with the voters,” he said, “honing in on the real problems that Ohioans face and providing true solutions that may make life better for working- and middle-class Americans.”

Former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken, another GOP candidate in the Senate race, said she would lead with “grit and grace” if elected.

“There are many show horses in this race, but I’m the workhorse,” she said in a statement.

Even before the Republicans’ event, the Ohio Democratic Party had predicted it would be “the first of what will be a brutal debate season.” The Democrats dubbed the GOP race a “cavalcade of clowns.”

The first Democratic debate, involving U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, former consumer protection attorney Morgan Harper and community activist Traci Johnson, is slated for March 23. Republican candidates in the race meet again Monday.

Associated Press reporter Jill Colvin contributed to this report from New York.