Did Troy Balderson Just 'Write Off a Third of the Electorate' in His Ohio Race?

Cortney O'Brien | August 07, 2018 11:00 AM

Critics say that Republican Troy Balderson made an unforgivable gaffe at his last campaign stop Monday night. Someone captured the moment on video when the candidate urged supporters in Zanesville, Ohio to get out and vote on Tuesday because “we don’t want someone from Franklin County representing us.”

??? And the tape of @Troy_Balderson: "We don’t want someone from Franklin County representing us." pic.twitter.com/5kF5u4opPZ
— Greg Berlin (@gregberlin) August 7, 2018

CNN senior writer and analyst Harry Enten said this was the definition of gaffe.

"You don't write off people," Enten said. "The pressure got to him."

If it truly was a gaffe, it comes at an unfortunate time. The race to represent Ohio's 12th congressional district is extremely tight. The latest polling shows Balderson with 44 percent of the vote, and Democrat Danny O'Connor at 43 percent. Media suggest this is a bellwether election, especially because a usually safe Republican district. Is this a wakeup call for Republicans, CNN's Poppy Harlow asked Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH).

The congressman said that what the polls show is passion among the electorate.

"People don't vote in Ohio," he said, particularly in the summer months. Since turnout is really low, tonight will be "a test of who can get out the vote."

Harlow asked Davidson about Balderson's Franklin County remark and whether he was "writing off a third of the electorate."

Troy Balderson, running for Congress from Ohio, is in a big Election fight with a candidate who just got caught lying about his relationship with Nancy Pelosi, who is weak on Crime, Borders & your 2nd Amendment-and wants to raise your Taxes (by a lot). Vote for Troy on Tuesday!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2018