Buckeye Reporter

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine was among those praising President Joe Biden for his handling of COVID-19, and his opponent in the May primary, Jim Renacci, has an issue that.

DeWine, the Republican incumbent, faces Renacci in the May 3 GOP gubernatorial primary, with the winner advancing to the general election on Nov. 8.

"DeWine talks about Biden like he's the governor of a deep blue state, not a state Trump won by 10 points,” Renacci said in a press release. “Biden's response to the pandemic, which has led to more unscientific and freedom-crushing mask and vaccine mandates and school closures, is not worthy of anyone's commendation.”

In a Twitter post from November 2020, Biden praised DeWine for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio.

DeWine was later approached by Fox News during a meeting of the National Governor’s Association in Washington and asked to grade Biden’s performance as president. DeWine, who serves as chairman of the association, said, “We’ve had a good relationship in regard to the pandemic.”

That was enough for Renaccci to criticize DeWine about Biden.

In a release, he hammered DeWine for not speaking up about vaccine or mask mandates, the negative impacts of immigration, and increasing crime and fuel costs. The release noted the average price for a gallon of gas in Ohio has risen from $2.370 for regular and $2.716 for diesel to $3.258 for regular and $3.730 for diesel.

“Even Republican governors of states Biden won managed to acknowledge his failing job performance,” Renacci said. “DeWine is too much of a RINO to do the same. As governor, I will never hesitate to call out President Biden for his radical agenda. With Renacci as governor, everyone in the Biden White House will know Ohio is Trump Country!"

Other Republican governors have been more critical of Biden.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, asked to grade the Biden Administration, said, "We look for some measure of bipartisanship, and we really haven't seen that yet."

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey gave the president negative marks on "the failed exit from Afghanistan, (and) the surging inflation that's a hidden tax."

New Hampshire Gov. Christopher Sununu didn’t give Biden a passing grade: "I'm going to give the Biden Administration a solid 'D.'”

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte issued the Biden Administration an 'F.'