Republicans say Democrats’ hardball Ohio Senate play could backfire

A Democratic Pac is running an ad meant to boost a Trumpist in the Republican primary in effort to protect Sherrod Brown's seat

Democrats working to boost a Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for the US Senate in Ohio, as a way to boost their own progressive senator, should be careful, an aide to the Republican said, lest such efforts backfire and they lose a precious seat.

Such tactics have been used by Democrats before - when they support a more extreme Republican to be nominated out of a calculation that that candidate will then stand less chance of winning against a Democrat in a general election. Of course, such tactics could backfire and see extremists elected.