Portman’s Birther Problem Just Won’t Go Away

The Cincinnati Enquirer may not think it’s an issue, but the Atlantic’ Marc Ambinder gets it (emphasis mine):

Portman did not reproach his surrogates at an event for joking that Portman was "an American lawyer" and Obama wasn't. His campaign later issued a statement saying the remarks were not appropriate but blasting Democrats for trying to move the focus from issues to trivial matters. One can understand why Portman would be uncomfortable rebuking folks who were saying nice things about him, but the campaign seems to want to thread the needle by denouncing the comments -- in the non-specific. Whatever the Portman campaign intends, his campaign's response leaves open the possibility that Portman doesn't necessarily find the question illegitimate.

So what happens when the special interest lobbyists come around saying nice things about him to win his vote on something? Will he stand up to them or will he stand up for Ohio? Right now the track record isn’t looking so good...