Gibbons, Mandel Deal With Aftermath From On-Stage Debate Altercation

Ohio GOP U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel is centering his campaign around events at churches across Ohio. Photo courtesy of Josh Mandel

The aftermath of an on-stage altercation that saw GOP U.S. candidates Mike Gibbons and Josh Mandel nose-to-nose at a forum in suburban Columbus on March 18 continued over the weekend and spilled into March 21.

Organized by FreedomWorks and moderated by conservative talk show host Brandon Boxer, the March 18 candidate forum featured the 44-year-old Mandel—the former Ohio State Treasurer and Ohio State Representative who for months was the front-runner in the campaign to replace retiring GOP Senator Rob Portman—and 69-year-old Mike Gibbons, a Cleveland investment banker who surpassed Mandel and claimed the top position in two recent independent polls.