With less than two weeks until the Ohio Senate primary, the race has intensified between Republican candidates Bernie Moreno, Matt Dolan, and Frank LaRose. The competition has become increasingly hostile, with each candidate fighting to gain an advantage in a tight race.

Political strategist Scott Guthrie, who has extensive experience with Ohio Senate campaigns, noted that recent public and private polls suggest a dead heat between the candidates, with everyone within the margin of error. This highly competitive atmosphere has heightened the stakes for the three hopefuls.

Although former President Donald Trump endorsed Bernie Moreno in December, there are concerns about his potential impact on the race. Sources close to the former president said that a visit to Ohio before the March 19 primary is "highly unlikely," which has left Moreno without the expected boost from a Trump rally.

The candidates are set to face off in their final debate on Wednesday, and tensions have reached a boiling point. Moreno and his allies have launched aggressive attacks, branding Dolan and LaRose as anti-Trump clones of Nikki Haley, aiming to resonate with Ohio voters who strongly support the former president.

Meanwhile, Dolan is facing criticism for his support of a gas tax increase several years ago, targeted by Moreno's allies at the Club for Growth. They argue that Dolan's position aligns him with the RINO establishment, a reference to being a "Republican in name only."

LaRose, supported by the super PAC Leadership for Ohio that recently received a cash infusion, aims to highlight Moreno's past views on gun control. They released an ad featuring a 2019 interview in which Moreno questioned the need for "100 bullets" in a gun, contrasting with his current assertion of being a staunch supporter of gun rights.

Internal polling from Leadership for Ohio shows the candidates essentially tied among likely primary voters, with over 30% undecided. This further emphasizes the tight nature of the race, disproving the assumption that Moreno is leading by a significant margin.

The candidates' campaigns and various Republican groups have collectively spent nearly $24 million on advertising, according to AdImpact, an ad tracking firm. Dolan leads the pack with $8.1 million in ads, followed by Moreno at $6.5 million. LaRose has relied on the Leadership for Ohio PAC, which has spent $4.3 million and reserved another $1 million through the primary.

Ground games and rigorous schedules are also crucial components of the candidates' strategies. LaRose and Dolan have held numerous events and made hundreds of thousands of voter contacts through phone calls and home visits. Moreno, on the other hand, has focused on building a strong presence through 70 events over the past two months, securing endorsements from nearly a dozen county GOP groups.

As the primary draws near, the attacks and counterattacks continue among the candidates and their supporters. Operatives are engaging in intense battles, trying to tarnish their opponents' images and gain an edge in this fiercely contested primary.

Despite Trump's endorsement and the significant campaign spending, the outcome remains uncertain. With a wide-open contest and each candidate vying for the Republican nomination, the Ohio Senate primary is anyone's game.