In a contentious legislative fight in Ohio, the question of whether President Joe Biden will appear on the state's fall ballot has become entangled with efforts to keep foreign money out of ballot campaigns. The issue has surfaced amidst a Republican leadership feud and concerns over the involvement of Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss in last year's abortion rights campaign.

Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose proposed a ban on foreign money in initiative campaigns as a means to address the ballot deadline issue preceding the Democratic National Convention, but it became a contentious point of contention. Republicans in the Senate sought to use Biden's potential absence from the ballot as leverage to pass legislation prohibiting foreign nationals from contributing to ballot campaigns, citing Wyss's involvement.

According to a report by LaRose, over $207 million from Wyss-backed entities flowed to three groups that contributed a combined $3.9 million towards the success of last November's Issue 1 - the abortion measure - and to counter a proposed constitutional amendment that would have made its passage more difficult.

To address Biden's potential exclusion from the ballot, Senate Republicans and Democratic leaders agreed to combine the foreign nationals legislation with the proposal to adjust the ballot deadline. The two proposals were included in a bill that allowed candidates to utilize campaign funds for childcare. Despite heated debate, the measure passed along party lines.

However, GOP House Speaker Jason Stephens, who relies on the support of minority Democrats to remain in his position, pursued an alternate solution. Stephens supported a "clean" bill that would move this year's ballot deadline to August 23, the day after the Democratic Convention. It also included a long-term solution for future years when a party's nominating convention falls less than 90 days before the election.

Unfortunately, Stephens's plan faltered when it failed to secure a vote in the House after informal passage. This caused a rift among fellow Republicans, who expressed their disappointment and frustration with the situation.

In response to the House's inaction, Secretary of State LaRose condemned the delay and accused Democrats of prioritizing the interests of foreign billionaires like Wyss over getting their own presidential candidate on the ballot. He further alleged that Democrats were dependent on Wyss's "dark money" to fund their campaigns and spread misinformation.

State Senator Bill DeMora, a Columbus Democrat, criticized LaRose for politicizing his office and deflected blame, stating that the lack of a resolution lies with the infighting of the Republican majority rather than Democrats.

The uncertainty surrounding President Biden's appearance on Ohio's fall ballot continues to linger. While both Republicans and Democrats at the Statehouse express confidence that he will eventually make it onto the ballot, the exact path and timing remain unclear amid this polarizing partisan battle over foreign money and the adjustment of the ballot deadline.