Former Democratic Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is moving heaven and earth to get voters to connect Republican Sen. Rob Portman with Donald Trump.  

But whether or not it will stick remains to be seen. Trump and Clinton are neck-and-neck in Ohio. And Portman has a big cash advantage.  

Portman was one of a group of senators who met with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee on his visit to Capitol Hill on Thursday.  

Strickland spokeswoman Liz Margolis called that “a desperate move that is turning off moderate Republicans, alienating independents and energizing Democrats across Ohio.”  

That’s the latest attempt to make the Portman-Trump tie by the Strickland campaign, knowing he is a largely toxic and controversial candidate.  

A Quinnipiac University poll showed  that in Ohio, Trump and Clinton are virtually tied.  

Margolis’ statement came the same day Portman’s campaign announced it would be spending $15 million in advertising — more than $14 million on TV and $1 million in YouTube ads through Google.  

The advertising campaign will be one of the many that will show whether the incumbent Republican firewall can stave off Trump.  

Contact Garcia at EricGarcia@cqrollcall.com and follow him on Twitter @EricMGarcia.