Jon Gruden backs Jon Husted at Ohio Trump rally

Former NFL coach Jon Gruden appeared at a campaign rally for President Donald Trump in Vandalia, Ohio, and urged attendees to support Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted, praising his character and calling on the crowd to mobilize voters ahead of the November election. Gruden, who grew up in Ohio and attended the University of Dayton, said he returned to the state to speak in support of Husted, a former college football teammate. He cited Husted’s work ethic and mental toughness, then encouraged those at the rally to vote for him and bring friends and other supporters to the polls. Gruden also said early voting starts Tuesday and asked attendees whether they would take part. That timing was part of his appeal at the rally; the reports do not independently confirm the voting schedule. Trump praised Gruden’s coaching and golf before introducing him to the crowd. Gruden’s appearance put a prominent former football coach onstage at a rally focused in part on a closely contested Ohio Senate race. Husted is seeking election against Democrat Sherrod Brown. Several accounts of the rally report that Brown led Husted by about three to four percentage points in recent polls.