Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

Rather than join the family business, Portman became a lawyer - though he still represented his dad's company and other small businesses.

First Bush Administration

Immediately after college, Portman became an advance man for George H.W. Bush, then the Republican vice presidential candidate. When Bush ran for president in 1988, Portman, having by then completed law school, worked on the campaign.

After the election, Portman went to work at the White House as associate counsel to Bush. He was then made director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, becoming the president's chief lobbyist on Capitol Hill, before leaving the White House in 1991.

Though Portman would work another 14 years in Washington, his wife, Jane, remained with their three children in Ohio while Portman commuted between Cincinnati and Washington.

1993 House Race

Immediately after returning home from the Bush White House, Portman won a congressional seat in a special election in the solidly-Republican 2nd district in the Cincinnati area.

The seat was vacated by Rep. Willis D. Gradison Jr. (R), who resigned for a job in the private sector. Portman topped a crowded Republican primary field and easily defeated his Democratic opponent in the general election. He won reelection six times without any serious challenge.

Congressional Career

Portman quickly earned a seat on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee and a reputation as someone willing to work with Democrats to pass legislation.

One of his first legislative victories was a measure he sponsored with then-Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio) that limited "unfunded mandates," projects and programs Congress insisted that states adopt even though the federal government provided no money for them. He also worked with then-Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) on a proposal to restructure the Internal Revenue Service.

Second Bush Administration

Portman was an early supporter of then-Gov. George W. Bush of Texas. When Bush first ran for president in 2000, Portman helped both Bush and vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney practice for the debates by playing the roles of Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore and running mate Joe Lieberman in debate practice. Four years later, Portman again played the Democrat in debate practice with Cheney.

Portman's close relationship with Bush led then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to appoint Portman as the House's liaison - "facilitator," as Portman called it - with the Bush White House.

U.S. Trade Representative

During a second-term White House staff shake-up, Bush tapped Portman to be his trade representative, making him the first sitting congressman to hold the post. Portman quickly helped convince Congress to approve the Central American Free Trade Agreement and completing deals with Bahrain, Peru, Oman and Colombia.

Budget Director

Portman led the trade office for about a year before Bush put him in charge of the Office of Management and Budget in hopes that Portman's pragmatic approach and solid relations on Capitol Hill would help the administration advance its budget priorities, despite growing federal deficits.

2008 Campaign

Portman's resume, youth and the fact that he lives in the swing state of Ohio earned him a review as a vice-presidential contender in 2008 when Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was looking for a ticket-mate.

But Portman's ties to the Bush administrationand Portman's lack of name recognition outside of his House district counted against him.

2010 Campaign

After returning to Ohio in 2007, Portman formed a political action committee, Ohio's Future PAC, to help finance other Republican candidates and build goodwill prior to his own run for statewide office in 2010.

Portman had planned to challenge Gov. Ted Strickland (D) though he was running behind two better known Ohio Republicans, former Rep. John Kasich and former Sen. Mike DeWine.

But just 48 hours after Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) announced in January 2009 that he would retire rather than seek a third term, Portman jumped into the Senate race.

Democrats, hoping to capitalize on Ohio's severe economic problems - including an unemployment rate near 11 percent - immediately assailed Portman as "George W. Bush's economic czar" and accused him of sending "millions of jobs overseas" as trade representative.

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