Ohio Dems. chair mocks Republican who complained they didn't have enough time to push their effort to stymie abortion rights: 'You picked the date dude'

• Ohio Democrats Chairwoman Elizabeth Walters mocked a Republican who complained about Issue 1.
• Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman had complained proponents didn't have enough time to campaign.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairwoman Elizabeth Walters on Wednesday mocked a senior Republican official who complained that they did not have enough time to campaign for an effort to stymie abortion rights.

"Like, saying the obvious thing out loud, you picked the date dude," Walters said during a call with reporters. "What was surprising about it, you know?"

Walters, who appeared to briefly be at a loss for words, said she was "trying very hard for you guys not to have to bleep me out later."

Walters was referencing Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman's comments to reporters Tuesday evening after it became apparent that the GOP-led Issue 1 would fail by a large margin. Republicans wanted to make it harder to amend the state constitution, an effort proponents said was to diminish outside influences. But Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who was involved in pushing Issue 1, made it clear it was "100%" about stopping an abortion rights amendment that will be before voters this November.

"One thing that hurt us in the election was the length of time of the campaign," Huffman told reporters, according to the Ohio Capital Journal.

Ohio Republicans hastily set the special election after previously moving to outlaw most August elections, citing low turnout. State Rep. Brian Stewart, who help lead the Issue 1 push, was only able to get a final vote on his proposal on the last day possible to set it for an August election, the Capital Journal previously reported. Republicans previously missed the deadline put the issue before voters in May.

Huffman's comments are just the beginning of recriminations for key Republicans involved in pushing Issue 1. Former Govs. John Kasich and Bob Taft, both Republicans, strongly opposed raising the amendment threshold. Despite the results, Huffman made clear that he has not given up on future efforts to pass something similar to Issue 1.

"But perhaps not in the same kind of atmosphere that we have had over the past 10 or 12 months," Huffman told reporters.