Jest in case you haven’t caught up yet with punch lines starting to emerge in Ohio politics:

That is, no kidding, Democrats and Republicans are now trying to make each other a joke as Ohio politics and candidates head for the 2010 ballot.

The Ohio Democratic Party just opened a parody Web site supposedly in favor of former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, who wants to run next year for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio.

The Democrats' parodies supposedly have Republican Portman talking about his days as the budget director for President George W. Bush. Portman’s depicted as “architect of the Bush economy.”

NOTE: ODP does warn that it’s not really Republican Portman speaking on the Democrats’ Internet page.

Meanwhile, the Ohio Republican Party is trying to make Democrats the joke.

The Grand Ole Party is calling in Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, vice chair of the Republican Governors Association, to headline the GOP’s Sept. 19 session in Columbus. Pawlenty’s the one who said President Barack Obama’s health care reform ideas are “quite a joke.”

There’s plenty of talk about the governor as a 2012 presidential candidate.

All of which has nothing to do with Jack McBrayer, the comic actor of TV’s “30 Rock.”

Hairdo, smile and all, McBrayer looks like a younger deadringer for Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, a Democrat up for re-election next year.

Will Republicans try their own parody of Democrat Cordray?