COLUMBUS, Ohio--The head of the Cuyahoga County Republicans defended Senate Majority Leader Tom Patton's controversial comments questioning whether primary opponent Jennifer Herold should run for office as a young mother.

"These are not sexist or out-of-line comments," county party chair Rob Frost told radio host Bob Frantz on Thursday morning (his comments start around the 38:00 mark). "This is his opponent, who really, you know, is desperate to try to get some attention onto her run, against a guy who is going to do a stellar job."

In a Jan. 18 radio interview, Patton, a 62-year-old term-limited Strongsville Republican now running for state representative, referred to Herold as a "young gal" and "sweetie," and questioned whether the 30-year-old mother of two young children knew lawmakers have to spend three nights per week in Columbus.

Herold called the remarks "insulting and discriminatory." Patton later apologized, saying his comments were "misunderstood."

Frost said the county party stood by its earlier endorsement of Patton in the race. Patton, he said, was just trying to ask whether Herold, a political newcomer, understood the responsibilities of being a state lawmaker.

Patton's remarks, he said, "would be the same if he had said, 'You know, hey, there's a guy running against me who's an insurance agent or a lawyer or a radio host.'"

Frost also noted that Patton raised five daughters and a son after the death of his wife.

"Believe me, he knows being a full-time parent is a full-time job. And he respects that," he said. "He's shown that in everything that he has done as a parent and as a leader for our community."