Yes, clearly Mandel has to win this time. Just like Allen, Feingold, Raese, McMahon, Foley, Sheheen, Rossi... wait, these people won after running in an election they previously lost, right!?
Brown isn't going to be safe, but Tiberi scares me more than Mandel. If Mandel wins the primary, I'd probably move this to Lean D.
It's probably because the environment was so surprisingly favorable for the GOP last year. I mean, who would have thought Trump would win the state by 8 points? Maybe some would have answered Kasich. I would definitely keep an eye on this race, but I wouldn't say Brown is doomed.