Front page, above the fold, article in today’s Cleveland Plain Dealer about the bucks raised by Blackwell and Strcikland. The focus is on the out-of-state dollars (Blackwell gets a bit more than Strickland), but the whole thing is worth a read. I’m waiting for the old Republican Party men to step up to the plate (they’re hesitating) and give Blackwell more; and they’re waiting for him to be more "party" friendly. Fun to watch. There is a good state (bucks by zip code) map in the print edition.
If "out-of-state dollars" become an issue against Blackwell, he should say:
I have attracted the interest of people outside the state who recognize the importance of electing a principled conservative in Ohio, which helped the whole country by re-electing the president. If Democrats outside Ohio aren’t as interested in Strickland, why should that reflect badly on me?
However, Strickland still has more money to run with than Blackwell. And yet, Blackwell had a nasty and expensive primary while Strickland did not. The last I’d heard, Blackwell was well behind in campaign funds, and now he is not, so that is very good news, wherever the money comes from. We can hope the Republican party regulars will back Blackwell, eventually. Perhaps once Strickland’s voting record is clear, (ADA rates him as far to the left as Kucinich) Ohio Republicans will think about how much they would not like to have THAT in the statehouse.
Maybe "the old Republican men" will give, maybe they won’t. They might realize that their money would be better spent elsewhere or that perhaps, Strickland will actually be a better Governor for the State of Ohio.
Nick’s calling it like it is. While Blackwell is better than Strickland, business leaders ("old Republican men") are not impressed. Nationally everyone is talking about the silent break of many businessmen toward Strickland. Blackwell fractured the party far too much to put his Humpty-Dumpty self back together for the win.
It’s time for some fresh blood; the GOP is finished until someone young, fresh, and really conservative comes along.
I’m trying to figure out how Strickland can present the argument without sounding like an idjit. "Yes I got out of state money, but he got more, so he’s corrupter than I am?"
Blackwell fractured the party Both parties know it’s better to have a maverick who may deliver the state in ’08 than to have someone who will do all he can to deliver to the other side. The evil genius behind the curtain (follow the yellow brick Rove) in D.C. will get the money to Blackwell. That’s my prediction.
Uncle Guido,
The evil genius behind the curtain (follow the yellow brick Rove) in D.C. will get the money to Blackwell.
Yes, and the Democratic Party will get the money to Strickland as well.
I don’t know if Strickland can talk to businessmen effectively, but Lee Fisher can. I heard him speak at a COSE event in Cleveland and he did a great job.
The Democratic Party can’t afford for Blackwell to win, and must stop him in Ohio, now. Here and now, the Republican Party carries an air of corruption that, even if Blackwell is not actually part of that problem, he’ll stink with it. My closest reference for that is John’s comment, above.
the Republican Party carries an air of corruption that, even if Blackwell is not actually part of that problem, he’ll stink with it.
You are obviously much closer in proximity to the goings on in Ohio than I am here in CA. Edify me. Didn’t Blackwell put himself above the corruption when he broke with the governor there?
Yeah, he also turned in Householder.
The Yellow Brick Rove (where the H did that phrase come from anyway) doesn’t really care about Ohio’s governor. Governor’s are boring and local. The idea of governors "delivering" states in Presidential or national elections is very outdated (see 2004).
While Blackwell railed against the party corruption, he can’t win the election without the party’s help. To make nice to the party--which he must do--he adopts the stink of corruption again. That is of course assuming that he himself is clean (which his diebold trades do throw in to question). Either way it’s a catch 22 that he would have to win the lottery to beat. All the GOP candidates have been around too long not to stink of corruption and have too long of records. Unless Strickland melts down (comes out, gets arrested, etc)he should win rather handily 54-46 and the OH GOP should not be too bothered. Its time to look to the future.
Uncle Guido - the corruption and the newspaper stories about it is pretty heavy. This link gives a bit of an overview: https://clevelandcurrent.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=58
There is a lot more, School Vouchers & White Hat Management look to be a get a guy rich and donate to politicians who support it scheme also.
There have also been stories about Blackwell owning stock in and taking contributions from Diebold which he awarded contracts to.
Many of your average voters lump Blackwell, Petro, Taft, Montgomery together as they have been trading offices for so long.
John’s right - it is a catch 22 for the Blackwell camp - if he doesn’t distance himself enough and criticize his fellow Republicans enough, he will be looked at the same way. If he does come down too hard on his fellow Republicans, he loses their support and might really make Republicans angry if he seems to harm Montgomery’s race...
Blackwell is not actually part of that problem, he’ll stink with it.
Based on the result of the 50th congressional district special election (the campaign for the seat of Duke Cunningham) Blackwell CAN rise above that corruption. Whether he will or not remains to be seen.
To make nice to the party--which he must do--he adopts the stink of corruption again.
He CAN quietly do the former without suffering the latter. Again, whether he will or not remains to be seen.
That is of course assuming that he himself is clean (which his diebold trades do throw in to question).
There’s the rub. IF he’s got unclean hands, and you would know much better than I whether he does, that will, most likely, be his downfall.
Governor’s are boring and local. The idea of governors "delivering" states in Presidential or national elections is very outdated (see 2004).
If he wins, Blackwell will be in a position to convince many black voters of Ohio to register and vote Republican. I don’t know what the numbers of black Ohio voters for Bush were in ’04, but with a black Republican governor, I would think, doubling that number for the Republican nominee would be entirely possible.
No doubt Blackwell needs Republican party money. I just hope the Republican party movers and shakers realize how much the party needs him, Swanny and Michael Steele.
Of the 3 my money’s on Steele. He has a better moderate image and might be able to whether the Bush storm. Also MD has the largest Black population of the three and the most united GOP.
Swann’s down 20, and Blackwell’s down 15-18, while in MD the demos still have a primary on their hands.
Go Steele!
I just punched in Rasmussen (the only poll I pay any attention to). They’ve got Blackwell down by 16, Swanny down by 18 and Steele down to Cardin by 10. Looks as though for any of these 3 to win, they’re going to have to get a big infusion of party money. I repeat, I hope the movers and shakers of the party realize how important these people are to the party.
why is pete lawson jones, the driven one at public expense, both campaigning for Strickland and donating to Ken B.?See Secretary of State’s web page for donors-----you sure won’t see it in the Pee Dee!!!!!!