It seems that
one sentence at BSB caused a little stir today. So much so in fact it caused the PeeDee to make some calls
We nearly aspirated our Frosted Flakes this morning when we read what one of our progressive blogging friends had posted just before 2 a.m. Saturday: that conservative Republican Ken Blackwell is dropping out of the governor's race.
But on the off chance that the unbelievable might actually be true, we called Blackwell's people, who are on duty today but were unaware of the latest buzz surrounding their candidate. By the time spokesman Carlo LoParo stopped laughing, it was clear that Blackwell is more likely to become a flaming liberal than a gubernatorial dropout.
LoParo went on to compare -- a bit harshly, we thought -- the blogger in question to those unfortunate people who get regular messages from alien civilizations.
"I guess all that tinfoil has paid off," LoParo said.
Heh. I'm laughing but LoParo really shouldn't. Let's consider....
When a Summit County source hints to me that Blackwell is getting out of the race it piqued my interest, and more so when one looked at the circumstantial evidence.
1. Ken Blackwell has gone MIA - Where is Ken Blackwell?
2. He is getting crushed in a general election matchup against Ted Strickland by 18 points.
3. A Rumored Dispatch poll is going to show Petro beating Blackwell in a head to head.
4. Blackwell hasn't released the results of an internal poll
I agree with Matt, he ran a poll and didn't release the results. That tells me he's not up. If he was up, he would have released the polls. Campaigns don't do polls half-heartedly. They cost 15k-25k to run a decent poll. You think he's spend that and not dish the results, if they were good? Hell no.
5. Blackwell has cancelled plans to debate Jim Petro - bwark bwark.
6. Blackwell is refusing to do any appearances with Gubernatorial candidates
From an e-mail we just received is that Ken Blackwell is canceling all events in which he appears with other candidates for Governor. As Drudge would say, this is developing...
7. Blackwell was
humiliated into a massive flip flop over his incompetent handling of Social Security numbers leading to identity theft.
8. Hides from the media when having meetings with clergy
9. Rebuked by his own party leaders for negative campaigning
His tactics drew swift rebukes from Taft and Ohio Republican Party Chairman Robert T. Bennett, who indicated last week that he planned to speak out if he thought the race was getting too dirty.
"The race for governor should be a contest of ideas, not smear tactics and attack ads," Bennett said in a statement. "I expect this kind of negative campaigning from the Democrats, but Ken Blackwell should have a better strategy for winning this primary than simply burning down the house. A man who models himself after Ronald Reagan should have a little more respect for winning on ideas and vision."
10. Bennett is on the record as trying to clear the primary field
"I expect that both candidates will be on the ballot," Mr. Bennett said. Asked if he would continue trying to narrow the field, Mr. Bennett replied: "I'll work on it until 4 p.m. on the 16th of February" - the filing deadline.
11. Clearing the primary fields is evidenced as an ongoing effort by Trakas dropping out and the state party changing its own rules to endorse Montgomery for AG.
12. Blackwell has a lack of county party support, lack of endorsements and folks peddling dirt - including the comments leading to my one sentence.
This is a campaign in trouble. Deep trouble. If it wasn't then the PeeDee wouldn't be calling to check to see if Blackwell was still in the race. No one would have called Strickland if I had wrote "Strickland to drop out of the Gov race". It's clear that people, including the media and pundit class and right wing blogs are thinking this too.
So to LaParo all i can say is, you wouldn't be the first staffer not to know you're guy was going to bail. But to take someone who dreams of wearing super hero costumes seriously, well, Heh.
Carlo LoParo, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell's long-time spokesman, has left his state post, but he hasn't gone far. LoParo, who, in a parallel comic-book universe, would be Robin to Blackwell's Batman, is joining his boss' gubernatorial campaign as head of communications.
LoParo doesn't wear tights, but fights crimes committed by Democrats and wayward Republicans, he said.
LaParo is on a sinking ship, maybe he should consider bailing too.