The Unity event was filled with mainly former Petro supporters. The fact that Petro came out and supported Blackwell was soundly viewed as a huge testament to his character and vastly helpful to Blackwell in his quest to garner the moderates of this party. Petro gave one of the best speeches I've ever seen him give and spoke to what many of us on RAB are concerned with in this party. He received a standing ovation. The ‘Conservatives’ have won the first victory, but winning general elections are what the moderates have been doing for us in this state for years. The question now remains whether a man considered to be an arch conservative can win the votes of those moderates. Petro's advice for a 'big tent' party didn't fall on deaf ears.

Blackwell has started to heed Petro's advice and proved that he is a consummate politician. He has already dropped his right wing pandering of social issues and started moving to the center. His speech revolved around jobs, around respect for Petro and his ideas, and about unity. For the first time, he actually commended legislators for the CAT tax as opposed to chiding them. He claimed that Petro’s ideas were "bigger than any candidacy". He’s started backing away from the TEL, saying that if legislators would come up with something comparable, he would stop touting the TEL. He created a commission that usurps Petro's idea of reorganization of Government and asked Petro to head it up. Blackwell proved that he is a true chameleon.

I had initially written off Blackwell winning the general election. I thought that his attempt to swing to the center would seem transparent. But Petro’s support of him is sure to help him. He’s taken Petro’s ideas. Petro, who backed his campaign on his ideas, who has been able to win moderate and independent votes because of his ideas and management, and who has a consistent record of good governing is now on Blackwell’s team. Blackwell spoke to the validity of Petro's ideas and has made them his own. This will be of tremendous support in getting the support of state legislators, fiscal conservatives and responsible voters. Petro, in many ways, has won. His reorganization plan - the cornerstone of his campaign - is now part of Blackwell's candidacy. The TEL - the former cornerstone of Blackwell's campaign and a piece of legislation that Petro strongly disagreed with - is slowly being dropped. He's highly respected and his reputation is intact.

Blackwell is a brilliant politician. He will do or say whatever it takes to become who the state wants. Do I trust him? Absolutely not – I’ve seen what he’s capable of. But do I discount his candidacy? After the unity event, no. He’s entertaining – it will be fun to see who he becomes next.