GOP Rallying Around Ken Blackwell

From the Beacon Journal

Republican heavy-hitters have been flocking to Republican Kenneth Blackwell's campaign since he won the May 2 primary for governor, but he trails Democratic nominee Ted Strickland 2-1 in cash available for the November election, finance reports filed Friday showed.

Strickland, with no major challenger in last month's primary for governor, raised $2 million during the April 12 to June 2 reporting period and had $2.6 million on hand.

Blackwell, who spent more than $1.2 million late in his primary fight against Jim Petro, raised $2.2 million and had $1.3 million in his account with five months to go in the campaign. Petro raised $255,000 and spent $572,000 down the stretch.

Blackwell, Ohio's secretary of state, got $430,000 from the Ohio Republican Party on the day of the primary. Ohio GOP chairman Bob Bennett, who didn't take sides in the primary, said he held back until he was certain Blackwell would win. The last-minute donation also means the party can give a similar amount for the general election, Bennett said.

Good to hear.