If you needed another reason to dislike Ken Blackwell

[BobcatJH]

Don't forget that he trafficked in smears with the same people who brought us the Swift Boat attacks. Tell me, is that what Ohio - or our nation - needs? Somehow, I doubt it.

[saltpoint]

1. Obviously don't know for sure, but my guess is that this is Blackwell's

last stand.

I believe Ohio voters will support Ted Strickland in the governor's race.

The Brown-DeWine race will be closer, but I think Sherrod Brown winds that one, too.

[GOTV]

2. I don't know....

... progressive groups in NE Ohio still can't get enough volunteers.
If progressives won't work, progressives won't win.

[saltpoint]

5. I'm hopeful that the many progressives in NE Ohio will rally to the

cause in November.

Very hopeful.

[GOTV]

9. We can hope they rally...

... or we can work to rally them. Then we don't need to hope.

There is work for progressives to do NOW to build the relationships and spread the messages that will bring out progressives in November. I'm not seeing that many at the events and meetings I attend.

I think optimism might lose us another election as people assure themselves that THIS TIME we CAN'T lose.

We just saw that Republicans out voted us on Tuesday. And I've see the arguments for why that's OK but what if those arguments are wrong?

[librechik]

3. with Blackwell himself counting the vote behind closed doors

how can anyone be sure? That is JUST WRONG!! Why isn;t Ohio demanding an indpendent vote count? It seems insane.

[drm604]

4. If I remember correctly

they tried to do just that. There was a referendum in Ohio on removing the SOS from having anything to do with elections. The polls showed that it would easily pass by a comfortable margin, but when the votes were "counted" it instead failed by more or less that same margin. :grr:

[librechik]

8. yes indeed--and it also made recounts in pres elections illegal

WTF

[GOTV]

11. I don't believe that was due to voter fraud.

The polls I remember from shortly before the election were not that good, and the margin of defeat was large.

[saltpoint]

6. I was clear to say I did not "know," but forceful in saying I believe

Ohio goes very blue in November.

Blackwell is not a strong candidate.

[librechik]

7. i hope you are right, OC

and that all those blue votes get counted correctly

[GOTV]

10. Some of us tried in 2005...

... to make our elections more independent with the Reform Ohio Now movement. We were soundly defeated.

[bumblebee1]

12. I have this strange feeling that Ken Blackwell will be treated by the GOP

just like the girl who slept with the popular high school athlete.