Speaking of Taft

During an interview Saturday on his campaign bus, Attorney General Jim Petro said he has chosen not to criticize the governor whom he hopes to succeed: "I made a decision that Bob Taft has done some good things,'' Petro said. "He wasn't able to change some things in Ohio because it was a risk."

"I'm not critical of (Taft) still moving forward. I would be critical of him if at this point he stuck his head in the sand trying to do nothing,'' Petro said. "He is still moving ahead with agenda items that he believes in and that's what he was elected to do.''

Petro cited the school facilities construction program and tax reform as just two of Taft's accomplishments.

"Some of the things that have plagued this term of governor result in circumstances where the governor fails to really function as a real managing chief executive -- setting forth controls, setting real goals and objectives.''

"As we look ahead to November, it's important that the nominee of this party, the Republican Party, really present himself as a new face, with new ideas and new approaches.''

"People of Cincinnati know Ken (Blackwell) very well, and there are some who over the years have not liked the fact that his rhetoric has not always matched his deeds ... They really didn't trust Ken to do what he said he was going to do."

Blackwell "is running as an outsider. The difficulty with outsiders trying to govern is that you need to have consensus to really get things accomplished. Standing alone, one chief executive is not going to be able to govern Ohio.''

Shortly before their campaigns got off the ground, Petro said he had a conversation with Blackwell in which Petro recalled saying, "Wouldn't it be nice if we really run a campaign on our ideas?''

Not long after, the first negative television ad slamming Petro hit the airwaves.