Blackwell vs. Strickland, round one

From the AP

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A loud crowd of supporters outside the site of the first debate of the governor’s race chanted the two major candidates’ names Tuesday in front of big displays for each side – a tall sign for Democrat Ted Strickland and a blowup elephant for Republican Ken Blackwell.

Blackwell, the secretary of state, and Strickland, a U.S. congressman, have been taking shots at each other through ads, campaign workers and the media since the May primary. But their meeting Tuesday was their first face-off of the campaign, to be televised across the state that narrowly gave President Bush a win over Democratic Sen. John Kerry in 2004.

About 30 supporters stood in the street outside the television station. The Republicans’ elephant, the symbol of the party, was about two-people tall and had Blackwell’s signature on a tusk. A ribbon banner hanging from the trunk said “Support Our Troops,” and another banner draped on the animal said “The New Republicans. Restoring Conservative Values in Ohio Leadership.”

The Democrats had a 12-foot high banner that said “Ted for Governor,” and they shouted “We want Ted” when Strickland walked into the building.

Strickland campaign volunteer Don Rowinsky, a retired teacher from Youngstown, said the Democrats were chanting about their accusation that Blackwell stole the 2004 presidential election from the Democrats.

“He did all kinds of things to help Bush do that. I think it’s pretty well established. And now he’s going to try to do it again with this election,” Rowinsky said.

Blackwell has been criticized for his oversight of the presidential election in Ohio, which was plagued with long lines and questions about ballot tallies, and Democrats say his role as the state’s chief election official is a conflict of interest with his candidacy.

Blackwell has been behind in most polls since eliminating Attorney General Jim Petro in the primary. The debate is where he could find a spark.

At an imposing 6-foot-5, Blackwell has long been sought as a speaker for TV news shows for his booming voice and quick-on-his-feet speaking style and has four statewide campaigns behind him.

Strickland represents a district that hugs the Ohio River from the suburbs of struggling Youngstown south to Portsmouth, another ailing industrial town. This is his first statewide campaign, but his background as a friend of gun owners and a former United Methodist minister who’s spent most of his life in Appalachia figures to help him with conservative voters.

The debate is the first of four planned leading up to the Nov. 7 election, although the sponsor of a debate scheduled in Columbus on Oct. 16 has backed out, leaving that debate in doubt.