Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell is seen by the nation’s conservative base as a rising political star. His ascension to the Ohio GOP nomination for governor, over liberal Republicans Jim Petro and Betty Montgomery, was held up as a bellwether for how the party will vote in 2008.

Blackwell’s platform includes support for the right to bear arms as well as fiscal and social conservatism. Unfortunately, that hasn’t registered in current polls that put him between 4 and 20 points behind Democrat nominee Congressman Ted Strickland.

Yet, Blackwell has stayed true to his conservative base and refuses to run to the center.

Such a stand by Blackwell is a contrast to Strickland who is stealing from Bill Clinton’s campaign strategy by running as a moderate. Strickland has also played up his title as an ordained Minster to appeal to the religious in Ohio. Full Story »