2006 Ohio Governor's Race

NYT reports Christian conservative leaders from scores of Ohio's fastest growing churches are mounting a campaign to win control of local government posts and Republican organizations, starting with the 2006 governor's race.

In a manifesto that is being circulated among church leaders and on the Internet, the group, which is called the Ohio Restoration Project, is planning to mobilize 2,000 evangelical, Baptist, Pentecostal and Roman Catholic leaders in a network of so-called Patriot Pastors to register half a million new voters, enlist activists, train candidates and endorse conservative causes in the next year.

The initial goal is to elect Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, a conservative Republican, governor in 2006. The group hopes to build grass-roots organizations in Ohio's 88 counties and take control of local Republican organizations.

"The establishment of the Ohio Republican Party is out of touch with its base," said Russell Johnson, the pastor of the Fairfield Christian Church and the principal organizer of the project. "It acts as if it lives in Boston, Mass."

Orrin Judd blogged Mr. Blackwell's ties to Evangelicals make him a more likely first black president than Barack Obama or Condi Rice.

Here is Ken Blackwell's Campaign Web Site

Dan Williamson in Columbus Monthly (Feb 2005 issue) said If the Republican Party were to draw up a dream candidate for governor, he might look something like Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell. His experience in municipal, state, national and even international government makes him uniquely qualified for the job. He’s as smart and savvy as any of his potential rivals—and far more charismatic and eloquent. His far-right politics would appeal to the Republican base, while his African-American heritage could win him votes from black Democrats. Ohio Republican insiders should be pinching themselves over the prospects for a Governor Blackwell.

The trouble is, they can’t stand him....

Who then actually likes Ken Blackwell?

Well, voters seem to.