According to findings of new poll released last week, the University of Akron confirmed what many people in Ohio have been thinking for some time now: corruption is a problem in state government.
Although that might not seem like Earth-shattering news, considering the scandals involving Gov. Bob Taft and coin dealer Tom Noe in the past year, the interesting part of the poll is not that 89 percent of adults surveyed responded that way, but that 59 percent feel Democrats should be in control of the government after more than a decade of Republican domination.
The release of these findings comes at a crucial political juncture with the party primary elections less than a month away. Yet at this point neither of the two Republican candidates seems to be that appealing to voters, and the Democratic gubernatorial heavyweight, U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, is almost a shoe-in for the November ballot.
The leading candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination have left a bad taste in potential voters' mouths. Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell has gone to great lengths to point out the failings of the current Ohio regime and that his opponent Attorney General Jim Petro has close ties to Taft, but has offered little in the way of constructive thought or a solid agenda. Also, within the past week various media outlets published stories about Blackwell's shares in Diebold, the manufacturer of voting machines, at the time his office negotiated a deal with the company, and that he also owns stock in the world's leading manufacturer of gambling devices when Ohio is again considering legalized gambling.
If voters needed any more reason to be suspicious of Blackwell, they need to look no further than his refusal to debate Petro or the fact that, according to Benjamin J. Marrison, Editor of The Columbus Dispatch, Blackwell is refusing to talk to its reporters after the Dispatch reported the Diebold and gambling stories.
At a time when Blackwell should be doing everything he can to get his message out, he is refusing to let voters know how he stacks up against his opponent and ultimately is proving to voters that he likely is not the best candidate for governor.
On the other side of the Republican Primary, Petro provides voters with a second, although no more appealing, option. Since his bid for the nomination began, Petro has been dogged by allegations of ethical misconduct while in office and subscribing to the spoils system that has been a significant part of the scandals involving Noe and Taft. It has been alleged that Petro ordered that two public universities fire their lawyers because the attorneys were Petro's political foes. Much like Blackwell, Petro's biggest talking points have not been about the issues.
However, instead of remaining silent or attacking his opponent on his ethics, Petro is best known for his campaign ads where he flaunts his Christianity and advocates putting religious morals back into state politics. But Bible-thumping isn't going to save Ohio's economy or politics.
At the other end of the political spectrum, Strickland is expected to stroll to victory in the Democratic Primary. Strickland, a Democrat who has successfully won office repeatedly in Southeast Ohio, seems to have what it will take to win the election in November, regardless of whether he faces Blackwell or Petro. Strickland appeals not only to the Democratic base, but also is popular among moderates and some conservatives. And considering the results of Akron's poll, Strickland should be feeling pretty confident right now.
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Blackwell-Petro squabbles continue to confirm dour public sentiment
