Meet Blackwell's Democratic opponent

Strickland says he's the fighter who can win governor's job

By JIM TANKERSLEY
BLADE POLITICS WRITER


A young man walked up to Ted Strickland shortly after a candidate forum this week in Canton. He identified himself as a Republican, shook Mr. Strickland’s hand, and delivered a quick but harsh message.

“You’ve got to add details to your answers,” said the Republican, Matt Miller, who is an Ashland County commissioner. He added: “You could win this.”

This is life for Mr. Strickland, a congressman from southern Ohio and the Democratic front-runner in the governor’s race. Democrats and Republicans alike say they want more answers from him. Many also call him the favorite in the general election.

Mr. Strickland detailed positions on a wide range of issues in an interview this week. He accused one Republican gubernatorial candidate of “rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic” and called the other “an alarming person.” He dismissed Bryan Flannery, a former state legislator also running in the May 2 Democratic primary, as irrelevant.

The congressman said he would veto an abortion ban similar to South Dakota’s, sign a civil unions bill for gays, and reject a ban on state contracts for campaign donors.


Lots more here: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060326/NEWS09/60326007