On the SidE. . .

ON THE SIDE. . .
This and that from the world of Valley politics.
FINANCE REPORTS: Campaign reports detailing the financial activity between Oct. 19 and Dec. 8 for those who ran in last month's general election must be filed by next Friday.
The gubernatorial battle that saw Democrat Ted Strickland trounce Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell by more than 23 percent was already the most expensive executive office race in the state's history as of Oct. 18. The two raised 27.35 million as of that date with Strickland receiving 15.45 million in contributions, a state record for an individual candidate. Three weeks before the election, Blackwell's campaign was dying financially -- with only 171,603 on hand as of Oct. 18 -- and in polls that correctly showed him losing in a landslide.
But money isn't everything. Republican Betty Montgomery raised about 250 percent more than Democrat Marc Dann in the attorney general's race as of Oct. 18. Post-general election figures probably won't dramatically change that percentage. But Dann won by almost 5 percent.
skolnick@vindy.com