Blackwell's attack ads concern Taft

The May GOP primary winner is expected to run against Ted Strickland.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Gov. Bob Taft said Tuesday he was disappointed by Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell's attack ads in the GOP primary and worried that a negative campaign will weaken whoever wins the Republican primary.
"If it's a really negative kind of campaign in the primary, whoever would come out of the campaign would be so damaged that it would make it more difficult for them to win in the fall," Taft said.
Taft to date has declined to endorse a GOP candidate to replace him and says that hasn't changed. But he encouraged both candidates to talk about issues important to Ohioans.
"It's disappointing that instead of addressing the issues that the Blackwell campaign has started out by throwing mud," said Taft, whose own ethics troubles are highlighted in Blackwell's TV ads, expected to begin this week.
A message seeking comment was left with Blackwell.
Will run against Strickland
The winner of the May 2 primary is expected to face Democrat Ted Strickland, Lisbon, in the fall.
Blackwell's ads focus on allegations that GOP rival Jim Petro, the state attorney general, took away state business from lawyers who wouldn't contribute to his campaigns, which Petro has denied.
Blackwell's ads also lump Petro in with Taft, who pleaded no contest to ethics violations last year, as well as the scandal over investments made by the state's insurance fund for injured workers.
State GOP chairman Bob Bennett also has criticized the ads, calling the approach "smear tactics."